WO2013079783A1

WO2013079783A1 - Method an apparatus for feeding material in a pneumatic pipe transporting system for wastes

Info

Publication number: WO2013079783A1
Application number: PCT/FI2012/051154
Authority: WO
Inventors: Göran Sundholm
Original assignee: Maricap Oy
Priority date: 2011-12-02
Filing date: 2012-11-22
Publication date: 2013-06-06
Also published as: FI20126192A

Abstract

Method for feeding waste material into the conveying piping (100) of a pneumatic waste material conveying system, in which method waste material is conveyed initially from an input point into an intermediate tank (10), from where the waste material is conveyed onwards in the conveying piping of the pneumatic waste material conveying system. The waste material is initially conducted from an input point (60) into the input tank part (11 ) of the intermediate tank (10) and the waste material is conveyed from the input tank part with feed means (18) via a feed aperture (13) into the feed tank part (12) of the intermediate tank (10), that in the input tank part the waste material is conveyed with the feed means (18), which is inclined in the conveying direction upwards with respect to the horizontal direction at an angle (β), towards the feed aperture (13), and that the waste material is conveyed onwards from the feed tank part (12) into the conveying piping (100). The invention also relates to an apparatus.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FEEDING MATERIAL IN A PNEUMATIC PIPE TRANSPORTING SYSTEM FOR WASTES

Background of the invention

The object of the invention is a method as defined in the preamble of claim 1 .

The object of the invention is also an apparatus as defined in the preamble of claim 14.

The invention relates generally to pneumatic material conveying systems, such as to partial-vacuum transporting systems, more particularly to the collection and conveying of wastes, such as to the conveying of household wastes. Such systems are presented in publications WO 2009/080880, WO 2009/080881 , WO 2009/080882, WO 2009/080883, WO 2009/080884, WO 2009/080885, WO 2009/080886, WO 2009/080887 and WO 2009/080888, among others. The invention also relates to waste feeding means, such as to input points or refuse chutes, with which waste is conveyed, typically by gravity, e.g. from higher feed apertures in residential buildings to a lower collection space or corresponding.

Systems wherein wastes are conveyed in piping by means of a pressure difference or suction are known in the art. In these, wastes are conveyed long distances in the piping by sucking. It is typical to these systems that a partial- vacuum apparatus is used to achieve a pressure difference, in which apparatus a partial vacuum is achieved in the conveying pipe with partial-vacuum generators, such as with vacuum pumps or with an ejector apparatus. A conveying pipe typically comprises at least one valve means, by opening and closing which the replacement air coming into the conveying pipe is regulated. Waste input points, e.g. rubbish containers or refuse chutes, are used in the systems at the waste material input end, into which waste input points material, such as waste material, is fed and from which waste input points the material to be conveyed is conveyed into a conveying pipe by opening a discharge valve means, in which case, by means of the sucking effect achieved by the aid of the partial vacuum acting in the conveying pipe and also by means of the surrounding air pressure acting via the refuse chute, material such as e.g. waste material packed into bags, is conveyed from the refuse chute into the conveying pipe and onwards to a reception point, where the material to be transported is separated from the transporting air and conveyed for further processing or e.g. into a transport tanker. The pneumatic waste conveying systems in question can be utilized particularly well in densely populated urban areas. These types of areas have tall buildings, in which the input of wastes into a pneumatic waste conveying system is performed via an input point, such as a refuse chute arranged, in the building.

An intermediate tank can be in connection with the input points, into which intermediate tank material fed from an input point is initially conducted and from where the waste material is conveyed onwards along the conveying piping to a reception point. One problem can be that the waste that has fallen at a high speed into the bottom part of the refuse chute or into the intermediate tank and smashed, and which waste is tightly compacted in the bottom part, does not always displace in the desired manner into the conveying piping from the bottom part of the refuse chute or from the bottom part of the intermediate tank. When the waste material has become compacted onto the bottom of a refuse chute or intermediate tank, in the proximity of the output aperture, one problem is that the material that has compacted in the proximity of the output aperture might block the output aperture, in which case conveying of the material from the refuse chute into the conveying pipe is prevented and/or the access of replacement air from the refuse chute into the conveying pipe is prevented. Attempts have been made to prevent compacting of the waste material by arranging mechanical obstacles in the chute, by means of which it is endeavored to slow down the falling speed of waste bags in the refuse chute. A problem with mechanical deceleration obstacles is that the waste bags often break when they hit them, in which case the wastes make the inside surface of the refuse chute unnecessarily dirty. This makes keeping the refuse chute clean more difficult and, in addition, the wastes from broken waste bags that have made the refuse chute dirty create odor nuisances. Additionally, it has not always been possible to efficiently utilize the volume of an intermediate tank. The aim of the present invention is to achieve a completely new type of solution in connection with the intermediate tanks of the input points of a wastes conveying system, by means of which solution the drawbacks of prior art solutions are avoided. One aim of the invention is to achieve a solution with which the feeding of waste material from an intermediate tank is reliably facilitated. Yet another aim is to achieve a solution with which the capacity of an intermediate tank can be brought into use as well as possible. Brief description of the invention

The invention is based on a concept in which an intermediate tank is arranged in connection with an input point for wastes, which intermediate tank comprises an input tank part and a feed tank part, into which feed tank part waste is fed from the input tank part with feed means via a feed aperture, and the feed direction of which feed means towards the feed aperture is inclined upwards from the horizontal plane. The method according to the invention is mainly characterized by what is stated in claim 1 .

The method according to the invention is also characterized by what is stated in claims 2 - 13.

The apparatus according to the invention is mainly characterized by what is stated in claim 14.

The apparatus according to the invention is also characterized by what is stated in claims 15 - 25.

The solution according to the invention has a number of important advantages. By means of the invention, on the one hand, the material to be fed from an input point can be assembled into a larger amount in the intermediate tank and from there the material can be fed onwards reliably with the desired operating cycle into the conveying piping. In this case the susceptibility to clogging of the feed aperture can be reduced. Owing to the feed device of the intermediate tank, waste material is fed in suitable portions, which facilitates the conveying in the conveying piping. By arranging the intermediate tank to comprise an input tank part and a feed tank part, and also a feed aperture between the input tank part and the feed tank part, and also feed means for conveying waste material from the input tank part via the feed aperture into the feed tank part of the intermediate tank, the base wall of which input tank part is arranged to slope at least partly upwards with respect to the horizontal direction at an angle and/or the feed means is arranged to be inclined in the conveying direction upwards with respect to the horizontal direction at an angle, towards the feed aperture, a highly effective solution for the construction of an intermediate tank apparatus is achieved. By arranging the input aperture of the input branch coupling and the feed aperture into the input tank part on essentially the same side and by driving the feed means in the opposite direction at least when the material is conducted into the intermediate tank, towards the opposite wall of the input tank part, the volume of the intermediate tank can be utilized efficiently and at the same time the material can be compacted, i.e. made denser, in the input tank part.

By using in connection with an intermediate tank rotary shapers of the material, the processing of wastes can be made even more efficient and pipes of smaller diameter can be utilized for conveying waste material. According to one embodiment, the feed tank part can also be arranged to take up little space and it can be used as the feeder channel of the rotary shaper. By arranging the feed tank part below the input tank part, a compact intermediate tank solution can be achieved. By using a rotary shaper both in the intermediate tank and in the input point, the shaping process can be made even more efficient and the diameter of also the conveying pipe between the input point and the intermediate tank can be limited.

In addition, a medium pathway can be arranged from the top part of the intermediate tank to the partial-vacuum generators. With this arrangement odor nuisances possibly caused by the wastes in an intermediate tank in the immediate proximity of them can also be reduced and the odors can be conducted with the air circulation to e.g. the location point of the partial-vacuum generators. In one embodiment a conveying pipe of wastes forms a part of the medium pathway. According to one embodiment of the invention the valve means needed for opening/closing the air circulation at least to the medium pathway are arranged between the top part of the refuse chute and the conveying pipe, in which case the passage of air in the medium pathway can be arranged in the different phases of the operating cycle of conveying wastes.

By means of the invention fast and effective emptying of the intermediate tank into the conveying pipe is achieved. With the method and the apparatus according to the invention it is possible to reduce the susceptibility to clogging of the output aperture of the refuse chute or of the output aperture of the intermediate tank, in which case the operation of the pneumatic material conveying system remains good. Another significant advantage is the conducting of the particles and odors of the refuse chute out of the intermediate tank along with the air flow, in which case odor nuisances can be substantially reduced. According to the invention material input points, which are the input points of waste, such as waste receptacles or refuse chutes, can be used for feeding material. The method and apparatus according to the invention are particularly well suited in connection with conveying systems of waste material, such as waste material arranged in bags.

Brief description of the figures In the following, the invention will be described in more detail by the aid of an embodiment with reference to the attached drawings, wherein

Fig. 1 presents one simplified embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention,

Fig. 2 presents one simplified embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention,

Fig. 3 presents one simplified embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention,

Fig. 4 presents one simplified embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention, Fig. 5 presents one simplified embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention, in a first operating phase,

Fig. 6 presents one simplified embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention, in a second operating phase,

Fig. 7 presents one simplified embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention, in a first operating phase,

Fig. 8 presents one simplified embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention, in a second operating phase, and Fig. 9 presents a partial cross-section of one device of an embodiment of the invention.

Detailed description of the invention

Figs. 1 -4 present a simplified diagram of an apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention, arranged in connection with an input point for material, or in the proximity of it, said apparatus being for feeding waste material into the conveying piping of a pneumatic waste material conveying system. The apparatus comprises at least one input point 60, and an intermediate tank 10, into which waste material is arranged to be conveyed from an input point 60 and also means for conveying waste material from an input point into the intermediate tank, from where the waste material is conveyed onwards in the conveying piping 100 of the pneumatic waste material conveying system. In the conveying piping the waste material transfers together with the transporting air to a reception point, such as a waste station, of the system, in which separating means the waste material to be transported is separated from the transporting air and conveyed for further processing or into a transport tanker. The operation of a pneumatic wastes conveying system is not described in more detail here. Various examples of pneumatic wastes transporting systems are presented generally, e.g. in publications WO 2009/080880, WO 2009/080881 , WO 2009/080882, WO 2009/080883, WO 2009/080884, WO 2009/080885, WO 2009/080886, WO 2009/080887, WO 2009/080888, and WO/201 1/1 10740.

The intermediate tank 10 of the pneumatic waste material conveying system is in Fig. 1 . In the figure, the intermediate tank 10 comprises a first tank space, i.e. an input tank part 10, in the top part of which is an input duct 9 for waste material. Different input points for waste material, e.g. a waste bin, waste container or e.g. a refuse chute, can be connected to the input duct 9.

The intermediate tank 10 comprises an input tank part 1 1 and a feed tank part 12, and also a feed aperture 13 between the input tank part and the feed tank part, and also feed means 18, 19 for conveying waste material from the input tank part 1 1 via the feed aperture 13 into the feed tank part 12 of the intermediate tank. The base wall 8 of the input tank part 12 is arranged to slope at least partly upwards with respect to the horizontal direction at an angle β and/or the feed means 18 is arranged to be inclined in the conveying direction upwards with respect to the horizontal direction at an angle β, towards the feed aperture 13. The feed means 18, in the embodiment of the figures, is a feed screw, which is driven with drive means 19, e.g. with an electric motor.

In the embodiment of Fig. 1 into the intermediate tank 10 from the suction side of the partial-vacuum generator of the waste material conveying system, preferably from the conveying pipe 100, a connection is arranged into the intermediate tank 10 via the duct 14, which duct extends from the conveying pipe 100 into the top part of the input tank part 1 1 of the intermediate tank, which duct 14 bypasses the feed tank part 12 of the intermediate tank. A valve means 15, with which the connection can be opened and closed, is arranged in the duct 14, Via the duct 14 a partial vacuum can be induced in the intermediate tank of the embodiment of the figure, in which case the partial vacuum can, if necessary, be conducted to the input point 60 via the intermediate tank.

Different solutions are presented in Figs. 2-4 for embodiments of the combination of an input point 60 and an intermediate tank 10. Fig. 2 presents a simplified feed tank 61 of an input point 60, which narrows conically at its bottom end. The output aperture of the feed tank leads into a feed pipe 63, in which a feed valve 62 is arranged in Fig. 2. The feed pipe 63 leads directly into the input tank 1 1 of the intermediate tank or it connects to the input duct 9 of the intermediate tank 10. In Figs. 2-4 in the feed tank 61 of the input point 60 is waste material 68, such as household waste packed in bags, waste paper or recyclable waste material, such as glass, metal, et cetera. The input point 60 can also be connected directly to the input tank part 1 1 of the intermediate tank 10.

Material is fed into the input point 60, e.g. into the refuse chute, via one or more feed apertures. A hatch arrangement or similar (not presented) can be in connection with the feed aperture. Additionally, a valve means can be in connection with the feed aperture, with which valve means access of material into the feed tank 61 , such as into the tank of the refuse chute, is adjusted. Typically waste material is dropped from the feed aperture into the refuse chute. A number of feed apertures are arranged in the refuse chute, typically at least one for each floor of the building. The feed tank 61 , such as a refuse chute, is connected from its bottom part directly to the input tank part 1 1 of the intermediate tank, or via a feeder channel 63, as in Fig. 2, or via a feeder channel 63 and the input duct 9 of the intermediate tank, as in Figs. 3 and 4, to the input tank part of the intermediate tank.

In the embodiment of Fig. 2 a duct 14 is not needed in connection with the intermediate tank 10 to conduct a partial vacuum into the intermediate tank, because from the input point of Fig. 2 the material 68 is conducted by gravity into the input tank part 1 1 .

The material is fed from an input point from the effect of either the suction brought about by a partial-vacuum generator of the pneumatic waste conveying system and/or from the effect of gravity into the input tank part 1 1 of the intermediate tank, in which case it tries to pack into the bottom part of the input tank part 1 1 . In a conventional arrangement there is a risk of clogging of the output aperture of the intermediate tank and in pneumatic systems a risk of prevention of the access of replacement air that is essential from the viewpoint of operation in the discharge phase of the tank. For avoiding the drawbacks of prior art, the intermediate tank 10 is divided into an input tank part 1 1 and a feed tank part 12, and is also provided with a sloping base 8 and/or with feed means 18, such as a feed screw, inclined upwards, which is driven with a drive device 19. The material that has accumulated in the input tank part of the intermediate tank is conveyed with the feed means 18 towards the feed aperture 13. The waste drops into the feed tank part 12, from where it is conveyed onwards.

The feed means 8 is configured to be driven according to need or periodically, in which case a suitable batch of waste material to be conveyed can be conveyed from the input tank part 1 1 into the feed tank part 12 of the intermediate tank.

The upward sloping feed means 18 and/or base part 8 enable the waste material packed onto the base part of the input tank to be conveyed in suitable batches into the feed tank part without any fear of the output aperture of the intermediate tank clogging. In this case the material can be conveyed in suitable batches into the conveying piping 100 when the intermediate tank is emptied. In the embodiment of Fig. 2, a replacement air duct 16 is arranged in the intermediate tank 10, most suitably in the feed tank part 12 of it. When the valve means 23 of the outlet pipe 22 is opened, the material transfers from the feed tank part 12 of the intermediate tank via the output aperture 24 and the feed pipe 22 into the conveying piping 100, in which a partial vacuum acts at least at the moment of emptying the feed tank part 12.

In the embodiments of Fig. 3, a rotary shaper 20 (formatter) of the material is arranged in connection with the intermediate tank 10, which rotary shaper shapes/compresses the material into a size of smaller diameter to fit into the outlet pipe 22 via the output aperture 24 and onwards into the conveying pipe 100. In the embodiment of Fig. 3, a replacement air duct 16 is arranged in the intermediate tank 10, most suitably from the feed tank part of it. When the valve means 23 of the outlet pipe 22 is opened, the material transfers from the feed tank part 12 of the intermediate tank via the feed pipe 22 into the conveying piping 100.

In the embodiment of Fig. 4 the apparatus comprises a rotary shaper, in connection with an input point 60 and also in connection with the intermediate tank 10. The first rotary shaper 64 is driven with a drive means 65. The second rotary shaper 20 is between the feed tank part 12 of the intermediate tank and the conveying pipe 100. The material of the input point is conveyed through the processing means of the rotary shaper 64 into a feed pipe 63 leading into the intermediate tank 10. In the embodiment of Fig. 4 into the intermediate tank 10 from the suction side of the partial-vacuum generator of the waste material conveying system, preferably from the conveying pipe 100, a connection is arranged via the duct 14, which duct extends from the conveying pipe 100 into the top part of the input tank part 1 1 of the intermediate tank, which duct 14 bypasses the feed tank part 12 of the intermediate tank. A valve means 15, with which the connection can be opened and closed, is arranged in the duct 14, Via the duct 14 a partial vacuum can be induced in the intermediate tank of the embodiment of the figure, in which case the partial vacuum can, if necessary, be conducted to the input point 60 via the intermediate tank. Partial vacuum/suction in this case facilitates the feeding of wastes in an input point through the rotary shaper 64 into the feed pipe 63 and onwards into the intermediate tank 10. Rotary shapers and the operation of them are presented in more detail in publications WO/201 1/098666, WO/201 1/098667, WO/201 1/098668 and WO/201 1/098669. Figs. 5-9 present an embodiment of the invention wherein the shape of the intermediate tank 10 and the placement of the input branch coupling 9 and the placement of the feed aperture 13 as well as the placement point of the feed tank 12 are arranged according to a second embodiment. The input aperture 9' of the input branch coupling 9 and the feed aperture 13 between the input tank part 1 1 and the feed tank part 12 are arranged in essentially the same part of the input tank part 1 1 . In the embodiment the feed tank part 12 is arranged downwards from the feed aperture 13 formed in the base 8 of the input tank part 12. The input aperture 9' into the input tank part of the input branch coupling 9 is arranged in the input tank part in the same end part in which the feed aperture 13 is situated, upwards from the feed aperture.

The input branch coupling 9 is, according to one embodiment, arranged to direct the material being conducted into the input tank part to some extent in the horizontal direction. In this case the material is conducted into the input tank part from the input aperture 9' of the input branch coupling towards the opposite wall 1 1 Of the input tank part 1 1 . For conducting the material from the input aperture 9' farther in the input tank part and for compacting the material, the feed means 18 in the tank space of the input tank part is configured to convey the material, in the embodiment of the figure, away from the input aperture 9' of the input branch coupling 9 and/or from the feed aperture 13. The waste material does not displace horizontally very far in the input tank part from the input branch coupling 9, in which case the feed means 18, which can be e.g. a feed screw, conveys waste material in the input tank part backwards/to the rear part, preferably towards the opposite wall 1 1 ' of the input tank part. The feed movement brought about by the feed means 18 on the waste material thus also causes the waste material to displace in the input tank part 1 1 towards its rear wall 1 1 ', in which case the rear wall 1 1 ' of the input tank part, which rear wall 1 1 ' is formed to be initially inclined upwards from its bottom part from the base part 8 of the input tank part (at an angle of a (alfa) with respect to the horizontal) and then to be vertical, turns the material in the input tank. Fig. 5 describes the conveying of material via its rear wall 1 1 ' upwards and it fills the input tank part 1 1 efficiently. At the same time the waste material is compacted with the feed means 18, in which case more of it can be made to fit into the input tank space than without compacting. According to one embodiment with an arrangement according to the invention even twice as much waste can be fitted into the input tank part as without compacting. Fig. 5 presents a situation in which waste material 68 is conveyed from an input point 60, which is arranged in connection with a refuse chute, via the input branch coupling 9 and the input aperture 9' into the input tank part 1 1 of the intermediate tank 10. The material drops in the feed chute by gravity and/or by the aid of a pressure difference and drops into the input tank some distance from the input aperture 9' towards the opposite wall 1 1 ' of the tank. The feed screw functioning as a feed means 18 i used in this operating phase such that the feed means conducts material away from the feed aperture 9' and/or from the feed aperture 13, towards the rear wall 1 1 ' of the input tank part, filling the input tank part 1 1 of the intermediate tank and at the same time compacting the material, i.e. making it denser, in the tank space of the input tank part.

When it is desired to convey the waste material from the intermediate tank 10, out of its input tank part 1 1 , the feed means 18 are used such that it conveys the waste material towards the feed aperture 13 between the input tank part 1 1 and the feed tank part 12, from where the waste material is conducted into the feed tank part 12. The feed means in the embodiment of Fig. 6 is a feed screw, the direction of rotation of which has been changed to the operating phase of Fig. 6, to the opposite of the operating phase of Fig. 5. In the operating phase of Fig. 6, the movement of the material towards the feed aperture 13 and onwards into the feed tank part 12 is described with an arrow.

The waste material conducted into the feed tank part 12 is conducted onwards and processed with a rotary shaper 20 arranged in the bottom part of the feed tank part, into the feed aperture of which the material is conducted from the feed tank part 12, said feed aperture being simultaneously the output aperture 24 of the feed tank part 12.

In the embodiment of Figs. 5-9 the feed tank part 12 is the feed duct of the rotary shaper 20, from which feed duct the waste material is conducted into the feed aperture of the rotary shaper 20, and after processing onwards into the conveying pipe 100. When the valve means 23 of the outlet pipe 22 is opened, the material transfers from the feed tank part 12 of the intermediate tank via the output aperture 24 and the feed pipe 22 into the conveying piping 100, in which the partial vacuum acts at least at the moment of emptying the feed tank part 12.

Figs. 7 and 8 present one embodiment wherein into the intermediate tank 10 from the suction side of the partial-vacuum generator of the waste material conveying system, preferably from the conveying pipe 100, a connection is arranged into the intermediate tank 10 via the duct 14, which duct extends from the conveying pipe 100 into the top part of the input tank part 1 1 of the intermediate tank, which duct 14 bypasses the feed tank part 12 of the intermediate tank. A valve means 15, with which the connection can be opened and closed, is arranged in the duct 14, Via the duct 14 a partial vacuum can be induced in the intermediate tank of the embodiment of the figure, in which case the partial vacuum can, if necessary, be conducted to the input point 60 via the intermediate tank. In the figure there is also a second duct 14' from the duct 14 to the top end of the feed chute, in which case a partial vacuum can be achieved both in the feed chute and in the intermediate tank e.g. for removing odors. In the solution according to Figs. 7 and 8 a fan can be used in the top end of the feed chute to achieve a partial vacuum in the feed chute and also in the intermediate tank e.g. for removing odors.

Fig. 9 presents in more detail an intermediate tank 10 according to one embodiment. In the figure the input branch coupling 9 and the input aperture 9' are on the left-hand side, from where the input tank part 1 1 of the intermediate tank expands towards the wall 1 1 ' at the opposite end of the input tank part. The base part 8 of the input tank is inclined upwards from the horizontal plane at an angle of β towards the feed aperture 13. In the embodiment of the figure the input aperture 9' and the feed aperture 13 are at the same end of the tank and at the opposite end is the wall 1 1 '. A feed means 18 is arranged in the tank space, in the input tank space 1 1 . In the embodiment of the figure the feed means is a feed screw, the screw of which is configured to convey in the tank space according to the direction of rotation of the screw. The feed screw is arranged on a drive shaft 18' which is connected via gearing 19' to a drive device 19. According to one embodiment, a fluid removal branch coupling 30 is arranged in the intermediate tank 10, in its input tank part 1 1 , in the bottom part of it, for removing fluid that has collected in the tank space. The fluid removal branch coupling 30 is preferably disposed at the lowest point of the input tank or in the proximity of it. In the embodiment of the figures the fluid removal branch coupling is at the point of connection of the base part 8 of the input tank part and the wall 1 1 '. In Figs. 5-8, a valve means 31 is arranged in the fluid removal branch coupling 30.

The invention thus relates to a method for feeding waste material into the conveying piping 100 of a pneumatic waste material conveying system, in which method waste material is conveyed initially from an input point into an intermediate tank 10, from where the waste material is conveyed onwards in the conveying piping of the pneumatic waste material conveying system. The waste material is initially conducted from an input point 60 into the input tank part 1 1 of the intermediate tank 10 and the waste material is conveyed from the input tank part with feed means 18 via a feed aperture 13 into the feed tank part 12 of the intermediate tank 10, that in the input tank part the waste material is conveyed with the feed means 18, which is inclined in the conveying direction upwards with respect to the horizontal direction at an angle β, towards the feed aperture 13, and that the waste material is conveyed onwards from the feed tank part 12 into the conveying piping 100.

According to one embodiment the waste material is conveyed in the intermediate tank 10 with the feed means 18, which is a feed screw, which is driven with a drive device 19, in which case the portioning is adjusted by adjusting the speed of rotation of the feed means.

According to one embodiment the waste material is conveyed in the intermediate tank 10 from the input tank part 12 into the feed tank part 12 with the feed means 18 periodically. According to one embodiment the waste material is processed with a rotary shaper 20, 64, which shapes/compresses the waste material into a size of smaller diameter and to fit into the conveying pipe 100.

According to one embodiment the waste material is processed with a rotary shaper 20 after the intermediate tank 10 before feeding the material into the conveying piping 100. According to one embodiment the waste material is processed with a rotary shaper 20, 64 before feeding the waste material into the conveying piping 100.

According to one embodiment the waste material is processed with a rotary shaper 64 before feeding the waste material into an intermediate tank 10.

According to one embodiment the waste material is conveyed from the intermediate tank 10 into the conveying piping by opening the connection from the suction side of the partial-vacuum generator of the waste material conveying system into the conveying piping 100 and onwards to the output aperture 24 of the feed tank part 12 of the intermediate tank 10, and if necessary by opening the replacement air valve 17 of the replacement air duct 16 of the intermediate tank 10, in which case the waste material transfers from the feed tank 12 into the conveying piping 100.

According to one embodiment the waste material is conveyed from an input point 60 into the intermediate tank 10 by the aid of gravity.

According to one embodiment the waste material is conveyed from an input point 60 into an intermediate tank by opening the feed valve 62 of the feed duct 63 for the waste material of the input point 60 and by opening the connection from the suction side of the partial-vacuum generator of the waste material conveying system into the intermediate tank 10 via the duct 14, which duct extends from the conveying pipe 100 into the top part of the input tank 1 1 of the intermediate tank, which duct 14 bypasses the feed tank part 12 of the intermediate tank.

According to one embodiment the waste material is compacted in the input tank part 1 1 with feed means 18. According to one embodiment the conveying direction of the feed means 18 is changed periodically.

According to one embodiment when conducting the waste material into the input tank part 1 1 of the intermediate tank 10, at least when the input aperture 9' of the input branch coupling 9 and the feed aperture 13 are arranged in the same part of the input tank part 1 1 , the material is conveyed with the feed means 18 away from the feed aperture 13 and/or from the input aperture 9'. The invention also relates to an apparatus for feeding waste material into the conveying piping of a pneumatic waste material conveying system, which apparatus comprises at least one input point 60, and an intermediate tank, into which waste material is arranged to be conveyed from an input point and also means for conveying waste material from an input point into the intermediate tank, from where the waste material is conveyed onwards in the conveying piping of the pneumatic waste material conveying system. The intermediate tank 10 comprises an input tank part 1 1 and a feed tank part 12, and also a feed aperture 13 between the input tank part and the feed tank part, and also feed means 18, 19 for conveying waste material from the input tank part 1 1 via the feed aperture 13 into the feed tank part 12 of the intermediate tank, the base wall 8 of which input tank part 12 is arranged to slope at least partly upwards with respect to the horizontal direction at an angle β and/or the feed means 18 is arranged to be inclined in the conveying direction upwards with respect to the horizontal direction at an angle β, towards the feed aperture 13.

According to one embodiment the apparatus comprises a rotary shaper 20, 64 for processing the waste material before feeding it into the conveying piping 100.

According to one embodiment the apparatus comprises a rotary shaper 64 before the feeding of waste material into the intermediate tank 10.

According to one embodiment the feed means 18 is a feed screw, which is configured to be driven by a drive device 19.

According to one embodiment a replacement air duct 16 is arranged in the intermediate tank 10, most suitably in the feed tank part 12 of it, According to one embodiment a valve means 17 is arranged in the replacement air duct 16.

According to one embodiment from the suction side of the partial-vacuum generator of the waste material conveying system, preferably from the conveying pipe 100, a connection is arranged into the intermediate tank 10 via the duct 14, which duct extends from the conveying pipe 100 into the top part of the input tank part 1 1 of the intermediate tank, which duct 14 bypasses the feed tank part 12 of the intermediate tank.

According to one embodiment a valve means 15 is arranged in the duct 14.

According to one embodiment the input aperture 9' of the input duct 9 and the feed aperture 13 between the input tank part 1 1 and the output tank part 12 are arranged at the same end of the input tank part 1 1 . According to one embodiment the feed means 18 is configured to convey the waste material away from the input aperture 9' and/or from the feed aperture 13 at least when the waste material is fed into the input tank part 1 1 .

According to one embodiment the feed means 18 is configured to compact the waste material at least when it is driven away from the input aperture 9' and/or from the feed aperture 13.

According to one embodiment at the opposite end with respect to the feed aperture of the input tank part 1 1 at least a part of the end wall 1 1 ' is formed to slope.

The angle β can be varied according to the embodiment. In one embodiment the angle β is 10 - 70 degrees. In the embodiments of the figures the angle is approx. 10-30 degrees.

According to one embodiment the angle of slope a of the end wall is 30 - 90 degrees.

Typically the material is waste material, such as waste material arranged in bags. An input point or intermediate tank can be fitted to be a part of a pneumatic waste conveying system or it can be a separate part, in which waste material is conducted into the waste room, waste container or corresponding.

It is obvious to the person skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the embodiments presented above, but that it can be varied within the scope of the claims presented below. The characteristic features possibly presented in the description in conjunction with other characteristic features can also, if necessary, be used separately to each other.

Claims

1. Method for feeding waste material into the conveying piping (100) of a pneumatic waste material conveying system, in which method waste material is conveyed initially from an input point into an intermediate tank (10), from where the waste material is conveyed onwards in the conveying piping of the pneumatic waste material conveying system, characterized in that the waste material is initially conducted from an input point (60) into the input tank part (11) of the intermediate tank (10) and the waste material is conveyed from the input tank part with feed means (18) via a feed aperture (13) into the feed tank part (12) of the intermediate tank (10), in that in the input tank part the waste material is conveyed with the feed means (18), which is inclined in the conveying direction upwards with respect to the horizontal direction at an angle (β), towards the feed aperture (13), and in that the waste material is conveyed onwards from the feed tank part (12) into the conveying piping (100).

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the waste material is conveyed in the intermediate tank (10) with the feed means (18), which is a feed screw, which is driven with a drive device (19), in which case the portioning is adjusted by adjusting the speed of rotation of the feed means.

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the waste material is conveyed in the intermediate tank (10) from the input tank part (11) into the feed tank part (12) with the feed means (18) periodically.

4. Method according to any of claims 1 -3, characterized in that the waste material is processed with a rotary shaper (20, 64), which shapes/compresses the waste material into a size of smaller diameter and to fit into the conveying pipe (100).

5. Method according to any of claims 1 -4, characterized in that the waste material is processed with a rotary shaper (20) after the intermediate tank (10) before feeding the material into the conveying piping (100).

6. Method according to any of claims 1 -5, characterized in that the waste material is processed with a rotary shaper (20, 64) before feeding the waste material into the conveying piping (100).

7. Method according to any of claims 1 -6, characterized in that the waste material is processed with a rotary shaper (64) before feeding the waste material into an intermediate tank (10).

8. Method according to any of claims 1 -7, characterized in that the waste material is conveyed from the intermediate tank (10) into the conveying piping by opening the connection from the suction side of the partial-vacuum generator of the waste material conveying system into the conveying piping (100) and onwards to the output aperture (24) of the feed tank part (12) of the intermediate tank (10), and if necessary by opening the replacement air valve (17) of the replacement air duct (16) of the intermediate tank (10), in which case the waste material transfers from the feed tank (12) into the conveying piping (100).

9. Method according to any of claims 1 -6, characterized in that the waste material is conveyed from an input point (60) into an intermediate tank (10) by the aid of gravity.

10. Method according to any of claims 1 -9, c h a ra ct e r i z e d in that the waste material is conveyed from an input point (60) into the intermediate tank by opening the feed valve (62) of the feed duct (63) for the waste material of the input point (60) and by opening the connection from the suction side of the partial- vacuum generator of the waste material conveying system into the intermediate tank (10) via the duct (14), which duct extends from the conveying pipe (100) into the top part of the input tank (11) of the intermediate tank, which duct (14) bypasses the feed tank part (12) of the intermediate tank.

11. Method according to any of claims 1 - 10, c h a ra cte r i zed in that the waste material is compacted in the input tank part (11) with feed means (18).

12. Method according to any of claims 1 - 11, c h a ra cte r i zed in that the conveying direction is changed periodically.

13. Method according to any of claims 1 -12, ch a racterized in that when conducting the waste material into the input tank part (11 ) of the intermediate tank

(10), at least when the input aperture (9') of the input branch coupling (9) and the feed aperture (13) are arranged in the same part of the input tank part (11), the material is conveyed with the feed means (18) away from the feed aperture (13) and/or from the input aperture (9').

14. Apparatus for feeding waste material into the conveying piping of a pneumatic waste material conveying system, which apparatus comprises at least one input point (60), and an intermediate tank, into which waste material is arranged to be conveyed from an input point, and also means for conveying waste material from an input point into the intermediate tank, from where the waste material is conveyed onwards in the conveying piping of the pneumatic waste material conveying system, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the intermediate tank (10) comprises an input tank part (11) and a feed tank part (12), and also a feed aperture (13) between the input tank part and the feed tank part (13), and also feed means (18, 19) for conveying waste material from the input tank part (11) via the feed aperture (13) into the feed tank part (12) of the intermediate tank, the base wall (8) of which input tank part (11) is arranged to slope at least partly upwards with respect to the horizontal direction at an angle (β) and/or the feed means (18) is arranged to be inclined in the conveying direction upwards with respect to the horizontal direction at an angle (β), towards the feed aperture (13).

15. Apparatus according to claim 14, ch a ra cte rized in that the apparatus comprises a rotary shaper (20, 64) for processing the waste material before feeding it into the conveying piping (100).

16. Apparatus according to claim 14 or 15, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the apparatus comprises a rotary shaper (64) before the feeding of waste material into an intermediate tank (10).

17. Apparatus according to any of claims 14-16, characterized in that the feed means (18) is a feed screw, which is configured to be driven by a drive device (19).

18. Apparatus according to any of claims 14-17, cha racterized in that a replacement air duct (16) is arranged in the intermediate tank (10), most suitably in the feed tank part (12) of it.

19. Apparatus according to claim 18, characterized in that a valve means (17) is arranged in the replacement air duct (16).

20. Apparatus according to any of claims 14- 19, c h a ra cte ri zed in that from the suction side of the partial-vacuum generator of the waste material conveying system, preferably from the conveying pipe (100), a connection is arranged into the intermediate tank (10) via the duct (14), which duct extends from the conveying pipe (100) into the top part of the input tank part (11) of the intermediate tank, which duct (14) bypasses the feed tank part (12) of the intermediate tank.

21. Apparatus according to claim 20, characterized in that a valve means (15) is arranged in the duct (14).

22. Apparatus according to any of claims 14-21, characterized in that the input aperture (9') of the input duct (9) and the feed aperture (13) between the input tank part (11 ) and the output tank part (12) are arranged at the same end of the input tank part (11).

23. Apparatus according to any of claims 14-22, characterized in that the feed means (18) is configured to convey the waste material away from the input aperture (9') and/or from the feed aperture (13) at least when the waste material is fed into the input tank part (11 ).

24. Apparatus according to any of claims 14 - 23, characterized in that the feed means (18) is configured to compact the waste material at least when it is driven away from the input aperture (9') and/or from the feed aperture (13).

25. Apparatus according to any of claims 14-24, characterized in that at the opposite end with respect to the feed aperture of the input tank part (11) at least a part of the end wall (11 ') is formed to slope.