CLAIMS
1. A compacting device for recyclable containers (25) as cylindrical containers or the like, comprising a main frame (1) having a support plate (4) supporting a structure (2), and a device control unit (5,6,16), characterized in that it further comprises
- compacting means (11 ,24,31 ,90) for said container (25), and
- operating means (22,23,26,29,91) of said compacting means (11,24,31,90).
2. Compacting device for recyclable containers (25) according to the preceding claim, wherein said compacting means comprises a supporting member (11, 31) for said container (25) and a piston member (24) movable within said structure (2).
3. Compacting device for recyclable containers (25) according to the preceding claim, wherein said piston member (11,24) comprises a surface substantially concave.
4. Compacting device for recyclable containers (25) according to claim 2, wherein said piston member (24) comprises a substantially convex surface (240). 5. Compacting device for recyclable containers (25) according to any of claims
2-4, wherein said supporting member (11,31) comprises a surface substantially concave (310) and for the supporting of a part of the container (25) to be compacted.
6. Compacting device for recyclable containers (25) according to claim 2, wherein said supporting member (31) is mounted in a hinged manner onto said structure (2).
7. Compacting device for recyclable containers (25) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said operating means comprises:
- at least a worm screw (22); and
- at least a powered transmission (23, 26). 8. Compacting device for recyclable containers (25) according to any of claims
1-5, wherein said operating means comprises:
- a pantograph linkage (29) connected with said structure (2) and with said piston member (24), and
- an actuator (26) connected with said pantograph linkage (29), the arrangement being such that following the powering of said actuator (26) said linkage (29) is displaced, and a linear parallel narrowing/spacing displacement of said piston member (24) is obtained and with respect to said supporting member (31), and in an orthogonal direction to the latter.
9. Compacting device for recyclable containers (25) according to the preceding claim, wherein said actuator (26) is mounted in a hinged manner onto said linkage (29).
10. Compacting device for recyclable containers (25) according to claim 1, wherein said compacting means comprises interface means (9,90) for the open end of said container (25), and said operating means comprises suction means (91) for the air contained inside said container (25).
11. Compacting device for recyclable containers (25) according to the preceding claim, wherein:
- said interface means comprises a supporting frame (9) that include a suction area (90) comprising a suction valve for cooperating with a respective open end of the container (7), said suction valve being pneumatically connected with said suction means (91); and
- said suction means comprises a vacuum pump (91) pneumatically connected with the said suction valve at said suction area (90).
12. Compacting device for recyclable containers (25) according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising heating means (50,51) for said recyclable container (25).
13. Compacting device for recyclable containers (25) according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising collecting means (12,13,14,15) for selectively collecting of the waste compacted containers (25). 14. Compacting device for recyclable containers (25) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said containers (25) are substantially containers in PET, PE, or the like, and cans containers.
15. A method for the automated control of the compacting device for recyclable containers (25) according to the preceding claims, substantially as described and shown with reference to the annexed figures.
16. A computer program for a logical unit for data processing and for carrying out the method for the automated control of the compacting device according to the preceding claims and substantially as described and shown with reference to the annexed figures. |
COMPACTING DEVICE FOR RECYCLABLE CONTAINERS
The present invention refers to a compacting device for recyclable containers and, more precisely, to a compacting device for plastic bottles, and metallic cans. STATE OF THE ART
As it is already known, there is a strong need of limiting environment polluting. With this aim there is provided the recycling of house life garbage, such as for example products for the house or the family use, which are made in plastic material and/or metallic material. Up to now, there have been provided some and different technical solutions for reducing garbage volumes deriving from the in-house lifestyle, these technical solutions foreseeing different kind of garbage compacting devices.
According to a first kind of waste compacting device, it is provided a container for household waste which is typically housed in a structure positioned in a household kitchen. The structure houses a pressing device which exerts an high compacting pressure in the waste container itself. In this manner, it is possible to obtain a high reduction of waste volumes with the relevant advantages for the subsequent recycle treatment processes. On the other hand, the device has the drawback of being bulky and heavy.
According to a second kind of compacting device, it is provided a small elongated hand operated pressing device having small sizes and suitable to be positioned in small in-house places, such as in the kitchen or the like. The device foresees the possibility of treating/compacting plastic containers such as PET bottles and the like, as well as metallic cans. Although the press provides as a result a compacted object to be wasted in the relevant waste container and having a small size, there it is the drawback that this kind of device it is wholly hand operated. Further, the plastic containers after the compacting thereof, show a memory effect by recovering a part of the original size thereof, thereby increasing the initial compacted volume.
Object of the present invention is to solve the aforementioned drawbacks by providing a compacting device for recyclable household waste and that solve in a wholly automated operating the compacting and the separating operation of the compacted item to be subsequently recycled between plastic and/or metallic materials, and that have features of high ruggedness, of small overall sizes, of high reliability, of a simple structure, and further of low cost.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved compacting device for recyclable containers that foresees the whole automation of all the preselected operations by the user, and following to an user input order.
Further object of the present invention, is to provide a compacting device that show further operating functions with respect to the compacting devices of the state of the art.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a compacting device for recyclable containers substantially according to the annexed claims.
Further, the present invention provides a logical electronic control for the wholly automated functioning of the compacting device of the present invention.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a compacting device for recyclable containers comprising a main frame mounting a supporting structure, and a control unit of the device, and it is characterized in that it further comprises compacting means for said containers, and operating means of said compacting means.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION A detailed description of different preferred embodiments of the compacting device for recyclable containers of the present invention will be now given, as a non limiting example, and with reference to the annexed drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 schematically shows in a perspective partial view a first embodiment of the compacting device for recyclable containers according to the present invention; Figure 2 shows in a side and partial view the compacting device for recyclable containers of figure 1;
Figure 3 shows in another side and perspective view the compacting device for recyclable containers of figure 1 ;
Figure 4 schematically shows in a perspective view a second embodiment of the compacting device for recyclable containers according to the present invention ;
Figure 5 shows another perspective and side view of the compacting device for recyclable containers of figure 4 in a operating condition thereof;
Figures 6A and 6B partial and perspective show the inner structure of the device of figure 4; Figures 7 - 9 show perspective views of an inner structure of a third embodiment of the compacting device of the present invention;
Figures 10 and 11 show perspective views of an inner structure of a fourth embodiment of the compacting device of the present invention; and
Figures 12 - 15 are block diagram views of the logical operating of the first, second, third, and fourth embodiment of the compacting device of the present invention.
With reference now to figures 1 - 3, a first embodiment of the compacting device of the present invention there is shown therein.
According to this embodiment the compacting device has a main frame 1 which mounts at the upper part thereof a plate 10 to which a structure 2 is connected. The structure 2 comprises a pair of vertical beams 20 coupled at the upper end thereof by an horizontal member 21. The vertical beams 20 include a pair of worm screw 22. The upper end of each worm screw 22 is mounted in a free rotating manner onto the horizontal member 21, as well as at the lower end thereof onto the plate 10. The lower end of the screws 22 are respectively and cinematically connected to a powered transmission 23 (better shown in the following).
Further, at the upper part of the screws 22 it is slindingly mounted a plate piston 24 which is movable in a vertical direction and subsequently to the rotating motion of the screws 22. The plate piston 24 has a frustopϊramid shape in order to house the upper part of a container 25 to be compacted.
On the other hand, at the lower part of the screws 22 and on the plate 10 there is provided a supporting member 11 for the supporting of a container 25 to be compacted.
Furthermore, at the lower part of beams 20, there is provided a second piston 30 connected to an automated actuator (not shown in figure), the arrangement is such that after the compacting step of the container 25, the second piston 30 pushes the container out from the structure (i.e., with reference to the figure, towards the front part of the structure) and in order that the compacted container 25 may fall down onto a chute 12.
At the lower part of the chute 12 there is provided a separating chute 13 which is slidingly mounted on a body having a pair of containers 14 and 15, respectively. As may be understood from the figure, the selected position from the user of the chute 13 allows conveying of the compacted container 25 towards one of the said two containers 14 or 15. In this manner, a differentiating of the compacted waste is obtained and according to the material (plastic o metal).
With reference to figure 3, the transmission 23 of the kinematics of the screws 22 it is shown therein. More precisely, there is provided an electric motor 26 preferably provided with inverter (not shown in the figure) and in order that the electric motor 26 may rotate clockwise and counter clockwise. The electric motor 26 is connected to the transmission 23 by means of a pulley. The transmission 23 cinematically and synchronous connects the end of each screw 22 in order to realise the synchronous rotation thereof. With reference now to figures 4 and 5 there is shown a second embodiment of the compacting device of the present invention. For the sake of illustrating simplicity, same parts will have same numbers.
According to this embodiment of the compacting device there is provided a housing 200 having a panel door 300 mounted at the upper part of the housing 200. The housing 200 is connected to a supporting base 4 . The panel door 300 comprises a front area 301 wherein a series of buttons 5 and relevant status display 6 are mounted, and with the aim of creating a control, data, and information interface between the device and the user.
It has to be specified that the arrangement of the buttons 5 and the status display 6 it is not limited to the front area 301 of the panel door 300 but to any different area on the housing 200, or on the panel door 300 being easy to access by the user. With reference to figure 5, there is shown the device of the present invention in a operating condition. More precisely, it is provided that for use of the device the panel door 300 be opened by the user for the insertion of a container 25 to be compacted inside the compacting device and that, according to the figure it is a PET bottle.
As it will be better understood in the following, the present embodiment it is directed to the treatment of both metallic containers and PET containers or the like, and especially "bottle" or cylindrical shaped.
With reference now to figures 6A and 6B there is shown the inner structure of the compacting device of figure 4. According to this second embodiment, there is provided a main frame having a supporting plate 4 for a structure 2. Both the plate 4 and the structure 2 may be made of Fe, or INOX Steel (i.e., AiSI 304), or in a preformed or moulded plastic material.
To the structure 2 it is associated a supporting member or shell 3 connected to the former in a hinged manner. The member 3 has a chute 31 for housing the container to be treated. The chute 31 has a substantially cylindrical shape for containing the container 25 (not shown in figure). The chute 31 is in the operating condition when in the vertical condition.
At the front part of the member 3 and in the structure 2 there is a pressing device which includes a piston 24 mounted in a sliding manner on a pair of guide members 27. The piston 24 it is coupled to a worm screw member 22. The screw 22 it is powered by an electric motor 26 by means of a transmission 23.
On the structure 2 and at opposite side to that of the electric motor 26, there is provided a heating device 50 for heating the air by forced ventilation (i.e., electric forced ventilating air heater), the former being associated to the chute 31 by means of a respective opening with a flexible tube 51 (partially shown in figure). The purpose the flexible tube member 51 is that of conveying heated air inside the chute 31, by directing the hot air jet on the container 25 to be compacted (not shown in figure).
More precisely and according to the invention, the heating it is activated only for plastic materials containers, and not for metallic ones. The hot air ventilating onto
the container it is necessary for the partial softening of the material (plastic) and for the steady maintaining of the deformation in the compacted status of the container. As a matter of facts, when the container is made in plastic material, it is provided a preheating step of the container 25 before the mechanical step of pressing, whilst for metallic containers such preheating step it is not necessary .
According to the figure, the piston 24 may move in the vertical direction with respect with to the structure 2 since it is associated to the worm screw 22. As can be seen in figure 6B, the worm screw 22 is powered by a pair of gears 23 and rotated by the electric motor 26. In this manner, rotation of the electric motor 26 corresponds to a linear displacement of the piston 24, which will correspond to a lowering or rising of the piston 24 with respect to the vertical direction of the structure 2.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the assembly constituted by a worm screw 22, transmission 23 and electric motor 26, may be substituted by any device technically equivalent and such that realise the displacement of the piston 24 in a equivalent manner, such for example a pneumatic actuator or the like.
For the functioning, at first the user opens the panel door 300 of the device and introduce onto the chute 31 the recyclable container 25 to be compacted, and thereby positioning the container under the piston 24 by rotating the member 3 in the vertical condition. Therefore, by means of the control panel 5 and 6 the user automatically starts the compacting operation and having chosen the material to be treated .
Then, the powered transmission 23 and 26 realises the lowering of the piston 24. It has to be here noted that the piston 24 has a slight concave shape at the central part thereof and in order that the same be self centring for the container 25, and such that the container 25 cannot coming out from the piston 24 during the lowering run. The piston 24 ends its displacement at a preset positron which corresponds to the final sizes of the container to be compacted. At this stage the rotating direction of the electric motor 26 is inverted, therefore realising the lifting of the piston 24 and leaving the container 25 from the compacting room inside the chute 31.
It has to be further noted that although hit is not shown in the figure, the compacting device of the present invention may comprise a further chute at a lower position of the plate 4 and in order to receive the compacted container and conveying the same according to the kind of material, an realising a differencing collecting of waste.
After this step, the piston 24 is displaced by the transmission 22, 23 and 26 to the initial condition in a whole automated manner, in order to initialise a new compacting cycle.
With reference now to figure from 7 to 9, there Is shown an inner structure of a third embodiment of the compacting device of the present invention. For the sake of illustrating simplicity, same parts will have same numbers.
As it is apparent in the figure, according to this embodiment the compacting device comprises a main frame 2 at the inner thereof, and the latter being fixedly connected to a support base 4. The frame 2 comprises a first structure which comprises a pair of plates 28 vertically and parallel arranged one with respect to the other and fixed on the base 4. Between said plates 28 a first supporting member 31 is mounted in a fixed manner, and for the supporting of a recyclable container 25 to be compacted (not shown in the figure). Further, between the plates 11 is mounted a pressing device in a swinging manner, the device comprising a piston member 24, an actuator 26, and a "pantograph" linkage 29 .
As it will be apparent in the following detailed description and with reference to the following figures, the piston 24 being coupled to the pantograph linkage 29 is movable with respect to the supporting member 31 according to a direction that is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the container 25 to be compacted, and the former moves always parallel to the supporting member 31 during the whole displacement.
More precisely, the pressing device foresees that the linkage 29 be connected in a hinged manner both the piston member 24 and the actuator 26. Further, both the piston member 24 and the actuator 26 are connected in a hinged manner by means of said linkage 29 to the plates 28 and in the manner that will be better described in the following.
On the other hand, the supporting member 31 is fixed to said plates 28. The former comprises an area for the housing and the containing 310 of the container 25 (not shown in figure), said area 310 being concave and reproducing substantially the outer shape of the container 25, such as a bottle, a can, or the like.
The piston member 24 comprises a functional surface 240 that is convex and complementary to the containing area 310. On the other hand, on the support base 4 there is provided a heating member
50 for circulating heated air at the inner of the housing 200 and for conveying the heated air to the container 25. The air is heated to a preset temperature.
Referring now to figure 7, upon inserting the container 25 inside the device, the latter is in the fully "open" condition, i.e. with the piston member 24 fully spaced from the supporting member 31. In this condition, the actuator 26 is fully extended and the pantograph linkage 29 is fully closed.
As shown in figure 8, subsequently to the input order by the user and by means of interacting with the buttons 5 on the housing 20O 7 the actuator 26 is operated and by
varying the length thereof (i.e., in the illustrated embodiment by retracting the actuator 26) the same causes the linkage 29 to open, being the latter mounted onto the former in a hinged manner. The opening of the linkage 29 causes the narrowing of the piston 24 towards the supporting member 31 and by following a moving direction which is 5 always parallel to the latter, i.e. orthogonal to the surfaces 240 and 310.
As shown in figure 9, when the actuator 26 is in the fully retracted condition, the piston member 24 it is completely close to the supporting member 31 and the surfaces
240 and 310 abut. In this condition, the container 25 (not shown) it is completely deformed and compacted along the longitudinal direction thereof, i.e. the container is ip "flattened".
It has to be noted that the function of the heater 50 is to cause a softening of the plastic containers during the compacting cycle, and especially in a manner that the same keep the impressed deformation after the removal from the compacting device. With this original technical solution the increase of collected volumes is avoided and 15 due to the "elastic memory" of the material of the containers 25. It will be apparent that this problem does not exists for metallic containers to be compacted, since the elastic memory of the same it is almost not perceived.
Further, both the housing 200 and the frame 2 may be made in metallic material such as for example, Fe, INOX Steel (AlSI 304), Aluminium alloy, or alternatively in 20 plastic material moulded, such as for example ABS T PC, or the like.
Furthermore, the actuator 24 may be chosen according to the use thereof and among the following: pneumatic actuator, electric actuator, worm screw electric- mechanical actuator, or the like.
With reference now to figures 10 and 11, there is shown an inner structure of a
25 fourth embodiment of the compacting device of the present invention. For the sake of illustrating simplicity, same parts will have same numbers. It has to be noted that this fourth embodiment is addressed to containers in plastic materials, such as PET, PE, and the like, and having a cylindrical shape.
More precisely, on the supporting base 4 and inside of the housing 200 a
30 supporting and positioning structure 31 for the container 25 is fixedly mounted. The structure 31 is a single piece, and constitutes a cradle that comprises a supporting area
310 having a shape complementary to that of the container 25 to be supported, i.e. it is a substantially concave surface.
At the lower part of the structure 31 and on the base 4 there is provided a
35 supporting frame 9 for a suction area 90, the latter being shaped in order to cooperate with the end part of the container 25 and when the latter is arranged onto the former, the suction area has also the function of centring area for the end parts of containers.
The suction area 90 comprises a suction valve (not shown in the figure) which
interfaces with the end part of the container 25, as it will be better shown in the following.
Further, on the base 4 it is mounted a suction system 91 which comprises a vacuum pump pneumatically connected with said suction valve. Furthermore, at the opposite part of the supporting structure 31 it is provided a heating unit 50 for the conveying of the heated air onto the container 25 by means of a duct 51 and through the supporting surface 310 of the supporting structure 31. More precisely, the heating unit 50 is mounted on the base 4 In a manner such that it can suction air from the environment (i.e., outside the housing 200) and by means of one or more suction openings on the base 4 (not shown in figure), and then by conveying the suctioned and heated air through the duct 51 to the structure 31. The structure 31 comprises a plurality of openings or bores (not shown in figure) which allow the heated air passing through and in a manner such that to cross the container 25 with the hot air flow . Figure 11 shows the arrangement of the container 25 on the supporting area
310 and while it is connected to the suction area 90. In this condition, the open end of the container 25 cooperates with the suction valve in the suction area 90, and in a manner such that the air from the open end of the container 25 is suctioned.
More precisely, the suction valve in the area 90 is the interface between the suction system of the air inside of the containers and the environment. This valve comprises a first disc member made of an elastomeric material and having the function of a check valve for the air flow, and a second elastic gasket having the function of sealing member. The whole assembly of the valve it is housed in the area 90 of the supporting frame 9. The valve is pneumatically connected to the suction unit 91. Will be now shown the function of the compacting device according to this fourth embodiment.
As it is possible see, the device according to this fourth embodiment differs from the other preceding embodiments by that for the "compacting" of the container it is used the environment pressure (i.e., the atmospheric pressure) and acting onto the container 25; as a matter of facts the compacting it is realised by suctioning the inside air contained in the inner of the container by means of the suction unit 91. In this manner the container collapses being biased by the environment pressure onto the outside of the container and being not counterbalanced by the missing of the air at the inside of the container. Further, thanks to the heating system 50, it is possible to maintain the collapsed status also after the compacting cycle and after the air suction from the inside of the container itself.
Therefore, for the function, at first the panel door 300 of the housing 200 it is opened by the user and the plastic container 25 it is arranged in the inner and onto the supporting area 31, and arranging the open end part of the container 25 at the suction area 90 (i.e., by arranging the open end of the container 25 in the suction valve). Then, the panel door 300 is closed by the user and the system is started by pressing the starting button 5 on the front part or panel 301.
In this condition the heating unit 50 is started allowing the warm air to flow at the inner area of the housing and onto the container 25 to be compacted. Then, after a predetermined time period (enough to soften the material of the container 25), the suction system 91 is automatically started, the latter stating to suction the air from the inner of the container 25 and blowing the same outside thereof, the unit 91 being connected directly to the suction valve 90.
In this condition, the container 25 starts collapsing up to a condition completely collapsed, and due to the thermal gradient it stands in this collapsed condition. Finally, when the cycle is terminated it is possible to open the panel door 300 and extract the collapsed container 25 from the compacting device.
A detailed description of the operating logic of the device of the present invention will be now given and with reference to figures from 12 to 15.
With reference to figure 12, it shows the operating logic of the "initialising cycle" of the compacting device.
Figure 13 refers to the operating logic of the compacting device for carrying out the "cold" compacting cycle, i.e. for materials that do not foresee a preheating cycle before the compacting thereof, such as metallic containers.
Figure 14 refers to the operating logic of the compacting device for carrying out the "warm" compacting cycle, i.e. for materials that need to be preheated before the compacting thereof, such as plastic containers.
Figure 15 refers to the reset cycle of the compacting device, i.e. when it is necessary to reset the device, for example upon the interruption of energy supply.
Tables here to follow provide the coding of the wording relevant to each step shown in the block diagrams in the figures from 12 to 15.
The table here below shows different inputs coming from sensors and within the meaning of control parameters as shown in figure 12.
6 SCP Pane! door closing Bin 1/0
Where:
FCS1 Sensing maximum load to return run of worm screw - Micro switch PBL Sensing presence of container - Photoelectric cell FCS2 Sensing the position at starting cycle - Micro switch FCH Sensing the condition of maximum press on the container onto the worm screw - Micro switch
FC12 Sensing the maximum run for the compacting - Micro switch SCP Sensing the closing of the panel - Micro switch
For what concerns the control panel 301 which is the interface for the user, the following writings and/or buttons are provided:
Further, on the control panel 301 there are provided the following warning lights 6:
For what concerns power devices, the following parameters are as follows:
Finally, for what concerns the parameters for the time period of each process
(TIMERS) the following values are provided as follows:
As it is apparent from the above description, according to a first advantage of the present invention, different compacting cycles may be obtained by pre-selecting a respective button 5 onto the control panel 301 of the housing 200 of the device, the button 5 showing the type/kind of the item to be compacted (for example, PET or cans), the choice will lead to a different subsequent collecting of the compacted item in different waste containers.
The whole controlling of the device and the choice of all the function variables is wholly automated by the control unit which controls the device of the present invention, thereby achieving a high precision and reliability process. Further, the following supplementary functions may be provided :
• Automated identification of type of material to be treated (plastic or metal);
• Automated choice of the compacting cycle (according to the identification of the material);
• Weight sensing of the container; • Data Memory/Writing of the compacted/recycled material (weight, number, user data, etc.) onto external memory devices (memories USB, Memory Cards, Microchips, etc.);
• Automated expelling of the compacted container;
• Automated selection of the waste collecting container for the compacted container.
It has to be here noted that the whole cycle it is controlled by the electronics on board the device, which has separated actuating devices for the suction, the ventilating, and the heating processes. The operating logic of the compacting device of the present invention may be wholly automated o semi-automated, wherein it is provided that each component device/actuator included in the present compacting device be assisted by an electric circuit that may comprise, for example, EEPROM, PLC, o similar, and that interfaces with the user and with all the components by means of the buttons 5 according to the above illustrated compacting device of the present invention. Further, it may be provided a remote data transmission relevant to the compacting cycle and to the number of compacted items to the outside or to servers companies for the organizing thereof. Therefore, it is possible to achieve a further optimising of the collecting service (domicile, condominiums, stocking places, etc.).
Furthermore, thanks to the electronics it is possible to achieve a collecting mapping and statistics (relevant data for average collecting to be recycled). Further, thanks to the presence of a logical control unit it may be provided that the same interface with a remote communication system, and for the sake of information and data collecting. For example, the communication electronics may include a circuit board for the sending of SMS to a main server. On the other hand, it may include further boards for connecting with domestic LAN webs, DSL/ADSL webs, wireless webs, and the like.
Further, the whole device 1 and its components may be made in a metallic material, for example Fe, INOX Steel - AlSI 304), Aluminium alloys, as well as in plastic material, for example press moulded ABS, PC, and the like.
To those skilled in the art it will be apparent that the present invention can be modified without departing from the spirit thereof, and always comprised within the field of the annexed claims.
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