DESCRIPTION

Field of the invention

The present invention refers to the technical field of waste disposal devices, and in particular it regards a portable device and a system for compressing disposable kegs for liquid foodstuffs.

The device according to the invention is suitable for reducing disposable kegs into plastic disc-shaped elements, so as to facilitate the disposal thereof.

The invention also regards a disposable keg for liquid foodstuffs that is easy to dispose.

State of the Art

The need for disposing disposable kegs for liquid foodstuffs after utilisation thereof is known. Usually, disposal occurs by throwing them into waste containers as they are.

However, the sizeable overall dimension of the disposable kegs, essentially obtained from polyethylene containers, does not always enable to throw them into the standard containers placed on the roadside, thus requiring transferring them to the waste site. Besides entailing an overt inconvenience when it comes to disposal thereof, it also implies an increase of the environmental impact arising therefrom.

Summary of the invention

An object of the present invention is to at least partly overcome the drawbacks illustrated above, by providing a portable device for compressing disposable kegs for liquid foodstuffs that is highly efficient and relatively inexpensive.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable device for compressing disposable kegs that is particularly light and easy to handle.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a particularly efficient waste disposal system made of plastic material.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a disposable keg for liquid foodstuffs capable of simplifying the disposal thereof.

These objects, just like the ones outlined below, are attained by a waste disposal system made of plastic material and by a portable device that can be used therein as described, illustrated and/or claimed herein.

On the other hand, there may be provided a disposable keg as described, illustrated and claimed herein.

The dependent claims describe advantageous embodiments of the invention.

Brief description of the drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be more apparent in light of the detailed description of a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment of the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example with reference to the attached drawings, wherein :

FIGS. 1 and 2 are schematic lateral views of a device 1 in different operative configurations;

FIG. 3 is an axonometric schematic view of a device 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the disposable keg K including a drawing cannula DC;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the drawing cannula DC.

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment

With reference to the aforementioned figures, herein described is a waste disposal system made of plastic material comprising at least one disposable keg K for liquid foodstuffs and at least one portable device 1.

Suitably, the device 1 may be particularly suitable for compressing the disposable kegs K so as to reduce the latter into disc-shaped elements D so as to facilitate the disposal thereof.

The disposable keg K may comprise a substantially cylindrical container C made of polymeric material, for example PET, a bag B for foodstuffs inserted into the container C and a lower portion F that may comprise a bottom part.

The disposable keg K may also comprise means for supplying the liquid foodstuff towards the external, possibly having an drawing ca nnula DC operatively connected to a valve assembly V.

The container C, the bag B and the valve assembly V may preferably be obtained as disclosed by the international patent application n° WO2017064653, on behalf of the Applicant, whose content shall be deemed incorporated to the present description.

The drawing cannula DC may be suitably collapsible, so as to fold upon compressing the disposable keg K.

To this end, the drawing cannula DC may be made up of a plurality of longitudinal portions DC, DC"...) arranged two by two joined by a narrowed section S.

The drawing cannula DC may be suitably obtained in a single food grade polymeric material, for example polyethylene or polypropylene.

Thanks to this characteristic, the disposable keg K compression operation will be extremely easy even if the container C houses the bag B and drawing cannula DC.

As a matter of fact, the presence of narrow sections S, will facilitate the mechanical collapse of the drawing cannula DC. As a matter of fact, the drawing cannula DC will fold on itself upon compression, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

Each of the longitudinal portions DC, DC"... of the drawing cannula DC may include a central main body MB and a plurality of fins F extending transversely or perpendicularly therefrom.

The portable device 1 may comprise a longitudinal support structure 10 defining an axis X, the latter preferably being substantially cylindrical-shaped and thus possibly comprising a lateral wall 11.

The disposable keg K and the cylindrical support structure 10 may be mutually and coaxially couplable to each other. In particular, the cylindrical support structure 10 may have a diameter substantially equal to or slightly larger than the diameter of the disposable keg K and, in particular, than the diameter of the container C.

The disposable keg K may be placed on an abutment surface S. In particular, the lower portion F of the latter may be placed on such abutment surface S.

The support structure 10 may be suitably open at the lower part so as to be placed on the abutment surface S, for example the surface of a floor, a table or the like so that the lower portion F of the disposable keg K rests against the floor, table or the like.

According to a different embodiment, the cylindrical support structure 10 may comprise a bottom wall defining the abutment surface S.

In any case, the device 1 may further comprise heating means 20 associated to at least one portion 12 of the lateral wall 11 of the cylindrical support structure 10.

The portion 12 may be advantageously positioned between the central part of the lateral wall 11 and the bottom, about half-way. In other words, the portion 12 may be positioned at about a quarter of the height of the lateral wall 11.

The heating means 20 may be suitably configured and/or dimensioned to heat the disposable keg K inserted into the cylindrical support structure 10 so as to reduce the mechanical strength of the container C.

The heating means 20 may comprise one or more electrical resistors 21 arranged at the portion 12 of the lateral wall 11, externally thereto

The electrical resistors 21 may be thermally insulated, for example inserted into a casing 2Γ made of insulating material.

For example, the electrical resistors 21 may be substantially circular and coaxial to the lateral wall 11 externally thereto.

Thus, the container C can be inserted/removed into/from the cylindrical wall 11 without impacting against the electrical resistors 21.

The portion 12 of the lateral wall 11 may suitably have a plurality of through holes 13 so as to facilitate the flow of heat therethrough and thus the heating of the container C.

For example, such resistors 21 may be configured to heat the container C at the portion 12 at a temperature higher than 30° C, preferably at a temperature comprised between 80° C and 100° C.

The entire lateral wall 11 may possibly comprise such through holes 13 so that the device 1 is light thus making the same extremely easy to handle.

Externally to the lateral wall 11, there may be advantageously arranged a further cylindrical lateral wall 15, coaxially to the first, so as to interpose an interspacee 16 between the two walls.

In light of the relatively high operating temperatures, the interspace 16 may suitably act as an insulating means, so as to prevent the user of the device 1 from suffering burns when using the same upon placing the hand on the external of the lateral wall 15.

To this end, the interspace 16 may be suitably dimensioned and/or configured. For example, it may simply be an air interspace or it may be at least partly filled with insulating material.

In any case, in the operating position the support structure 10 may have a substantially vertical axis X while the lower portion F of the disposable keg K may rest against the abutment surface S.

In particular, thanks to the action of the electrical resistors 21, the container C may mechanically collapse along the same axis X, thus obtaining a disc-shaped element D.

Suitably, there may be provided pressing means 30 susceptible to interact - at the top part of the disposable keg K - to promote the mechanical collapse of the container C.

The pressing means 30 may comprise a weight mass acting on the disposable keg K through a weight force thereof so as to facilitate the collapse thereof under the weight of the weight mass.

In particular, the pressing means 30 may comprise a substantially disc-shaped body 31 having a diameter substantially equal to or slightly smaller than the diameter of the cylindrical support structure 10 and a handle 32 graspable by the operator.

In other words, the disc-shaped body 31 may define the weight mass.

The support structure 10 may suitably be open - at the top part - to enable the removable insertion of the disc-shaped body 31 thereinto.

On the other hand, the support structure 10 may have a lower edge 14 at the lower opening or at the bottom wall, i.e. on the opposite side with respect to the upper opening.

In particular, the resistors 21 may be arranged in proximity of the lower edge 14, preferably at a pre-established height from the abutment surface S.

This height may be substantially equivalent to the height of the disc-shaped element. The operator may operatively position the support structure 10 vertically on the floor S and insert the disposable keg K thereinto.

The operator may subsequently activate the resistors 21, for example by operatively connecting them to the power mains through a power socket 21", and positioning the discshaped body 31 above the disposable keg K.

The container C may automatically collapse, i.e. without requiring the presence of an operator, forming the disc-shaped element D.

Once the latter is formed, the operator may move the support structure 10 away from the floor S so that both the disc-shaped element D and the disc-shaped body 31 project from the lower opening of the support structure 10.

It is clear that timers and/or sensors for detecting the presence of the container C which may be operatively connected with the resistors 21 to selectively activate and/or deactivate them, may be provided for.

The invention is susceptible to numerous modifications and variants, all falling within the scope of protection of the attached claims. All details can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements, and the materials can be different depending on the technical needs, without departing from the scope of protection defined by the attached claims.