MALHEIRO QUEIRÓS DE MELO, Francisco, José (Rua 5 de Outubro, nº 497, Porto, PT)
LOUREIRO AMARAL, João, Pedro (Rua Lauro Corado nº. 28, 1ºDto.-trás, Forca-Aveiro, P-3800, PT)
D'OREY DE ANDRADE CAMPOS, António, Gil (Rua José Luciano de Castro, 176 5ºA, -205 Aveiro, P-3800, PT)
MALHEIRO QUEIRÓS DE MELO, Francisco, José (Rua 5 de Outubro, nº 497, Porto, PT)
LOUREIRO AMARAL, João, Pedro (Rua Lauro Corado nº. 28, 1ºDto.-trás, Forca-Aveiro, P-3800, PT)
| Claims [Claim 1] Equipment for domestic waste compaction, characterized in that an electro-mechanical mechanism is used with compression pads (2) in order to execute compaction and compression. [Claim 2] Equipment according to claim 1, comprising an outer structure of support (1) for the transmission arms (3) also including the compression pads (2), the mechanical drive elements, as toothed gears (4, 7, 10) and shaft (5), the motor-speed reducer (8) and the protective bag 12 to be adapted to the outer body of support (1), and wherein waste (13) is deposed. [Claim 3] Equipment according to claims 1 and 2, characterizing in that the radial motion of the compression pads (2) in conjunction with the rotation of transmission arms (3) associated to the compression pads, toothed wheels (4, 7, 10), the motor power being transmitted by the shaft (5) which is coaxial with the main axis of the outer body (1), so as to move the gear sectors in the arms (3). [Claim 4] Equipment according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said pads (2), approach the centre in a radial motion after rotation of gear (4) engaging with arms (3), thus performing the compaction of the waste. [Claim 5] Equipment according to claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the control of motor (8) can be a button, a lever or a pedal. [Claim 6] Equipment according to claims 1 to 4, characterized in that mechanical transmissions of moving arms (3) to the motor can be carried out by toothed gears, chains or shafts or any other mechanical transmission system. [Claim 7] Equipment according to claims 1 to 4, characterized in that several compacting speeds are selected so as to allow different waste volumes or types. [Claim 8] Equipment according to claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it might comprise waste collection. [Claim 9] Equipment according to any of the previous claims comprising control and safety devices. [Claim 10] Equipment according to claim 9 characterized in that a control device sets maximum waste compression rate. [Claim 11] Equipment according to claim 9 characterized in that the control device does not allow compaction when the cover of waste container is open . |
Title of Invention: DOMESTIC WASTE COMPACTOR
Technical domain
[1] The high number of industrial products led to an increase on soils and water pollution, worsening people's health conditions around the world. The amount of produced waste led to a new problem: the rapid shortage of available landfill sites and lack of space for storing and/or processing waste. This implies an accretion inside public waste containers, open air dumping, river banks, roads, etc.
[2] The incorrect waste packing means risks for environment pollution and public health.
Therefore, waste accumulation has become not only an environmental, but also a public health problem. Until recently, domestic waste consisted mainly of food supplies, easily decomposed by natural biologic processes. With the increase of industrial progress and population, a new type of waste emerged which consisted of deposed packing (glass, plastics, steal and aluminum) and non-reusable products (plastic glasses, disposable baby diapers) which are hardly decomposable in nature.
[3] Thanks to these factors, alternatives were developed for a more adequate solution for the generated waste above mentioned. The compaction can be an answer to the problem, as the major problem is waste storage and transportation. The reduction of waste volume leads to a major profit in filling landfill sites, as they can receive more volume of disposable product, lengthening their storage useful life. The waste compactor is an appliance capable of compressing waste in order to reduce its volume within containers, thus the hygiene and safety conditions. Background of the invention
[4] Modern waste compactors operate with an axial compression force, either raising or lowering a ram having a square or rectangular shaped section. These waste compactors generally are cumbersome and hardly adapted to existing kitchen waste containers.
[5] From a research made on the state-of-the-art, two documents can be pointed out:
European Patent application EP0733466A2 (Gianfranco Meloni): refers to a vertical cylindrical waste compactor with the traditional circular piston to compact the waste deposed in a cylindrical container, within which the piston operates.
[6] Document DE202004009948 (Marc Hueffer): proposing a domestic waste container having a trapezoidal linkage system to compress the deposed waste also in a vertical- axial motion- gears are used to drive the compression ram. However axial movement is the only direction made possible.
[7] None of both documents mentioned explains how the compression and compaction takes place (domestic waste compactor) based on a radial compression movement, where the waste is basically strangled by the simultaneous action of two pads 2 and which provides the advantage of a design where cylinders or rams, are not needed, thus saving the overall size. Description of the invention
[8] The present invention refers to an equipment to compress and compact domestic waste, i.e., a domestic waste compactor whose operation is based on the movement of squeezing by constriction.
[9] This equipment is particularly indicated for the case of domestic waste containers with cylindrical geometry, as it is the case of most domestic waste containers either integrated or not in the kitchen. It might be adapted to the already installed waste containers, not needing new containers or new room in the kitchen. With this equipment, the reduction of waste volume is obtained and the number of times required for waste disposal.
[10] The domestic waste radial compactor according to the present invention, comprises an outer cylindrical structure of support which supports and assembles the mechanical arms driving the radial compression pads, a gear reduction and the waste bag support and mechanical elements such as toothed wheels, keys, and bolts.
[11] Thus, the equipment according to the present invention is characterized in that it is a mechanical equipment, specially conceived to execute domestic waste compaction through radial motion. Brief description of figures
[12] Fig. 1 is a simplified schematic perspective view of a longitudinal section of the waste compactor according to the invention;
Fig. 2 is a perspective representation of the said equipment in fig. 1 with some items removed; and
Fig. 3 is a top view of the said equipment in fig. 1 ; Detailed description of the invention
[13] With reference to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, wherein the equipment consists of a set of organs represented in said figures, assembled as hereinafter described.
[14] The supporting structure or outer body 1 has the function of housing, aggregating and assembling in its interior the different components of the equipment.
[15] On the outer body 1, the transmission arms 3 are assembled with respective compaction pads 2 which compress the waste. The connection between the outer body 1 and transmission arms 3 allows uniquely a rotation motion around a vertical axis. The connection between the transmission arms 3 and respective compression pads 2 allows a free rotation of the pads around a vertical axis.
[16] The set involving toothed gear 4 and Keyed shaft 5 is mounted in position by outer body 1 and is connected by geared sectors to the transmission arms 3.
[17] Keyed shaft 5 is connected to an electrical motor 8 via a sequenced linkage such as shaft 5; supporting cross frame 6; geared circular sector 7; chain drive 9; toothed gear 10 and electrical motor 8.
[18] Inside the outer body 1 and in contact with compression pads 2, is a protection bag
12, retaining waste 13. This bag may have a drip hole to release liquids from the disposed waste.
[19] The operating principle of this equipment consists mainly in compacting waste 13 contained within bag 12 by driving motion of pads 2.
[20] The operation of the equipment is driven by the operator, switching the motor. The equipment uses a set motor/gear reducer 8 in order to transmit the movement to the mechanical compacting system. Rotation at the motor output is transmitted to a chain drive involving a pinion 10, a chain 9 and a driven wheel 7. Since the chain wheel can be supported by cross frame 6, both elements transmit rotation movements to shaft 5 which in its turn drives toothed wheel 4. From toothed wheel 4, motion is transmitted via geared sectors to transmission arms 3. Due to its geometry, transmission arm 3 turns gear rotation into translation movements. Since the arms are connected to compaction pads 2, they apply a radial compression onto the waste thus compacting it.
[21] The actuation of the engine by the operator can be made by a button, lever or pedal.
[22] The liquid waste can be collected through an orifice in the protective bag.
[23] The waste can have any shape, size and type. It is thus obtained in the form of products, sets of compressed waste whose volume is inferior to the initial waste volume.
[24] Due to its functional and geometric characteristics, this equipment is significantly roomy to be accommodated in any kitchen container 11, turning it into an universal system. This important feature leads to an optimized room in the kitchen.
[25] This equipment can have several modifications, namely as far as overall dimensions, compressing speed, motor type, command control actions, geometry of the moving arms and pads, and type of movement transmission are concerned.
[26] The modification and setting of all parameters allow adapting this equipment to the most varied waste containers, as well as dimensions and shape of waste meant to be compact.
[27] In synthesis, the mechanical components in figures 1 and 3 are merely examples of the inventive concept, the substitution of any components by other equivalents being within the scope of the invention, as specified in the claims.
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