SALDA, Luciano (Via Roma 11, Vignola, Province Of Modena, I-41058, IT)
| CLAIMS
1. Machine for the compression and disposal of waste produced by canteens or other catering facilities which use disposable or reusable cutlery and dishes, said machine being of the type which uses a screw press (3) which is inclined upwards with its mouth which discharges the compressed waste into a removable bin or container (5) and which receives the said waste via a loading hopper (503) which is open upwards, characterized in that the said press is housed inside an encased frame in the form of a prism with a rectangular base, with outer walls made of stainless steel and/or other hygienically cleanable material and with dimensions such as to have a substantially horizontal upper surface (10) which has a sufficiently large extension and is situated at a distance from the ground such that it may be used in an ergonomic manner as a spacious and comfortable working surface by an operator on one side of the machine who places on this surface the trays with the waste material and the dirty dishes and cutlery and who discards the said waste into at least one opening (20) situated at one end or short side of this working surface (10) and adjacent to the underlying loading hopper of the press (3), it being envisaged that the said trays, together with the cutlery and dishes, after initial cleaning of the waste, are deposited and if necessary stored on the other end of the said working surface (10) and are transferred into a dishwasher by the said operator or by a second operator working on the other side of the machine.
2. Machine according to Claim 1 , in which the said encased frame has a height of about one metre, for example about 800-900 mm, has a length of about 1500- 1800 mm and has a width related to the number of screw presses (3) housed inside it and in any case not greater than about 1000-1500 mm. 3. Machine according to Claim 1 , in which the upper surface (10) of the encased frame is provided, at the same end or along a short side, with several adjacent discharge mouths (20, 20', 20") leading into corresponding hoppers (503) of a corresponding number of screw presses (3) which discharge their contents into respective collecting bins (5), all of which being envisaged so as to perform selective disposal of the waste, with separation for example of the organic waste from bottles made of PET and/or other plastic material and from tins.
4. Machine according to Claim 1 , in which the said discharge opening (20) is provided in the lowermost part of a recessed impression in the form of a chute (220) formed on the upper working surface (10) of the said machine and is provided with edges (120, 320) folded downwards so as to form draining surfaces in order to facilitate the convergence of the liquids by means of gravity and the general channelling of the waste into the same discharge opening (20) and the total transfer of the said waste into the underlying loading hopper (503) of the screw press (3). 5. Machine according to Claim 1 , in which the said discharge opening (20) is delimited on three sides and at the top by a hood (21 ) open towards the said chute- like impression (220) which projects over a suitable distance from the said hood. 6. Machine according to Claim 5, in which the said hood (21 ) may be provided with a hatch which can be closed when the said machine is at rest. 7. Machine according to Claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises a robust wheeled support frame (1 ) which is made with steel sections and has the form of a prism with a rectangular base and inside which the screw press or presses (3) and the associated upwardly open loading hopper or hoppers (503) are fixed, this frame (1 ) being closed at the front by panels (6, 6') which can be removed or opened in the manner of a door, being closed laterally by panels which are fixed or, if necessary, can also be removed and being closed at the top by a cover (10) which can also be opened or removed and which forms the said substantially horizontal working surface, there being envisaged special safety microswitches (8, 8', 19) for interrupting the power supply to the machine when the movable panels from among the said panels or the said cover are opened or removed.
8. Machine according to Claim 7, in which the said frame (1 ) does not have any cross-members on the end side occupied by the preferably wheeled bin or bins (5) for collecting the compressed waste so as to allow easy removal and the subsequent introduction of these components after removing or opening the corresponding front panel (6) of the machine casing.
9. Machine according to Claim 7, in which the said cover (10) is provided pehmetrally with a reinforcing edge (1 10) which is folded downwards and which is arranged on the outside of the lateral buffer zones of the said machine, also with the function of a draining surface, this edge being provided in the middle of the short sides with external handles (14) and, parallel to these sides, the bottom face of the said cover having, fixed thereto, angle-pieces (11 , 11 ') which with their ends are suitably set back from the long sides of the said cover so as to form channels (12, 12') which may receive the ends (1 13, 313) of T-shaped supports (13) arranged horizontally and fixed with their shanks (213) to the corner uprights of the frame (1 ). 10. Machine according to Claim 9, characterized in that it comprises stanchions (15, 15') which are hinged with their ends on the corner uprights of the frame (1 ), which in the rest condition rest horizontally on special side brackets (16, 16') and which in the raised position may be inserted into one of the said bottom end channels (12, 12') of the cover (10) in order to keep the latter raised in the longitudinally inclined position. 11. Machine according to Claim 7, in which the said cover (10) may be provided pehmetrally with a raised retaining edge (23) designed in any way such as to allow easy and complete cleaning thereof and of the adjacent surface of the cover, this edge for example being removable or being fixed to the cover with small spacers arranged at intervals. 12. Machine according to Claim 7, in which the said cover (10) may be provided pehmetrally and integrally with a slightly raised portion for retaining the liquids, which portion does not have sharp edges and for this reason may be easily cleaned.
13. Machine according to Claim 7, in which the said cover (10) may be characterized by a slight longitudinal and/or transverse inclination, with slight lowering in the direction of the discharge opening or openings (20), in order to facilitate the outflow of liquids towards the latter.
14. Machine according to Claim 1 , in which the discharge opening (20) may be provided underneath with a pivoting drawer (24) which collects the waste and allows monitoring thereof by means of a sensor (27) which detects any presence of metal in order to prevent the latter from directly reaching the screw press (3), this drawer being operated by special driving means (25, 26) which, if no metal parts are found, empty it cyclically by means of a rotation through 180° and then bring it back into the upwardly open position in order to receive new waste. |
TITLE
"Machine for the compression and disposal of waste" DESCRIPTION The invention relates to a machine for the compression and disposal, also selectively, of the waste produced by canteens or other catering facilities which use disposable or reusable cutlery and/or dishes.
At present it is known that there exist machines to be used in canteens or in other catering premises, which perform compression of the waste discarded inside them via one or more side hatches often provided with pivoting drawers so as to collect the waste and discharge it at the bottom, with the feeding opening being closed off, in order to present direct contact from the outside with the underlying compression means and so as to be able to perform prior monitoring with special sensors as to the presence of cutlery and/or other metal parts in the waste which is cyclically disposed of. The waste discarded inside the machine is collected by a hopper which feeds it to a screw press which is inclined longitudinally upwards with its mouth which discharges the compacted waste inside bags situated inside wheeled bins which are periodically extracted in order to remove the full bags and replace them with new bags. The hatches for introducing the waste are situated on one side or on both opposite sides of the casing of the machine and are in a relatively high position from the ground. In some cases, the casing of the machine is provided with a small shelf in a lowered position, positioned usually above the zone for collecting the compressed waste, so that it is possible to deposit there a stack of empty trays, after the waste has been removed from them. These machines are not suitable for use in canteens where reusable cutlery and dishes are used and where it is required to perform selective disposal of the waste, involving at least separation of the plastic (PET or the like), tins and organic waste with any paper. In order to satisfy the requirements of these canteens, where the operator who performs disposal of the waste must generally co-operate with a second operator who collects the trays, dishes and cutlery which are free of waste but still dirty, and transfers them all to a
dishwasher, a machine with the characteristic features according to the accompanying claims has been devised, said machine comprising an encased frame in the form of a prism with a rectangular base, which is externally made of material which can be hygienically cleaned, for example stainless steel, provided with a spacious, horizontal, upper working surface, situated at a small distance from the ground, so as to be able to place there easily the trays with the waste and with the dishes and cutlery. At least one of the short sides of this working surface is provided with one or more openings inside which the operator may easily insert the waste to be disposed of, with selection or separation of the said waste which will be taken up by respective screw presses and compressed and discharged into respective containers. The operator who performs disposal of the waste, works on one side of the machine, while a second operator works on the opposite side, collecting the empty trays, the dishes and the cutlery and transferring them all into the dishwasher. Further characteristic features of the invention and the advantages arising therefrom will emerge more clearly from the following description provided with reference to the figures of the accompanying plates of drawings in which:
- Fig. 1 shows a side view of the machine, with parts cross-sectioned;
- Fig. 2 is a view, from above, of the upper working surface of the machine, in the version with a single opening for discharging the waste; - Figs. 3 and 4 show details of the surface according to Figure 2, viewed along the cross-sections indicated by Ill-Ill and IV-IV, respectively;
- Fig. 5 is a front view of the machine with the working surface raised at the end situated above the zone for collecting the compressed waste;
- Fig. 6 shows a side view, with parts cross-sectioned, of a possible embodiment of the discharge opening or chute for the waste, in the version with sensor for detecting any cutlery or other metal parts among the said waste;
- Fig. 7 is a schematic and perspective view of the machine in the version with three distribution channels for selective disposal of the waste.
From Figure 1 it can be seen that the machine comprises a robust support frame 1 in the form of a prism with a rectangular base, which is made of steel tubular sections,
provided at the bottom with wheels 2 fitted with a brake, having a height of between for example 1000-500 mm, for example in the region of 900-800 mm, so that the upper surface of the casing of this frame (see below) may be used in an ergonomic manner as a spacious and comfortable working surface. The length of the frame 1 is in the region of 1500-1600 mm, while its width is related to the number of screw presses housed inside it (see below) and may be about 600-760 mm when the machine is equipped with a single disposal channel, as in the example according to Figures 2 to 5. The frame 1 has, fixed inside it longitudinally, at least one screw press 3 which is situated at the bottom with its feeder mouth 103 and with the actuating gearmotor 203 and which with its discharge mouth, with the constriction means 303, is situated at the other end of the frame 1 and in a high position. The bottom end of the press 3 may be usefully provided with a duct 403 for discharging the excess liquid present in the waste, while the feeder mouth 103 of the said press is connected to a loading hopper 503 which is open with its mouth in the top part of the frame 1 and fixed to this frame. The top part of the hopper 503 may be usefully provided with means 4 which, in phase synchronism, spray disinfecting liquid into the said hopper.
The discharge mouth of the press 3 may be provided, underneath, with a special apron 603 for collecting and draining downwards any liquid which emerges together with the waste; a bin 5, with or without a bag, may be envisaged for collecting the compressed waste discharged from the said press and this bin is preferably provided with special bottom wheels 105. The end side of the frame 1 which houses the bin 5 does not have any cross-members or other transverse obstructions so that the said bin 5 may be easily inserted and extracted and may be correctly fixed in an active position using special means (not shown). The end side of the frame 1 situated opposite the bin 5 is closed by a panel 6 which may be easily removed and repositioned and is provided at the top with special handles 106 and provided at the bottom with special means 206 for engagement with corresponding seats on the corner uprights of the frame 1 and which with the top part is secured to these same uprights by means of magnetic closures 7, as can also be seen from Figure 5. It is
understood that mechanical latches, which can be operated for example by means of the handles 106, may be provided in place of the magnetic closures 7 and that the panel 6 may be differently designed for a hatch opening pivotably mounted on vertical hinges. The correct closing position of the front panel 6 is detected by a safety sensor 8 which draws voltage from the machine whenever the said panel 6 is opened or removed. A removable panel 6', which is identical in all respects to the panel 6 mentioned above, with all the associated accessory parts, is envisaged at the other end of the frame 1 , so as to allow rapid access to all the parts of the machine situated at this end. The sides of the frame 1 are closed also by panels 9, 9' (Figs. 1 and 5) which, if necessary, may be removed by acting on the inside of the said frame 1 , i.e. only after removing the end panels 6, 6' and/or the upper working surface of the machine (see below) which are all equipped with safety sensors, so that it is not necessary to envisage corresponding sensors also for the side panels 9, 9'. The top part of the frame 1 is closed by a covering panel 10 which is also removable (Figs. 1 and 5) and which, like the previous side buffer panels, is preferably made of stainless steel or other material suitable for the purpose. The cover 10 is provided pehmetrally with an edge 1 10 folded at 90° and having a reinforcing function as well as acting as a draining surface since it is situated outside the top part of the panels 6, 6', 9, 9', in order to prevent infiltration of liquid inside the frame 1. Angle pieces 1 1 , 1 1 ' are fixed by means of spot-welding parallel to the short edges of the cover 10, on the inner side of the latter, said angle pieces forming with the corresponding short sides 1 10 channels 12, 12' which are open downwards and suitably set back from the long edges of the cover 10. The ends of these channels are engaged by the longer end section 1 13 of horizontal pivoting supports 13 in the form of an asymmetrical T which are fixed with their shanks 213 to the corner uprights of the frame 1 and which with the other short end section 313 co-operate with the long edges 1 10 of the cover 10 in order to keep the latter correctly centred during raising, for which purpose the said cover 10 has been provided in the middle of the short sides with special external handles 14, 14'. By means of these handles, the cover 10 may be raised and removed completely or may be raised at one end or the other one, pivoting with the
other end on the supports 13 or 13', as indicated in Figure 1 in broken lines and as shown in Figure 5. In such cases it is possible to fix stably the cover 10 in the inclined and raised position, by means of bracing stanchions 15, 15' which are made of round metal bar having the form of an overturned U and which are hinged at the ends 1 15, 1 15' with the corner uprights of the frame 1 and which, when they are in the horizontal rest position, rest on special support brackets 16, 16'. When the stanchions 15 or 15' are raised in order to support the cover 10, they rest with their raised end sections in the bottom end channels 12 or 12' of the said cover 10. The bottom side of the cover 10, along one of its long sides and halfway along this side, has fixed perpendicularly a downwardly directed lug 17 which, when the said cover is in a horizontal position, co-operates with a positioning guide 18 and with a sensor 19 fixed to the adjacent upper longitudinal member of the frame 1. When the cover 10 is raised, at either end, the lug 17 disengages from the sensor 19 which interrupts the power supply to the machine. By means of shearing, pressing and folding operations, a short side of the cover 10 has, formed therein, in a middle position, an opening 20 (Figs. 1 , 2 and 4) which is defined laterally by edges 120 folded downwards at an angle of about 45° and has, adjacent thereto, a recessed impression 220 which is inclined in the manner of a chute and provided at the bottom with a transverse edge 320 which is also suitably folded downwards at an angle for example of about 40-45 . The side of the opening 20 opposite to the chute 220 is provided with an edge 420 which is folded upwards and provided with holes and over which a hood 21 made for example of plastic material is fixed, said hood being designed to be fixed with its sides also to holes 22 provided on the cover 10, laterally with respect to the opening 20, which, as can be seen from Figure 1 , is correctly centred on the upper mouth of the hopper 503.
The machine is completed by an optional raised edge 23 to be fixed onto the perimeter of the cover 10, using any solution which allows easy and total cleaning of the surfaces of these components, this edge being for example removable or being fixed to the cover with small spacers arranged at intervals. The control panel, not
shown, with emergency pushbutton for rapid stopping of the said machine is provided on one side of the machine.
An operator stands on one side of the machine and switches it on, activating the press 3 and all the parts associated with the latter. This same operator removes from a trolley the trays with any remaining food and with the dirty cutlery and dishes and deposits them on the cover 10 of the machine from where he/she may easily perform disposal of the waste, introducing it into the opening 20. Owing to the presence of the chute 220 in front of the discharge opening 20, any residual liquid is able to be easily channelled into the said opening 20 which, as a result of its bottom configuration in the form of a draining surface, will guide everything into the loading hopper 503 of the machine. A second operator standing on the other side of the machine removes the trays, the dishes and the cutlery initially cleaned by the first operator, but still dirty, and places everything inside the continuous-cycle dishwasher. It is obvious that, if a second operator is not available, a single operator may collect together on the working surface 10 the trays, the cutlery and the dishes after removing the waste from them and may him/herself periodically transfer the objects collected into the dishwasher.
The press 3 compresses the waste and discharges it into the collection bin 5 which will be provided with means for detecting the level and/or weight for signalling the need to empty and/or replace periodically the said bin when full. The means 4 will periodically introduce disinfecting liquid into the hopper, in particular upon interruption of each working cycle which will ensure the continued timed operation of the press 3 for emptying thereof and introduction of a correct quantity of disinfecting liquid into the hopper 503 by the said means 4, in order to prevent the formation of unpleasant smells. If necessary, the hood 21 may be provided with a small hatch allowing closure during periods when the machine is inactive.
If necessary, the machine may be provided with means for detecting the presence of cutlery or other metal parts in the waste which is cyclically discarded through the opening 20 and/or other opening 20', 20" (see below). For this purpose, as shown in Figure 6, the opening 20 may be provided at the bottom with a drawer 24 which
pivots on a horizontal axis, operated by an actuator 25 controlled by an encoder device 26. The drawer 24 is normally open upwards, so as to collect the waste which is fed into it through the opening 20 and a sensor 27 is provided outside the said mouth 20 for detecting the possible presence of metal in the discarded waste. If metal is present, the sensor 27 causes stoppage of the machine, which will be able to be started again only after an operator has raised the cover 10 and removed the metal from the drawer 24. If, on the other hand, the sensor 27 does not detect the presence of metal, the drawer 24 is cyclically rotated through 180 in order to discharge its waste contents into the hopper 503 and then the same drawer is brought back into the initial upwards open position, in order to receive new waste. If necessary, the machine may be structured as shown schematically in Figure 7, with a length of about 900-1000 mm, so that its cover may be provided with several discharge openings arranged alongside each other, for example three in number, as indicated by 20, 20' and 20", with associated hoods 21 , and each opening leads into an underlying press the outlet of which in turn communicates a respective bin for collecting the compressed waste. With this solution the machine will be able to allow selective disposal of the waste, with the opening 20 closest to the operator being intended preferably for discarding organic, wet and paper waste, while the other two openings may be designed, for example, such that the opening 20' is used for discarding bottles made of PET and/or other plastic materials and the opening 20" is used for discarding tins.
According to a small constructional variant, the said cover 10 may have a slightly raised pehmetral portion for retaining the liquids, which does not have sharp edges and for this reason may be easily cleaned, and the same cover may also, where necessary, be designed with a slight longitudinal and/or transverse inclination, with slight lowering in the direction of the discharge opening or openings 20, 20', 20", in order to facilitate the outflow of the liquids towards the latter.