PULPER OR GRINDING SYSTEM. PULPER OR GRINDING SYSTEM

EMPLOYING SAME. AND RELATED METHODS OF OPERATION

FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to receptacles or other structures for collecting material dispensed by pulper or grinding systems, and pulper or grinding systems employing or operating in conjunction with such receptacles or other structures, as well as related methods of operation of such receptacles, other structures, or pulper or grinding systems, and more particularly in at least some embodiments relates to such receptacles or other structures, pulper or grinding systems, and methods of operation in which the material that is collected is waste material.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Food waste pulper systems grind up food waste and often employ a means of dewatering the ground food waste particles, utilizing a discharge chute to release the dewatered material into a collection receptacle or bin. Typically, such chutes are folded sheet-metal or formed plastic parts that are located where the food waste particles exit the dewatering portions of the pulper systems. Such chutes, which can be considered to be parts of the pulper systems, are typically removable from the remainders of the pulper systems to allow for full cleaning of the interior regions of the chute. When implemented in relation to the other portions of the pulper systems, such chutes often are hung or draped over the dewatering components of the pulper systems as covers, so as to allow access to the internal components of the pulper systems for additional cleaning. In other conventional embodiments, the chutes are held onto the dewatering components of pulper systems with fasteners such as bolts or hooked clamps.

[0003] The primary function of such conventional discharge chutes is to control the release of processed food waste material (e.g., ground material or particles) from the pulper systems by directing dispensation of that food waste material into concentrated areas or regions at which are positioned collection receptacles. In some embodiments, such a function can be achieved by utilizing a chute that is essentially an enclosed tube angled towards the ground, sometimes with a secondary bend to aim the exiting food waste material towards the ground. Given such a chute arrangement, when a collection receptacle is additionally placed on the ground underneath a downstream opening of the chute, food waste material (including any water remaining from processing) can be collected within the receptacle. In such embodiments, the receptacle can be considered to be a structure that is separate and distinct from the pulper system.

[0004] Although such conventional pulper systems having discharge chutes often operate in conjunction with receptacles to direct food waste material into receptacles in a manner that (to a significant extent) allows for substantial collection of that food waste material, such conventional pulper systems and associated receptacles nevertheless often are inadequate in various respects.

In particular, notwithstanding the presence of discharge chutes, the pulper systems can still tend to discharge and propel food waste materials in a manner that results in some of the food waste particles landing in various undesirable locations outside of the receptacles, such as on the ground or floor surfaces near the pulper systems.

[0005] Also, notwithstanding the ability of conventional pulper systems to direct food waste materials for collection within receptacles in general, it is still sometimes the case that such pulper systems will eject food waste material at times or in manners that are undesirable. For example, often there are gaps between the tops of the receptacles and the bottoms of the chutes of conventional pulper systems. Such gaps sometimes are intentional and are provided to allow for sufficient clearances between the receptacles and chutes in a variety of circumstances or implementations. However, the presence of such gaps can (unintentionally) allow food waste particles to escape the intended target receptacles or bins during operation of the pulper systems. Also for example, in some circumstances, existing pulper systems may operate to eject food waste material onto the ground or floor surfaces when receptacles such as bins are not present to receive that food waste material, such as when filled bins are being replaced with empty bins.

[0006] Further for example, in some circumstances existing pulper systems may operate to overfill receptacles to such an extent that some of the food waste material falls outside of the receptacles onto the surrounding ground or floor surfaces. Such overfilling can occur for any of a variety of reasons, including for example variations in the height of the floor surfaces upon which the receptacles typically are supported beneath the pulper systems, or because the systems lack the ability to detect level or material piles in given locations within the bins being filled without actually filing (e.g., filling evenly) all areas of those bins. Further, even if such conventional pulper systems do not overfill receptacles to such an extent that food waste material falls outside of the receptacles, such systems may operate in an undesirable manner insofar as the systems may still effectively overfill the receptacles in the sense that the filled receptacles become too heavy for some users to lift or move.

[0007] In addition, it is possible in some conventional systems that an exit point of food waste particles from an output (e.g., an output port of a dewatering unit) may be offset toward one side of the system and not physically centered. During operation of such a conventional system, such an arrangement can result in a clustered, uneven distribution of food waste particles that does not make use of the whole collection bin to be filled with food waste particles. Additionally, the front and side interior surfaces of existing, narrow, straight chutes of some conventional systems, which are better suited to taller, larger receptacles, can experience excessive accumulation of food waste particles along those interior surfaces of the chutes along the (projectile motion) paths of the food waste particles as those particles are released from the dewatering unit. These clumps that are accumulated along the interior surfaces of the chute can later tend to drop off onto the ground when the chute is removed or remain lodged in the chute, which can result in

unappealing smells emanating from the chute over time if the chute is not well cleaned.

[0008] In addition to such disadvantages associated with the operation of conventional pulper systems and associate receptacles, other disadvantages exist as well. Most existing discharge chutes are designed to function with an existing, off the shelf collection receptacle or bin, such as a lO-gallon trash bin or large-wheeled toters, which are available in sizes up to as large as 96- gallons. Such bins are generally tall and have large cross-sectional areas that allow food waste material, as it enters the bins, to self-distribute evenly within the bin. However, the shapes of these bins tend to limit the integration of the bins into the pulper systems, and in practice such bins when implemented in regard to pulper systems often end up sitting outside the footprint of pulper systems, occupying valuable floor space. In some circumstances, this can impede traffic flows (e.g., in terms of people walking within a kitchen area) where pulper systems are used, and also can render the receptacles susceptible to unintended relocations (e.g., a shifting of a bin relative to a chute). Such relocations of the receptacles again can result in food waste material being dispensed onto ground or floor surfaces rather than into the receptacles. [0009] Additionally, even if some conventional pulper systems work with receptacles or bins that can sit entirely within the footprints of the pulper systems, such bins typically are too small to hold a meaningful amount of food waste material. Also, pulper systems employing such receptacles again can suffer from overfilling, especially given that the receptacles (being within the footprints of the pulper systems) are typically shielded from view by users.

[0010] Further, in addition to the above-discussed disadvantages associated with many conventional pulper systems and associate receptacles, it should also be appreciated that, in many conventional pulper systems having discharge chutes, the bulk, fastening methods and construction of the discharge chutes with large, stainless steel panels and various screws, latches, and catches can make these chutes difficult to clean. Indeed, some conventional pulper systems employ hooks to latch a chute against pegs on an exterior of an upper housing, with the interior of the chute ceiling resting against the top of the bill of the upper housing. Although this allowed for the installation and removal of the chute without fasteners, in such arrangements it can be difficult for a user to see and reach well enough into the system to mount the chute properly (at least on a first attempt at installation), especially given tight space considerations. Likewise in some such arrangements, removing the collection bin out of the system can be difficult to accomplish without knocking the chute out of position or off of the system. Also, in some such arrangements, vibrations from the operation of a pulper system’s dewatering unit can cause a chute to move out of the fully installed position. Further, in some conventional embodiments, misalignment of the chute relative to a collection bin can occur. This not only can result in misdirection of waste material (e.g., outside of the bin), but also can result in improper detection of the presence of a collection bin within the system (e.g., a bin may be detected as present when it is not present, or a chute and bin may be determined to be absent even though present).

[0011] Accordingly, it would be desirable if improved receptacles or other structures for collecting material dispensed by pulper or grinding systems, and/or improved pulper or grinding systems employing or operating in conjunction with such receptacles or other structures, and/or improved methods of operation of such receptacles, other structures, or pulper or grinding systems, could be developed that alleviated or addressed one or more of the above-discussed concerns associated with conventional systems and associated receptacles, or alleviated or addressed one or more other concerns or disadvantages, or provided one or more advantages by comparison with conventional arrangements. BRIEF SUMMARY

[0012] In at least some example embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a receptacle for receiving waste material from a pulper or grinding system. The receptacle includes a bin portion and a chute portion supported upon the bin portion. The bin portion has a bottom wall and a plurality of first sidewalls extending upward from the bottom wall. The plurality of first sidewalls includes a first front sidewall, a first rear sidewall, a first right sidewall, and a first left sidewall, and the first sidewalls include upper edge portions that define or substantially define a top edge portion of the bin. Also, the bottom wall and first sidewalls of the bin portion at least partly define a receiving volume that is enclosed or substantially enclosed except for a top orifice formed by, or substantially by, the top edge portion. Additionally, the chute portion includes a top wall and a plurality of second sidewalls extending downward from the top wall. The plurality of second sidewalls includes a second front sidewall extending substantially from the top wall to a front edge of the chute portion, a second rear sidewall extending substantially from the top wall to a rear edge of the chute portion, a sloped sidewall extending substantially from the top wall to a first side edge of the chute portion, and an additional sidewall extending substantially from the top wall to a second side edge of the chute portion. Further, the front, rear, first side, and second side edges of the chute portion define or substantially define a bottom edge portion of the chute portion that is configured to interface with the top edge portion of the bin portion. Additionally, the rear wall of the chute portion includes a rear orifice sized to receive therewithin a part of the pulper or grinding system from which is dispensed the waste material. Further, the top wall and second sidewalls of the chute portion at least partly define an internal cavity that is enclosed or substantially enclosed except for the rear orifice and a bottom orifice formed by, or substantially by, the bottom edge portion, and the sloped sidewall includes a first sloped interior surface, whereby the waste material dispensed from the pulper or grinding system is directed downward and into the bin portion.

[0013] Also, in at least some example embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a pulper or grinding system for processing and collecting waste material. The system includes a grinding unit having a first input port and a first output port, where the grinding unit is configured to receive input material at the first input port and to output ground material at the first output port. Also, the system includes a dewatering unit coupled at least indirectly to the grinding unit, where the dewatering unit includes a second input port by which the dewatering unit receives the ground material and a second output port out from which the dewatering unit propels the processed waste material, and where the dewatering unit includes a rotating member and the processed waste material is propelled out of the second output port due to contact of the processed waste material with the rotating member. Additionally, the system includes a frame that is coupled at least indirectly to, and supports, the grinding unit and the dewatering unit, where the frame additionally includes or supports first and second rails.

[0014] Also, in such example embodiments, the system further includes a receptacle for collecting the processed waste material propelled out of the second output port, the receptacle including a bin portion having a top edge portion and also including a chute portion having a bottom edge portion, where the bottom edge portion interfaces with the top edge portion so that the chute portion is supported by the bin portion. Further, the bin portion includes a bottom wall and a plurality of first sidewalls, where the top edge portion includes first and second lip portions that extend respectively horizontally or substantially-horizontally outward from a receiving volume of the bin portion that is defined by, or substantially by, the bottom wall and first sidewalls, and the bin portion is supported upon the first and second rails by way of the first and second lip portions. Also, the chute portion has a top wall and a plurality of second sidewalls including a rear sidewall having a rear orifice by which a portion of the dewatering unit extends into an internal cavity within the chute portion such that the processed waste material propelled out of the second output port is directed into the internal cavity. Additionally, the plurality of sidewalls of the chute portion include at least one sloped sidewall extending between the top wall and a bottom edge portion, and the at least one sloped sidewall has at least one interior surface that is configured so that the processed waste material propelled into the internal cavity is directed into the receiving volume of the bin portion.

[0015] Further, in at least some example embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a method of operating a pulper or grinding system, where the pulper or grinding system includes a receptacle for collecting waste material. The method includes supporting the receptacle upon at least one rail supported by a frame of the pulper or grinding system, and receiving input material by way of a first input port of a grinding unit of the pulper or grinding system. Also, the method includes grinding the input material by way of the grinding unit to generate ground material based upon the input material, and providing the ground material from a first output port of the grinding unit at least indirectly to a second input port of a dewatering unit of the pulper or grinding system. Additionally, the method includes causing a rotating member of the dewatering unit to rotate, so as to generate the waste material based at least indirectly upon the ground material, and to propel the waste material out of a second output port due to contact of the waste material with the rotating member. Further, the method includes receiving the waste material within an internal cavity of a chute portion of the receptacle, where the chute portion includes a top wall and a plurality of first sidewalls including a rear sidewall having a rear orifice by which a portion of the dewatering unit extends into the internal cavity so that the waste material is propelled from the second output port into the internal cavity. Also, the method includes directing the waste material along at least one interior sloped surface of at least one sloped sidewall of the plurality of first sidewalls, the at least one sloped sidewall extending between the top wall and a bottom edge portion of the chute portion. Further, the method also includes achieving the collecting of the waste material within a bin portion of the receptacle, the bin portion having a top edge portion that interfaces with the bottom edge portion of the chute portion so that the chute portion is supported by the bin portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Embodiments of receptacles or other structures for collecting material dispensed by pulper or grinding systems, and pulper or grinding systems employing or operating in conjunction with such receptacles or other structures, as well as related methods of operation, are disclosed with reference to the accompanying drawings and are for illustrative purposes only.

The receptacles, structures, systems, and methods encompassed herein are not limited in their applications to the details of construction, arrangements of components, or other aspects or features illustrated in the drawings, but rather the present disclosure includes other embodiments capable of being practiced or carried out in other manners. Like reference numerals are used to indicate like components. In the drawings:

[0017] FIG. l is a front elevation view of a pulper or grinding system employing (or operating in conjunction with) a receptacle that serves to collect waste material processed by that system in accordance with an example embodiment encompassed herein; [0018] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the pulper or grinding system of FIG. 1 taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1, which effectively provides a top plan view of portions of that system including the receptacle of FIG. 1;

[0019] FIG. 3 is a cutaway right side elevation view of portions of the pulper or grinding system including the receptacle of FIG. 1;

[0020] FIG. 4 is a cutaway right side perspective view of portions of the pulper or grinding system including the receptacle of FIG. 1, where the portions shown are largely the same portions shown in FIG. 3;

[0021] FIG. 5 is a right side perspective view of the bin portion of the receptacle of FIG. 1;

[0022] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the bin portion of the receptacle of FIG. 1 taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

[0023] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the bin portion of the receptacle of FIG. 1 taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 5;

[0024] FIG. 8 is a cutaway cross-sectional view of a portion of the pulper or grinding system of FIG. 1 with the receptacle not shown, to illustrate an example support rail upon which the receptacle can be supported relative to a remainder of the system;

[0025] FIG. 9 is a front elevation view of a chute portion of the receptacle of FIG. 1;

[0026] FIG. 10 is a right side elevation view of the chute portion of FIG. 9;

[0027] FIG. 11 is a rear elevation view of the chute portion of FIG. 9 and FIG. 10;

[0028] FIG. 12 is a bottom plan view of the chute portion of FIG. 9, FIG. 10, and FIG. 11;

[0029] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the chute portion of FIG. 9, FIG. 10, FIG. 11, and FIG. 12, taken along a line 13-13 of FIG. 10;

[0030] FIG. 14 is an additional cross-sectional view of the chute portion of FIG. 9, FIG. 10, FIG. 11, FIG. 12, and FIG. 13, taken along a line 14-14 of FIG. 12;

[0031] FIG. 15 is a cutaway, cross-sectional view of interfacing portions of the bin portion of

FIG. 5, FIG. 6, and FIG. 7 and chute portion of FIG. 9, FIG. 10, FIG. 11, FIG. 12, FIG. 13, and

FIG. 14 of the receptacle of FIG. 1, when the chute portion is supported by the bin portion;

[0032] FIG. 16 is a cutaway, cross-sectional view of portions of the pulper or grinding system of FIG. 1 taken along a line 16-16 of FIG. 1, where the portions that are shown particularly include portions of the receptacle and a dewatering unit of the system; [0033] FIG. 17 is a cutaway, cross-sectional view of portions of the pulper or grinding system of FIG. 1 also taken (as with FIG. 16) along the line 16-16 of FIG. 1, where the portions that are shown include not only the portions of the receptacle and dewatering unit shown in FIG. 16 but also other portions of the system as well;

[0034] FIG. 18 is a cutaway, cross-sectional view showing the same portions of the pulper or grinding system as shown in FIG. 17, but differing from FIG. 17 in that the receptacle is shown to be in a partly-removed position relative to the remainder of the system such that the dewatering unit of the system no longer extends partly into the chute portion;

[0035] FIG. 19 is a cutaway, top perspective view of portions of the pulper or grinding system including the receptacle as shown in FIG. 1 and particularly also visible in FIG. 4, including a tab of the chute portion of the receptacle and a complementary slot of a frame of the system;

[0036] FIG. 20 is an additional cutaway, top perspective showing the tab of the chute portion and the complementary slot of the frame of the pulper or grinding system shown in FIG. 19, in an alternate configuration in which the bin portion is not present under the chute portion and consequently the tab is not aligned with the complementary slot;

[0037] FIG. 21 is a right side elevation view of a portion of the dewatering unit of the pulper or grinding system shown in FIG. 1 ;

[0038] FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view showing in more detail a wall portion of the dewatering unit of the pulper or grinding system shown in FIG. 1, taken along a line 22-22 of FIG. 21;

[0039] FIG. 23 is a cutaway, cross-sectional, perspective view of portions of the pulper or grinding system of FIG. 1 including the dewatering unit and receptacle thereof, illustrating example directions of flow of waste material leaving the dewatering unit and entering the receptacle, particularly as influenced by the wall portion shown in FIG. 22; and

[0040] FIG. 24 is a right side perspective view of portions of an alternate embodiment of a pulper or grinding system differing from that of FIG. 1, particularly including portions of a dewatering unit and a chute portion of a receptacle of such alternate embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] Referring to FIG. 1, a front elevation view is provided of a pulper or grinding system (henceforth referred to below as a pulper system) 100. As described below, the pulper system 100 includes several components or units that process waste material so as to result in processed waste material such as grounded, dewatered waste material that can then be provided to a receptacle 102. In the present embodiment, the pulper system 100 particularly is configured to process food waste material, although in other embodiments other types of waste material instead or additionally can be processed. In the present discussion, the receptacle 102 is considered to be a part of the pulper system 100 and, as described below, operates in combination with a remaining portion or remainder 104 of the pulper system. However, the receptacle 102 can also or alternatively be considered a structure that is separate and distinct from, albeit that operates often in combination with, a pulper system (in such case, the remainder 104 of the pulper system described herein could be considered to constitute the entire pulper system).

[0042] As shown by FIG. 1, in addition to the receptacle 102, the pulper system 100 (and particularly the remainder 104 of the pulper system) also includes a grinding (or disposer) unit 106, a dewatering unit 108, and a frame structure 110 upon which the grinding unit and dewatering unit are supported. In the present embodiment, the frame structure 110 generally takes the form of a table having four support legs 112 and a top platform or surface (or region) supported generally by the legs 112 and extending above the grinding unit 106 and the dewatering unit 108. Also, in the present example embodiment, each of the legs 112 includes a respective wheel assembly or roller 116 at the respective bottom end of the respective leg, which interfaces a floor or other support surface (not shown in FIG. 1) and allows for the entire pulper system 100 to be easily shifted and moved horizontally along that floor or other support surface. The top surface of the frame structure 110 is not particularly visible in FIG. 1 because, in the present embodiment, it is surrounded along its periphery by a further upwardly-extending rim or wall 114. Nevertheless, it should be appreciated that in the present embodiment the top surface is generally at a level 115 shown (in phantom) in FIG. 1. Additionally it should be appreciated that the upwardly-extending wall 114 particularly extends upward from the level 115 to a higher level 117 along a rear edge of the top surface, but extends upward from the level 115 to a lower level (lower than the level 117) along the side edges and front edge of the top surface. Given this configuration, the upwardly-extending wall 114 serves to hold material to be ground on the top surface, and to prevent material placed on the top surface from falling off the top surface.

Further, the upwardly-extending wall 114, especially along the rear edge of the top surface can be considered a backsplash. [0043] The top surface of the frame structure 110 typically provides a relatively large space or work surface that provides a work area for users who are handling unprocessed waste material and providing it for processing by the pulper system 100. In combination with the upwardly- extending wall 114, the top surface of the frame structure 110 also effectively forms a large basin within which waste material can be handled and processed. In the present example embodiment, the top surface can be at a vertical height (or maximum height) of thirty-six (36) inches (that is, in the present embodiment, the level 115 shown in FIG. 1 can be thirty-six inches high). Further, the pulper system 100 also includes a water deposition or spraying mechanism 118 by which a user can add water to the unprocessed waste material and facilitate handling of that material, as well as direct or spray water onto the top surface of the frame structure 110 in order to clean that surface. Although not shown in FIG. 1, it should be appreciated that the top surface of the pulper system 100 includes an orifice or drain by which unprocessed food material can leave the surface (or basin floor, assuming that the surface in combination with the upwardly-extending wall 114 takes the form of a basin) and this drain can be considered part of an input port 120 of the grinding unit 106. Also as shown by FIG. 1, the pulper system 100 includes a pair of support rails 162 that are supported by (or are parts of) the frame structure 110 and that are situated on opposite sides of, and support, the receptacle 102 when the receptacle is inserted within the remainder 104 of the pulper system.

[0044] The grinding unit 106, as its name signifies, operates to grind up unprocessed waste material entering the grinding system by way of the input port 120 and in turn outputs processed or ground waste material via an output port 122 of the grinding mechanism. The output port 122 in turn is coupled to an input port 124 of the dewatering unit (or system) 108 by way of a pipe or conduit 126. The dewatering unit 108 in the present embodiment is a device that spins a rotating structure such as an auger 398 as shown in FIG. 23. By virtue of such spinning action, the dewatering unit 108 causes water to be drained from the processed waste material received from the grinding unit 106, and further causes the dewatered, processed waste material to be propelled from the dewatering unit for receipt by the receptacle 102 by way of an output port 128 of the dewatering unit. The output port 128, although not visible in FIG. 1, is shown and described in relation to, FIG. 16, FIG. 17, FIG 18, FIG. 21, and FIG. 23 below.

[0045] It should be appreciated from FIG. 1 that the output port 122 of the grinding unit 106 is at a vertical level that is slightly higher than, or at least substantially even with, a vertical level of the input port 124 of the dewatering unit 108. The grinding (or disposer) unit 106 includes a rotating shredder plate and vanes below that rotating shredder plate, and serves to provide some pumping of the ground waste material out of the output port 122. By virtue of this arrangement, there is no need for any additional pumping mechanism to be coupled in between the output port 122 and the input port 124 to facilitate the communication of the processed waste material exiting the grinding unit to the dewatering unit. However, because of this arrangement, the dewatering unit 108 necessarily is at a physically lower vertical level overall than might be the case in other embodiments. Consequently, the vertical space within which the receptacle 102 can fit between the dewatering unit 108 and the floor (or ground) beneath the pulper system 100 is somewhat smaller than it would be in other embodiments in which the dewatering unit (and particularly the output port thereof) was positioned at a higher vertical level relative to the floor (or ground).

[0046] With this being the case, it should be appreciated that the present disclosure is also intended to encompass other embodiments of pulper systems that include one or more other components or units including for example a pump coupled between the grinding unit and the dewatering unit and also pulper systems in which the dewatering unit (and particularly an output port thereof) is positioned at a different (e.g., higher) vertical level relative to the floor or other support surface upon which the pulper system is supported than is the case in the embodiment of FIG. 1. Indeed, the present disclosure is intended to encompass numerous other embodiments of pulper systems that have any of a variety of additional or different structures than those shown in regard to the pulper system 100 of FIG. 1, including pulper systems having different types of frames, different arrangements of top surfaces, and different numbers of active, moving, or actuatable devices or units. Further, although not shown in FIG. 1, it should be appreciated that operation of grinding unit 106 and/or the dewatering unit 108 can be controlled by one or more controllers or control mechanisms including, for example, computers or processing devices. Such controllers/control devices can be physically present as part of the pulper systems or be located remotely from, but coupled electrically/wirelessly with, the grinding unit and/or dewatering unit.

[0047] Turning to FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. 4, additional views are provided of the pulper system 100 or portions of that system. More particularly, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the pulper system 100 taken along a line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and that effectively provides a top plan view of portions of that system including the grinding unit (or nearly all of the grinding unit) 106, the dewatering unit 108 and the receptacle 102. By contrast, FIG. 3 is a cutaway, right side elevation view of portions of the pulper system 100 including the receptacle 102, and FIG. 4 is a cutaway, right side perspective view of portions of the pulper system 100 including the receptacle 102.

[0048] More particularly, FIG. 2 shows how the output port 122 of the grinding unit 106 is coupled to the input port 124 of the dewatering unit 108 by way of the conduit 126. Also, FIG. 2 provides a view looking downward into the grinding unit 106 from a location within or just below the input port 120 of the grinding unit (for simplicity of presentation, the input port 120 is shown in FIG. 2 to be visible in that figure as an annular lip 130). In addition, FIG. 2 also shows the legs 112, the rollers 116 and the receptacle 102 in addition to the grinding unit 106, dewatering unit 108, and conduit 126. Further, FIG. 2 shows other portions of the pulper system 100 such as additional framework support structures 132, a support floor 134 upon which the grinding unit 106 is supported, a valve control mechanism 136, and various additional conduits 140 that allow for the providing, for example, of water to or from various locations within the pulper system. Also, it can be noted that, although the pulper system 100 does not include a drainage pump to pump water from the dewatering unit 108, waste water does drain out of the pulper system due to gravity, through an electrically controlled ball valve. Further, as will be described in additional detail below, FIG. 2 also shows a bin level sensor 142 of the pulper system 100 that is mounted thereon (e.g., on the frame structure 110).

[0049] The cutaway views provided in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 particularly illustrate interfacing of the dewatering unit 108 and the receptacle 102. As shown, and as will be described in further detail below, the receptacle 102 includes a bin portion 150 and a chute portion 160 that is supported upon the bin portion 150. Further, the chute portion 160 includes a rear orifice 170 (referred to also by reference numeral 340 below) into which a portion of the dewatering unit 108 including the output port 128 is situated when the receptacle 102 is fully inserted into the remainder 104 of the pulper system 100, so as to be positioned for receiving the processed, dewatered waste material. Additionally, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 also again show the bin level sensor 142 of FIG. 2, as well as show a bin/chute presence sensor 144, which in this example embodiment is mounted on the dewatering unit 108 (and which is also shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4). Relatedly, it should also be appreciated from FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 that the chute portion 160 includes a tab 180 that extends rearward and the pulper system 100 (particularly a frame portion thereof) includes a receiving orifice or slot 190. These features are configured so that, when the receptacle 102 is fully positioned relative to the remainder 104 of the pulper system 100 for receiving processed, dewatered material, the tab 180 fits through the slot 190. When the tab 180 is positioned in this manner, the presence of the tab 180 can be sensed by the bin/chute presence sensor 144 and thus, as will be described in further detail below, this arrangement allows for receptacle/bin presence sensing.

[0050] Turning to FIG. 5, FIG. 6, and FIG. 7, several views of the bin portion 150 are provided, to illustrate in greater detail several features of the bin portion. FIG. 5 particularly shows a right side perspective view of the bin portion 150, and FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 respectively show first and second cross-sectional views of the bin portion 150 taken along line 6-6 and line 7-7 of FIG. 5, respectively. More particularly, it can be seen from FIG. 5 that the bin portion 150 includes each of a front sidewall 200, a right sidewall 202, a rear sidewall 204, and a left sidewall 206. The cross-sectional view of FIG. 6 particularly reveals the interior surface of the rear sidewall 204, as well as cross-sections of each of the right sidewall 202 and left sidewall 206. Also, the cross- sectional view of FIG. 7 particularly reveals the interior surface of the left sidewall 206, as well as cross-sections of each of the front sidewall 200 and rear sidewall 204. Also as shown, all of the sidewalls 200, 202, 204, and 206 respectively extend vertically from a bottom wall 208 of the bin portion 150 to a top edge or rim portion 210.

[0051] It should be appreciated that the sidewalls 200, 202, 204, and 206 and the bottom wall 208 in the present example embodiment are integrally formed with one another. Together, the sidewalls 200, 202, 204, and 206 and the bottom wall 208 form a substantially enclosed and watertight compartment within which is provided an interior volume 250. As shown, the compartment formed by the sidewalls 200, 202, 204, and 206 and the bottom wall 208 has only a single orifice leading to the interior volume 250, namely, a central top opening 212 that is defined by the rim portion 210 extending along the tops of the sidewalls.

[0052] That is, in the present example embodiment, the front sidewall 200 is integrally formed at right and left side edges 214 and 216 thereof, respectively, with the right sidewall 202 and the left sidewall 206, respectively. Likewise, the rear sidewall 204 is integrally formed at right and left side edges 218 and 220 thereof, respectively, with the right and left sidewalls 202 and 206, respectively. In this regard, it should be appreciated that the right and left side edges 214 and 216 respectively also are front edges of the right and left sidewalls 202 and 206, respectively, and also that the right and left side edges 218 and 220 are rear edges of the right and left sidewalls, respectively. Further it should be appreciated that the bottom wall 208 includes front, right, rear, and left edges 222, 224, 226, and 228 by which the bottom wall is coupled to the front, right, rear, and left sidewalls 200, 202, 204, and 206, respectively. The front, right, rear, and left edges 222, 224, 226, and 228 can also respectively be considered respective bottom edges of the front, right, rear, and left sidewalls 200, 202, 204, and 206, respectively. In the present example embodiment, all of the edges 214, 216, 218, 220, 222, 224, 226, and 228 are rounded edges. However, in alternate embodiments, the edges need not be rounded.

[0053] In the present embodiment, the bin portion 150 of the receptacle 102 is symmetrical or substantially symmetrical about a vertical plane (not shown) extended midway between the front sidewall 200 and the rear sidewall 204, and also is symmetrical or substantially symmetrical about a second vertical plane (not shown) extending between the right sidewall 202 and the left sidewall 206. Although the bin portion 150 is symmetrical in these manners, it is not

symmetrical about any horizontally-extending plane and is not perfectly rectangular or cubic. Rather, as is particularly evident from FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, each of the front, right, rear, and left sidewalls 200, 202, 204, and 206, respectively, is substantially wider at the its top (e.g., at the rim portion 210) than at its bottom (e.g., at the respective one of the front, right, rear, and left edges 222, 224, 226, or 228). Notwithstanding this description of the present embodiment, however, it should be appreciated that, in other embodiments encompassed herein, the bin portion can be symmetric about a horizontal plane.

[0054] Additionally with respect to the rim portion 210, as is evident from FIG. 6, the rim portion includes right and left upper edge portions 232 and 234, respectively, along the tops of the right and left sidewalls 202 and 206, respectively. Also, as shown in FIG. 7, the rim portion 210 additionally includes front and rear upper edge portions 236 and 238, respectively, along the tops of the front and rear sidewalls 200 and 204, respectively.

[0055] The right and left upper edge portions 232 and 234 are similar in a number of respects to the front and rear upper edge portions 236 and 238. In particular, it should be appreciated from FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 that each of the right and left upper edge portions 232 and 234 includes a respective horizontally-extending portion 240 that extends outward from the right sidewall 202 or left sidewall 206, respectively, outward from the interior volume 250. Also, each of the right and left upper edge portions 232 and 234 includes a respective downwardly-hanging portion 242 that extends downward from the respective horizontally-extending portion 240 at a respective location outward from the respective right or left sidewall. Similarly, each of the front and rear upper edge portions 236 and 238 includes a respective horizontally-extending portion 244 that extends outward from the front sidewall 200 or rear sidewall 204, respectively, outward from the interior volume 250 of the bin portion 150. Also, each of the front and rear upper edge portions 236 and 238 includes a respective downwardly-hanging portion 246 that extends downward from the respective horizontally-extending portion 244 at a respective location outward from the respective front or rear sidewall.

[0056] Nevertheless, it should be also appreciated that there are differences in the features of the rim portion 210 depending upon whether one is along the tops of the front or rear sidewalls 200 and 204, or along the tops of the right or left sidewalls 202 and 206. In particular, although the downwardly-hanging portions 242 and 246 of each of the upper edge portions 232, 234, 236, and 238 is substantially identical in terms of length, the respective horizontally-extending portions 240 of the right and left upper edge portions 232 and 234 are wider than the respective horizontally-extending portions 244 of the front and rear upper edge portions 236 and 238.

Consequently, the right and left upper edge portions 232 and 234 respectively extend outward from the right and left sidewalls 202 and 206, respectively, a greater distance than the front and rear upper edge portions 236 and 238, respectively, extend outward from the front and rear sidewalls 200 and 204, respectively.

[0057] These differences in the features of the rim portion 210 serve several different purposes. First, as discussed further below, the receptacle 102 when implemented in relation to the remainder 104 of the pulper system 100 is supported within that remainder of the pulper system upon the pair of rails 162 of the pulper system (see FIG. 1 and FIG. 8). In this regard, it is particularly the right and left upper edge portions 232 and 234 of the rim portion 210 that are supported upon the rails 162. Accordingly, the right and left upper edge portions 232 and 234 are particularly configured to allow those upper edge portions to sit upon the rails 162, to support the bin portion 150 upon the rails, and to facilitate relatively easy insertion and removal of the bin portion 150 relative to the remainder 104 of the pulper system 100. In particular, the right and left upper edge portions 232 and 234 are respectively configured to be wider in their outward extent relative to the right and left sidewalls 202 and 206, respectively, than the front and rear upper edge portions 236 and 238. The extra width of the right and left upper edge portions 232 and 234 permits those edge portions to more easily slide along the rails 162 and also allows those edge portions to better distribute the weight of the receptacle 102 and any waste material contained therein on the rails.

[0058] By contrast, the front and rear upper edge portions 236 and 238 are respectively configured to be narrower in the outward extent relative to the front and rear sidewalls 200 and 204, respectively, than the right and left upper edge portions 232 and 234. The front and rear upper edge portions 236 and 238 particularly can be narrower than the right and left upper edge portions 232 and 234 because the front and rear upper edge portions need not ride along any rails. Further, by virtue of their narrower extent, the front and rear upper edge portions 236 and 238 serve to strengthen the bin portion 150, particularly the front and rear sidewalls 200 and 204 thereof that are horizontally longer than the right and left sidewalls 202 and 206, and thereby enhance the support that can be provided by the bin portion with respect to any load of waste material that it is carrying. Also, by virtue of the strength afforded by their relative narrowness, the front and rear upper edge portions 236 and 238 also effectively allow the left and right sidewalls 206 and 202 of the bin portion 150 to be spaced slightly farther apart from one another and thereby make it possible for the interior volume 250 of the bin portion to be larger than would otherwise be the case.

[0059] Further as shown, in the present embodiment each of the sidewalls 200, 202, 204, and 206 includes multiple ribs 230. Each of the ribs 230 constitutes a vertically-extending indentation that extends substantially the entire distance from the respective bottom edge of the respective sidewall to the respective upper edge portion 232, 234, 236, or 238 that is formed along the top of the respective sidewall. As shown, each of the front and rear sidewalls 200 and 204 has three of the ribs 230 that are spaced approximately equidistantly from one another, with the outermost two of those ribs also being spaced from the right and left sidewalls 202 and 206, respectively. By comparison, each of the right and left sidewalls 202 and 206 includes two of the ribs 230 spaced apart from one another and from the front and rear sidewalls 200 and 204, respectively. The ribs 230 serve to strengthen the bin portion 150 by enhancing the rigidity of the front, right, rear, and left sidewalls 200, 202, 204, and 206 thereof.

[0060] Further as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 7, in addition to the pairs of the ribs 230 that are provided along the right and left sidewalls 202 and 206, corresponding rib portions 248 are also provided along the right and left upper edge portions 232 and 234. The corresponding rib portions 248 particularly extend horizontally and outwardly away from the interior volume 250 along the horizontally-extending portions 240 of the right and left upper edge portions 232 and 234. Also as shown, the corresponding rib portions 248 are aligned, in terms of their horizontal placement between the front upper edge portion 236 and rear upper edge portion 238, with the ribs 230 of the respective right and left sidewalls 202 and 206. Given their arrangement, rather than being indentations that extend horizontally inward into the interior volume 250 of the bin portion 150, the corresponding rib portions 248 instead are downwardly-extending indentations formed in the horizontally-extending portions 240. The rib portions 248 help to strengthen the right and left upper edge portions 232 and 234, notwithstanding the relatively greater horizontal extent of those upper edge portions outward away from the right and left sidewalls 202 and 206 by comparison with the front and rear upper edge portions 236 and 238, and thus also help to enhance the ability of the bin portion 150 to support the waste material therewithin. Further, the rib portions 248 also can be helpful in terms of facilitating the positioning of the chute portion 160 forward and aftward.

[0061] The exact dimensions of the bin portion 150 can vary considerably depending on the embodiment. In the present embodiment as shown, the right and left sidewalls 202 and 206 are spaced apart, proximate their tops near the right and left upper edge portions 232 and 234, respectively, a distance of 16.15 inches. Also, the outermost extent of the right and left upper edge portions 232 and 234 apart from one another (e.g., the distance between the downwardly- hanging portions 242 of those upper edge portions) is 18.25 inches. By comparison, the distance between the front and rear sidewalls 200 and 204 proximate their tops near the front and rear upper edge portions 236 and 238 in this embodiment is 11.3 inches, and the distance between the downwardly-hanging portions 246 of those upper edge portions is 12.5 inches. Further as shown, the distance from the bottom to the top of the bin portion 150 (e.g., the distance from the bottom surface of the bottom wall 208 to the top surface of the rim portion 210) in this embodiment is 12.75 inches. Also, the distance from the bottom of the bin portion 150 to the lowermost edges of the downwardly-hanging portions 242 and 246 is 11.75 inches.

[0062] Turning to FIG. 8, an additional cutaway cross-sectional view of a portion of the pulper system 100 of FIG. 1 is shown in which the receptacle 102 is removed, to reveal one of the support rails 162 upon which the receptacle (and particularly the bin portion 150 thereof) can be supported relative to the remainder 104 of the system. The support rail 162 of FIG. 8 particularly is positioned to support the left upper edge 234 of the bin portion 150. Although only one of the support rails 162 is shown in FIG. 8, it should be appreciated that the pulper system 100 in the present embodiment includes two of the support rails 162 to support each of the right and left upper edge portions 232 and 234 of the bin portion 150. The two rails extend parallel to one another, inward from a front receiving area 270 of the pulper system 100, to or toward a backstop 280 that extends beneath the dewatering unit 108. The front receiving area 270 can be a planar orifice extending between the two forward-most of the legs 112 of the pulper system, which are the legs that are particularly visible in the front elevation view of FIG. 1.

[0063] In the present embodiment, the rails 162 extend in a substantially-horizontal, but not exactly horizontal, manner. Rather than extending exactly horizontally, each of the rails 162 extends in a slightly downwardly ramping manner as it proceeds from the front receiving area 270 to the backstop 280. FIG. 8 particularly illustrates how the rail 162 is downwardly-sloped relative to a horizontal line 290 extending horizontally inward from a location at the front receiving area 270 at which the horizontal line and rail are at the same height. In the present example embodiment, the rail 162 is downwardly-sloped relative to the horizontal line 290 by an angle of 1.6 degrees, albeit in other embodiments different slopes can be provided. As shown, due to the downward-sloping of the rail 162, there arises a significant vertical difference between the position of the rail 162 and the horizontal line 290 as one proceeds to an inward location 292 beneath the input port 124 of the dewatering unit 108 (with the rail being below the horizontal line at that location). Notwithstanding the sloping of the rail 162, however, in at least some embodiments there can be a constant or effectively-constant distance between the rail 162 and the dewatering unit 108. Additionally as shown in FIG. 8, although the rails 162 of the pulper system 100 are fixed relative to the other portions of the remainder 104 of the pulper system, the exact sloping of the rails 162, and particularly the height of the rails relative to the ground or floor surface upon which the pulper system 100 is supported can, as represented by an arrow 294, can be varied based upon adjustments to the rollers 116.

[0064] As discussed, in the present embodiment the receptacle 102 particularly can be supported upon the rails 162 by way of the right and left upper edge portions 232 and 234. This configuration is advantageous in several respects. First, by supporting the receptacle 102 in this manner, the receptacle 102 and the bin portion 150 thereof are lifted off of the ground or floor surface upon which the pulper system 100 is supported. Consequently, the receptacle 102 is positioned at a predetermined or constant level or height relative to the remainder 104 of the system, rather than at a constant height or level relative to the ground or floor surface beneath the pulper system 100. Further, because the right and left upper edge portions 232 and 234 and the rails 162 are respectively configured to allow for easy sliding between those upper edge portions and the rails, this allows for easy insertion or removal of the receptacle 102 relative to the remainder 104 of the pulper system 100. Additionally, it should further be appreciated that the downwardly-sloping configuration of the rail 162 toward the backstop 280 is advantageous in that it helps to prevent the bin portion 150 and the overall receptacle 102 from being diverted out of place during operation of the pulper system 100, e.g., due to vibration of the pulper system that might otherwise tend to cause the receptacle 102 to move away from the remainder 104 of the pulper system 100 out through the front receiving area 270.

[0065] Turning now to FIG. 9, FIG. 10, FIG. 11, FIG. 12, FIG. 13, and FIG. 14, several views are provided of the chute portion 160 of the receptacle 102 independent of the bin portion 150 or other portions of the remainder 104 of the pulper system 100. FIG. 9 particularly shows a front elevation view of the chute portion 160, FIG. 10 shows a right side elevation view of the chute portion 160, FIG. 11 shows a rear elevation view of the chute portion 160, and FIG. 12 shows a bottom plan view of the chute portion 160. Additionally, FIG. 13 shows a cross-sectional view of the chute portion 160 when taken along a line 13-13 of FIG. 10 and FIG. 14 shows a cross- sectional view of the chute portion when taken along a line 14-14 of FIG. 12.

[0066] As illustrated particularly by FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, the chute portion 160 includes a bottom edge portion 300 and several walls that extend vertically or substantially vertically upward from that bottom edge portion. The walls extending upward from the bottom edge portion 300 include a front sloped sidewall 302, a left sloped sidewall 304, a right vertical sidewall 306, and a rear vertical sidewall 308. In addition, the chute portion 160 also includes a curved top wall 310. In the present embodiment, all of the sidewalls 302, 304, 306, 308, and 310 are integrally formed with one another and with the bottom edge portion 300 as a single piece of material. More particularly, the bottom edge portion 300 is integrally formed with, and constitutes bottom extensions of, each of the front sloped sidewall 302, left sloped sidewall 304, right vertical sidewall 306, and rear vertical sidewall 308. Additionally, the front sloped sidewall 302 is integrally formed with each of the left sloped sidewall 304 and the right vertical sidewall 306 by way of side edges thereof. Likewise, the rear vertical sidewall 308 is integrally formed with each of the left sloped and right vertical sidewalls 304 and 306 by way of additional side edges thereof. Further, the top wall 310 is integrally formed with each of the front sloped, left sloped, right vertical, and rear vertical sidewall 302, 304, 306, and 308 along front, left side, right side, and rear edges thereof. Further, all of the edges between the different pairs of the sidewalls 302, 304, 306, and 308, between each of the sidewalls and top wall 310, and between each of the sidewalls and the bottom edge portion 300 can be curved edges.

[0067] Turning to FIG. 12, FIG. 13, and FIG. 14, aspects of the bottom edge portion 300 are shown in more detail. In particular, as is evident from FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, the bottom edge portion 300 extends around the entire perimeter of all of the sidewalls 302, 304, 306, and 308. Additionally, the bottom edge portion 300 takes a form that allows the chute portion 160 both to be supported upon the rim portion 210 of the bin portion 150 and also, when so supported, to be retained substantially in a particular horizontal location relative to the bin portion (so that relative horizontal shifting of the bin portion and chute portion is precluded or resisted). In this regard, the bottom edge portion 300 includes a horizontally-extending lip portion 312 that is intended to rest upon the rim portion 210 of the bin portion 150 when the chute portion 160 is situated thereupon. The horizontally-extending lip portion 312, like the bottom edge portion 300, extends around the entire perimeter of all of the sidewalls 302, 304, 306, and 308, and particularly extends horizontally inward from an outermost peripheral edge 313 toward an interior volume 350 of the chute portion 160.

[0068] As shown, the horizontally-extending lip portion 312 directly engages and is integrally formed with the rear vertical sidewall 308. However, in relation to the front sloped sidewall 302, the left sloped sidewall 304, and the right vertical sidewall 306, the bottom edge portion 300 includes additional structural features. More particularly, as illustrated in FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, the horizontally-extending lip portion 312 does not extend so far inward as to directly connect with the front sloped, left sloped, and right vertical sidewalls 302, 304, and 306. Rather, in regions where the bottom edge portion 300 extends around the perimeter of the front sloped, left sloped, and right vertical sidewalls 302, 304, and 306, the bottom edge portion 300 not only includes the horizontally-extending lip portion 312 but also includes a downwardly-extending portion 314 and a further horizontally-extending portion 316. As shown in FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, in these regions, the horizontally-extending lip portion 312 extends inward to the downwardly- extending portion 314, which extends downward to the further horizontally-extending portion 316, and the further horizontally-extending portion 316 in turn extends inward again toward the interior volume 350 of the chute portion 160 up to the respective ones of the front sloped, left sloped, and right vertical sidewalls 302, 304, and 306.

[0069] It will particularly be appreciated from FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 that the front sloped, left sloped, and right vertical sidewalls 302, 304, and 306 respectively have respective extension portions 318, 320, and 322 that extend vertically beneath the vertical level of the horizontally- extending lip portion 312 so that the respective sidewalls meet up with the further horizontally- extending portion 316. The combination of the portions 314, 316, 318, 320, and 322 of the bottom edge portion 300 overall form a U-shaped depression 324 that defines, along with the rear vertical sidewall 308, a bottom orifice 326 of the chute portion 160. The bottom orifice 326 in the present embodiment leads to the interior volume 350 and is configured to be as large as possible (size-maximized). Additionally referring to FIG. 12, it should further be appreciated that the U-shaped depression 324 includes several upwardly-extending indentations 328 positioned along its length. In particular, there are two of the upwardly-extending indentations 328 along each of the sides of the U-shaped depression 324 that are formed in part by the respective extension portions 320 and 322 of the left sloped and right vertical sidewalls 304 and 306, respectively. It should also be appreciated that the upwardly-extending indentations 328 formed in the U-shaped depression 324 of the chute portion 160 are positioned so as to be in alignment with the corresponding rib portions 248 formed in the rim portion 210 of the bin portion 150.

[0070] Several advantages are achieved by virtue of the above-described features of the chute portion 160, particularly due to their complementarity with several of the features of the bin portion 150. First, by virtue of the horizontally-extending lip portion 312 of the bottom edge portion 300 of the chute portion 160 and the rim portion 210 of the bin portion 150, the bin portion 150 is able to support the chute portion 160 thereupon. Additionally, when the chute portion 160 is positioned on top of bin portion 150, relative horizontal movement of the chute portion 160 relative to the bin portion 150 is precluded or limited by the relatively

complementary features of the chute portion and bin portion.

[0071] More particularly, the U-shaped depression 324 constitutes an inset such that, when the chute portion 160 is positioned on top of bin portion 150 so that the horizontally-extending lip portion 312 sits atop the rim portion 210, the U-shaped depression extends downward into the interior volume 250 of the bin portion 150. The U-shaped depression 324 (and especially the downwardly-extending portion 314 of the bottom edge portion 300 forming part of that U- shaped depression) essentially forms a folded lower rim of the chute portion 160 that is in contact with or sits close to the right, left, and front upper edge portions 232, 234, and 236 of the rim portion 210, as well as the inner side surfaces of the tops of the front, right, and left sidewalls 200, 202, and 206 along the rim portion. Due to this complementarity of these features of the chute portion 160 and bin portion 150, the bin portion not only provides a surface upon which the chute portion can rest, but also is securely located on the bin portion 150. Further, these complementary features of the chute portion 160 and bin portion facilitate locating the chute portion 160 on the bin portion 150, and prevent food from escaping from the receptacle 102 during operation of the pulper system 100. The alignment of the upwardly-extending

indentations 328 of the chute portion 160 with the corresponding rib portions 248 also facilitates achieving and maintaining overall alignment of the chute portion 160 with the bin portion 150.

[0072] Further in this regard, FIG. 15 provides a cutaway, cross-sectional (more detailed) view of example interfacing portions of the bin portion 150 and the chute portion 160 of the receptacle 102 when the chute portion is supported by the bin portion. FIG. 15 particularly shows how the horizontally-extending lip portion 312 rests upon the rim portion 210. Also, FIG. 15 shows a contact location (or contact region) 359 where the bin portion 150 and the chute portion 160 particularly are in contact with one another. As shown, at the contact location 359, the downwardly-extending portion 314 and further horizontally-extending portion 316 of the bottom edge portion 300 of the chute portion 160 are shaped so that the U-shaped depression 324 interfaces the right upper edge portion 232 of the rim portion 210 and the inner surface of the right sidewall 202 of the bin portion 150. It should be appreciated that, although FIG. 15 particularly illustrates how the complementary features provided along the right vertical sidewall 306 of the chute portion 160 interface complementary features provided along the right sidewall 202 of the bin portion 150, the interfacing achieved by the complementary features provided along the left sloped sidewall 304 of the chute portion and left sidewall 206 of the bin portion, as well as along the front sloped sidewall 302 of the chute portion and front sidewall 200 of the bin portion, occurs in the same or substantially the same manner as that shown in FIG. 15.

[0073] In addition to the features of the chute portion 160 that have already been discussed above, several additional features of the chute portion are also shown by way of FIG. 9, FIG. 10, FIG. 11, FIG. 12, FIG. 13, FIG. 14, FIG. 15, FIG. 16, FIG. 17, and FIG. 18. First, FIG. 9 illustrates that the front sloped sidewall 302 of the chute portion 160 includes an arched ridge 330 extending generally upward from the bottom edge portion 300, about one quarter of the distance from the bottom edge portion to the top wall 310. As shown, the arched ridge 330 is positioned substantially closer to the left sloped sidewall 304 than to the right vertical sidewall 306. The arched ridge 330 provides an arched indentation 332 between the arched ridge 330 and the bottom edge portion 300, which also is evident in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 4, and FIG. 12. The arched indentation 332 additionally includes, formed therewithin, a through hole 334 as shown particularly in FIG. 2 and FIG. 14, by which light from the bin level sensor 142 (again see FIG.

2, FIG. 3, and FIG. 4) can proceed into the receptacle 102 and enter the interior volume 250 of the bin portion 150, to allow for detection of the level of waste material that is within the bin portion 150. In the present example embodiment, the bin level sensor 142 can be a laser sensor that emits laser light toward and through the through hole 334 in the indentation 332 so that the laser light enters the bin portion 150. Depending upon the amount of waste material that is within the bin portion 150 (or the fill or empty status of the bin portion), some, all, or none of that laser light will be reflected back out of the bin portion 150 via the through hole 334 in the indentation 332 up to the bin level sensor 142, at which such reflected light can be sensed.

Accordingly, based upon the sensing of such reflected light at the bin level sensor 142, assessments can be made as to the level of waste material that is present (or as to the full or empty status of the bin portion).

[0074] In addition to the arched ridge 330 and arched indentation 332, FIG. 9 also illustrates how the left sloped sidewall 304 in the present example embodiment generally slopes upward away from the bottom edge portion 300 at an angle of 60 degrees (or substantially 60 degrees) relative to a horizontal plane that is defined, for example in the present example, by the horizontally-extending lip portion 312 (or a top surface of that lip portion). Likewise, in the present example embodiment as shown in FIG. 14, the front sloped sidewall 302 also slopes upward away from the bottom edge portion 300 at an angle of 60 degrees (or substantially 60 degrees) relative to the horizontal plane established by the lip portion 312. As is evident from FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, in the present embodiment these slopes of the left and front sloped sidewalls 304 and 302 are present both along interior and exterior surfaces of those sidewalls.

The sloping of the interior surfaces of the left and front sloped sidewalls 304 and 302 particularly facilitates distribution of processed, dewatered waste material exiting the dewatering unit 108 into the bin portion 150 of the receptacle 102 in an even, or substantially even (or largely even, by comparison with conventional systems) manner. Also, the sloped sidewalls 304 and 302 provide room for greater distribution of food particles across the bin portion 150.

[0075] Additionally as illustrated by FIG. 11 and FIG. 13, the rear vertical sidewall 308 of the chute portion 160 also includes a rear orifice 340 that is large and substantially semicircular in shape. As shown, the rear orifice 340 extends substantially all of the distance from a top edge 342 of the rear vertical sidewall 308, which interfaces the top wall, vertically downward to the bottom edge portion 300 so as to form a semicircular portion 358. A diameter (or diameter-like dimension) of the semicircular portion 358 extends along the top edge 342 and a semicircular edge 344 of the semicircular portion 358 extends downward from the top edge so as to be tangent or substantially tangent at a mid-point location 346 thereof to the bottom edge portion 300. Also, at the location 346, the bottom edge portion 300 includes an additional indentation or rib 348. The additional indentation 348 helps to strengthen the chute portion 160 at the location 346, so as to enhance the overall strength of the chute portion and provide additional durability, which is appropriate given the relative narrowness of the chute portion at this location. Further, although the rear orifice 340 is substantially semicircular and substantially formed within the rear vertical sidewall 308, as illustrated particularly in FIG. 12, the rear orifice also includes a further portion 352 extending through and formed within the top wall 310. The further portion 352 represents a substantially rectangular extension of the rear orifice 340 and further includes, along a front edge 354 thereof, a protruding dimple 356 that extends forward beyond the front edge.

[0076] Referring now to FIG. 16, FIG. 17, and FIG. 18, it will be appreciated that the above- described features of the chute portion 160 relating to the rear orifice 340 permit the dewatering unit 108 (and particularly the output port 128 thereof) to be positioned within the chute portion 160 in a manner that both facilitates even distribution of the waste material within the bin portion 150 and also avoids unintended or undesirable spillage of waste material ejected from the dewatering unit to locations outside of the receptacle 102. As is evident from FIG. 16 and FIG. 18, the rear orifice 340 is shaped and sized to allow for portions of the dewatering unit 108 to be positioned within the interior volume 350 of the chute portion 160. The portions of the dewatering unit 108 that can be positioned within the interior volume 350 in the present example embodiment include an upper housing, a rearmost or drip edge 366 (see FIG. 17), and lower housing portions, and particularly include the output port 128, of the dewatering unit.

[0077] Further as illustrated by a comparison of FIG. 18 with FIG. 17 (and a comparison of FIG. 16 with FIG. 14), by virtue of the shape of the rear orifice (or cutout) 340, there is adequate space for the chute portion 160 to slide over the aforementioned portions of the dewatering unit 108, which again include the upper housing, drip edge 366, lower housing portions, and output port 128 of the dewatering unit 108. Thus, the receptacle 102 can be moved so that the aforementioned portions of the dewatering unit 108 enter or exit the chute portion 160, all the while the chute portion 160 is mounted atop the bin portion 150. It should be appreciated that the vertical (or substantially vertical) arrangement of the rear vertical sidewall 308 particularly allows for the rear orifice 340 (provided for the lower housing portions of the dewatering unit 108) to extend down far enough so as to allow the chute portion 160 to clear the drip edge of the dewatering unit 108 simply by riding on the bin portion 150 that is slid upon the support rails 162. Further, it should be noted that semicircular portion 358 of the rear orifice 340 formed within the rear vertical sidewall 308 is the portion of the rear orifice that allows for the drip edge and lower housing portions of the dewatering unit 108 to pass into and out of the chute portion 160, and it is the further portion 352 of the rear orifice that allows for the upper housing and inlet portions of the dewatering unit to pass into and out of the chute portion.

[0078] FIG. 14 and FIG. 16 illustrate how portions of the dewatering unit 108 not only can slide into the interior volume 350 of the chute portion 160 but also how the configuration of the front sloped sidewall 302, rear vertical sidewall 308, and top wall 310 allows for greater distribution of food or other waste particles exiting the dewatering unit 108 during operation to be spread across the bin portion 150. More particularly in this regard, FIG. 14 illustrates how the interior volume 350 of the chute portion 160 includes a lofted top section 360 shown in cross-hatched lines, which is formed due to the particular configuration of the curved top wall 310, the front sloped sidewall 302, and the rear vertical sidewall 308. Additionally, FIG. 16 further illustrates how, when the dewatering unit 108 is positioned into the interior volume 350 of the chute portion 160 due to the receptacle 102 being fully positioned into the pulper system 100, the lofted top section 360 of the interior volume 350 provides more room for food or other waste particles to travel along initial trajectories 362 as those particles exit the output port 128 of the dewatering unit 108, and to reach a front portion 364 of the bin portion 150 when exiting the dewatering unit. Also, it should be noted that the space provided by the lofted top section 360 also constitutes space that is available for the chute portion 160 to fully encompass a bill of the upper housing of the dewatering unit 108, which provides better enclosure of the waste particle spray area. Further, it should also be appreciated that the vertical (or substantially-vertical) arrangement of the rear vertical sidewall 308 allows for the greatest open area below the chute portion 160, within the interior volume 350 thereof, so as to encourage even distribution of food or other waste particles emitted from the dewatering unit 108.

[0079] FIG. 17 and FIG. 18 additionally are provided to illustrate further how the positioning of the receptacle 102 including the chute portion 160 can be varied relative to the dewatering unit 108 and other portions of the pulper system 100 as the receptacle moves along the support rails 162 of the pulper system. FIG. 17 particularly shows the receptacle 102 relative to portions of the remainder 104 of the pulper system 100 when the receptacle 102 is fully inserted into the pulper system along the support rails 162, such that the dewatering unit 108 is positioned to a maximum extent into the chute portion 160. By contrast, FIG. 18 shows how the dewatering unit 108 exits from the chute portion 160 when the receptacle 102 is slid outward along the support rails 162 away from the remainder 104 of the pulper system 100. FIG. 18 particularly shows how, when the receptacle 102 is moved outward to a certain extent relative to the remainder 104 of the pulper system 100, the chute portion 160 completely clears the housing and drip edge of the dewatering unit 108.

[0080] In addition, FIG. 17 also shows how the rear vertical sidewall 308 of the chute portion 160 extends rearward of the drip (or rearmost) edge 366 of the output port 128 of the dewatering unit 108, such that there is a differential distance 368 between that drip edge and the rear vertical sidewall 308. Given the differential distance 368, the chute portion 160 extends rearwardly well beyond the output port 128 (and the waste particle exit provided thereby), and consequently the chute portion serves to minimize effects of splash back of waste material exiting the output port. Further, FIG. 17 additionally shows how the chute portion 160 completely clears the housing and drip edge portions of the dewatering unit 108 and provides a close fit relative to the dewatering unit when the receptacle 102 is fully inserted in to the remainder 104 of the pulper system 100. Consequently, food or other waste material is unlikely to escape the receptacle 102 during operation of the pulper system 100, particularly along the junction between the dewatering unit and the curved top wall 310. [0081] Turning to FIG. 19 and FIG. 20, as already described in regard to FIG. 4, the receptacle 102 and particularly the chute portion 160 thereof includes the tab 180 that protrudes through a monitoring slot 190 of the remainder 104 of the pulper system 100 when the receptacle 102 is fully inserted into the remainder of the pulper system. FIG. 19 is a cutaway perspective view of portions of the pulper system 100 including the receptacle 102, as shown in FIG. 1 and particularly also visible in FIG. 4, which illustrates in further detail the tab 180 protruding through the monitoring slot 190 when such positioning of the receptacle 102 relative to the remainder 104 of the pulper system 100 has been attained. The tab 180 allows for easy monitoring of the presence and full insertion of the receptacle 102 and particularly the chute portion 160 thereof by any of several monitoring mechanisms (or methods) including, for example, optical, mechanical, or other mechanisms. In the present example embodiment, the monitoring method is an optical monitoring method in which the pulper system 100 employs the bin/chute presence sensor 144 shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. More particularly, in the present embodiment, the bin/chute presence sensor 144 can be a laser sensor that both operates to emit laser light and also is configured to detect reflected light. In such embodiment, the bin/chute presence sensor 144 operates to emit a light beam toward a location near the monitoring slot 190 at which it is anticipated that the tab 180 will be present if the receptacle 102 is fully inserted relative to the remainder 104 of the pulper system 100. If the tab 180 is in fact present at this location, then the bin/chute presence sensor 144 detects light that is reflected off of the tab and consequently determines that the receptacle 102 is fully inserted.

[0082] Referring additionally to FIG. 20, in the present example embodiment, the monitoring slot 190 has a particular vertical position relative to other portions of the remainder 104 of the pulper system 100 such as the support rails 162. The vertical position of the monitoring slot 190 is set to take into account the expected vertical position of the tab 180 on the chute portion 160 when the chute portion is properly mounted atop the bin portion 150. In this regard, it should be appreciated that the height of the rim portion 210 of the bin portion 150 on which the tab 180 is formed tends to raise up the chute portion 160 to a particular level when the chute portion is supported upon the bin portion. Consequently, if one attempts to insert the chute portion 160 into the remainder 104 of the pulper system 100 without the bin portion 150, it typically is not possible for the tab 180 to fit through the monitoring slot 190 because the tab will be below the vertical level of the monitoring slot (below the level the tab would take if the chute portion was supported by the bin portion resting on the support rails 162). FIG. 20 illustrates a particular condition in which the chute portion 160 is not supported by the bin portion 150 but instead a user is attempting to insert the chute portion into the remainder 104 of the pulper system 100 without the bin portion. In this circumstance, the tab 180 is positioned a distance 370 below the monitoring slot 190 and consequently is too low to proceed through the monitoring slot 190.

[0083] In view of the above discussion concerning the tab 180 and monitoring slot 190, it should particularly be appreciated that this arrangement effectively enables detection by the pulper system 100 of not only the chute portion 160 with the tab 180, but also the presence of the receptacle 102 as a whole. If the tab 180 is detected by the pulper system 100, this is indicative of the presence of both the chute portion 160 on which the tab 180 is formed as well as the bin portion 150 upon which the chute portion is supported. That is, the presence of the bin portion 150 and chute portion 160 (e.g., the presence of the entire receptacle 100) are known at the same time based on whether or not the tab 180 is extending through the slot 190.

[0084] Although much of the above description concentrates on features related to the receptacle 102, it should be appreciated that achieving an even or substantially even distribution of the processed, dewatered waste material exiting the dewatering unit 108 within the receptacle can depend not only upon the features of the receptacle itself (e.g., the shapes of the sloped walls thereof) but also can depend upon features of the dewatering unit as well. In this regard, FIG.

21, FIG. 22, and FIG. 23 provide additional views of portions of the dewatering unit 108 that influence the manner in which processed, dewatered waste material exits the output port 128 of the dewatering unit and therefor contribute to achieving an even distribution of the waste material within the receptacle 102. More particularly in this regard, FIG. 21 provides a right-side elevation view of a portion 380 of the dewatering unit 108 of the pulper system 100 that includes both of the input port 124 and the output port 128. Additionally, FIG. 22 provides a cross- sectional view taken along a line 22-22 of FIG. 21 that shows, in more detail, the contour of an outer wall portion 382 of a cylindrical housing portion 384 of the dewatering unit 108. The cylindrical housing portion 384 defines a cylindrical chamber within which the auger 398 (see FIG. 23) can be positioned, and the outer wall portion 382 particularly includes features which particularly impact the performance of the output port 128 in terms of governing the manner of outflow of waste material from the dewatering unit. [0085] As shown in FIG. 22, the cylindrical housing portion 384 is not entirely enclosed but rather includes an orifice 385 that constitutes the output port 128 (or at least a part thereof) of the dewatering unit 108. In the present example embodiment, the orifice 385 extends approximately 120 degrees between a first edge 386 of the outer wall portion 382 and a second edge 388 of the outer wall portion. Although the outer wall portion 382 has a circular (or cylindrical) interior surface 395 along much of its inner surface, as that surface approaches the edges 386 and 388, the surface transitions to linearly contoured regions. More particularly, the linear contoured regions include a first linear region 390 that leads from one end of the circular interior surface 395 up to the first edge 386 and a second linear region 392 that leads from the other end of the circular interior region up to the second edge 388. Of particular interest in this regard in this embodiment is that, as represented by an angular diagram 396 shown in FIG. 22, the first linear region 390 is set at a ten degree angle relative to a tangent line to the circular interior surface 395 of the outer wall portion 382. Also, the second linear region 392 is longer than the first linear region 390 by a differential distance 394 shown in FIG. 21, which in this embodiment is approximately one inch long.

[0086] Referring additionally to FIG. 23, an additional cutaway, cross-sectional, perspective view of portions of the pulper system 100 shows the auger 398 of the dewatering unit 108 positioned within the outer wall portion 382 (as well as within the cylindrical housing portion 384). In the present embodiment, the auger 398 rotates in a clockwise direction when viewed from the front as indicated by an arrow 397, which also is shown in FIG. 22. As indicated by both FIG. 22 and FIG. 23, if one assumes that the auger 398 rotates within the outer wall portion 382 in a clockwise direction as shown by the arrow 397, screw-type surfaces (which can also be referred to as screw thread surfaces or blades, even though the surfaces need not be sharp or serve a cutting purpose) of the auger pass by the first linear region 390 prior to passing by the second linear region 392. Further, waste material exiting the output port 128 of the dewatering unit 108 (and exiting the orifice 385 of the cylindrical housing portion 384) follows paths that are generally tangents to various locations around the exterior circumference of the auger 398, some examples of which are illustrated as initial trajectories 399 of waste material. The initial trajectories 399 illustrated in FIG. 23 can be, but need not be, the same as the initial trajectories 362 of FIG. 16. It should be appreciated that, notwithstanding the embodiment shown in FIG. 22 and FIG. 23, alternate embodiments can employ dewatering units having augers that are configured to rotate in the opposite (e.g., counterclockwise) direction and, in such embodiments, the second linear region 392 can be shorter rather than longer than the first linear region 390 (correspondingly, in such embodiments, the geometry of the chute portion can be at least partly inverted relative to that described above— for example, the left sloped sidewall 304 can be vertical and the right vertical sidewall 306 can be sloped). Upon the waste material exiting the output port 128 of the dewatering unit 108, the waste material enters the receptacle 102, with the waste material first passing into the interior volume 350 of the chute portion 160 and

subsequently passing into the interior volume 250.

[0087] The particular arrangement illustrated by FIG. 22 and FIG. 23 is advantageous in various respects. First, as mentioned above, as the auger 398 rotates in the clockwise direction indicated by the arrow 397, the first linear region 390 is passed by the screw-type surfaces of the auger first, and second linear region 392 (which extends one inch farther outward from the circular interior surface 395) is encountered subsequently, following the exit of the waste material particles from the dewatering unit 108. As shown in FIG. 23, due to the elongated nature of the second linear region 392, some of the initial trajectories 399 are directed toward that second linear region. For waste particles following those initial trajectories that encounter the second linear region 392, the second linear region serves to prevent those waste particles from getting thrown around the back of the upper housing, and limits the buildup of particles on the interior wall surface of the left sloped sidewall 304 of the chute portion 160 and the complementary sidewall (e.g., the left sidewall 206) of the bin portion 150. Effectively, waste particles blocked by the second linear region 392 are forced to take another trip circumferentially around the interior of the cylindrical housing portion 384 before those particles can end up within the bin portion 150. This helps, among other things, to prevent excessive waste particle buildup on the portion of the bin portion 150 that is directly in the path of the food or other waste particles.

[0088] Further, the setting of the angle of the first linear region 390 preceding the exit of the waste particles from the dewatering unit 108 as the auger 398 spins clockwise also enhances the manner in which waste material is ejected and distributed into the receptacle 102. In particular, given that the first linear region 390 is passed by the screw-type surfaces of the auger 398 prior to those surfaces passing by the orifice 385 (e.g., passed by as those surfaces move clockwise, from right to left, with the particular view shown in FIG. 23), and given the angular setting, the initial trajectories 399 of the exiting waste particles are generally directed toward the center of the bin portion 150 that is collecting those particles. With this being the case, a more even distribution of the waste material is achieved within the bin portion 150, which in turn makes possible more accurate bin level sensing by way of the bin level sensor 142 described above in regard to FIGs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, and 12. Additionally, based upon such bin level sensing, operation of the pulper system 100 in depositing waste material into the receptacle 102 can be

automatically started or stopped.

[0089] In view of the above description concerning the pulper system 100 (including the receptacle 102) of FIG. 1 through FIG. 23, it should be appreciated that this embodiment has several distinctive characteristics and can achieve one or more advantages. As noted above, in the present embodiment, the pulper system 100 has a maximum table surface height of thirty-six (36) inches (with some adjustability), and the pulper system lacks any distinct pump for moving waste material from the grinding unit 106 to the dewatering unit 108 (that is, lacks any pump mechanism that is in addition to the pumping action provided by the grinding/disposer unit itself). Given such restrictions, in the present embodiment, the height of the output port 128 (exit) on the dewatering unit 108 is limited to about 15.5 inches above the ground, and consequently the bin portion 150 of the receptacle 102 can generally take on only a limited size, especially in terms of its height, of no more than twelve to thirteen (12-13) inches. Given this to be the case, the bin portion 150 has a height that is considerably shorter than the heights of bins for many conventional systems— for example, in some conventional systems, bins only need to fit under chutes that are 21 inches off the ground, and in some other conventional systems having chutes that are over 3 feet above the ground, the bins can be even taller. Correspondingly, the height restrictions placed upon the bin portion 150 of the present example embodiment tends to limit the amount of waste material that can be dispensed into the bin portion/collection bin.

[0090] Nevertheless, the present embodiment of the pulper system 100 with the receptacle 102 overall is advantageous notwithstanding these restrictions. First, even though the size of the bin portion 150 is limited to holding about eight (8) gallons at a maximum, this translates to approximately fifty (50) pounds of dewatered/less-water-logged waste material (with the exact weight being dependent upon various factors such as the characteristics of the input waste material), which is the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) lifting equation maximum. Second, by utilizing the bin portion 150, which can be considered a custom, rectangular bin portion, it is possible to fit all pulper system components within the footprint of the pulper system 100, including the receptacle 102.

[0091] Additionally, although an uneven floor surface or uneven ground under the pulper system 100 could potentially be of concern if a bin portion was supported directly upon the floor surface or ground (for example, such an uneven surface could make it impossible to ensure the space between a collection bin and a chute stayed constant for accurate monitoring purposes), the present embodiment avoids such concerns by supporting the receptacle 102 so that there is a known, constant distance between the chute portion 160 and the bin portion 150 (and other portions of the pulper system 100). That is, the present embodiment is advantageous in that the rim portion 210 (e.g., the right and left upper edge portions 232 and 234 thereof) serve as runners upon the support rails 162 of the pulper system 100, with the rails being sloped toward the backstop 280 at a slight angle (e.g., 1 to 3 degrees) to help retain the bin portion 150 in position notwithstanding vibrations and impacts of operation of the pulper system. By virtue of the support of the receptacle 102 provided by the support rails 162, the receptacle and the bin portion 150 remain at the same position relative to the remainder 104 of the pulper system 100, and a known, constant distance between the chute portion 160 and the bin portion 150 is achieved. These attributes in turn enable monitoring of the fullness level of the bin portion with a level sensor.

[0092] Additionally, the present embodiment of the pulper system 100 described in relation to FIG. 1 through FIG. 23 also is advantageous in that it encourages more even distribution and filling of the bin portion 150 (or collection bin) with food or other waste particles. Further, the pulper system 100 is configured to prevent or reduces (by comparison with many conventional systems) clumping of waste material to the interior walls of the chute portion 160, which in turn can avoid or reduce the number of occasions in which waste material falls to the ground of the chute portion at inappropriate times (e.g., when the chute portion is disassembled from the bin portion 150). Indeed, in the present embodiment, the chute portion 160 includes a combination of tilted out interior sloped surfaces within the chute portion provided by the front and left sloped sidewalls 302 and 304, along with a space between the output port 128 and one (or both) of those sloped sidewalls that is provided by the lofted top section 360. Consequently, during operation of the pulper system 100, instead of immediately forcing the waste particles down at a 45-degree angle, the waste particles are permitted to loft out, almost horizontally above and in front of the output port 128 of the dewatering unit 108 for a significant distance (e.g., 1.5 to 4 inches) before those particles encounter the sloped interior surfaces of the front and left sloped sidewalls 302 and 304 (especially the interior surface of the front sloped sidewall). This permits food or other waste particles being released by the dewatering unit 108 to take a more natural projectile path, and at the same time results in the waste particles being directed toward/into the bin portion 150.

[0093] Further, the present embodiment of the pulper system 100 advantageously includes additional features that aid in providing even distribution of food or other waste particles within the bin portion 150 and preventing or reducing the accumulation of food or other waste particles on the interior walls of the chute portion 160 and bin portion 150. As discussed above, these additional features particularly include the first and second linear regions 390 and 392, which constitute tangential flanges in the upper housing of the dewatering unit 108 that serve to better direct the food or other waste particles to the bin portion l50/collection bin. In particular, due to the manner in which food or other waste material is spun through and out of the dewatering unit 108 (e.g., in this example embodiment, in a clockwise rotational manner indicated by the arrow 397, as viewed from the front/top of the dewatering unit), the first and second linear regions 390 and 392 act to guide food or other waste particles towards the center of the bin portion 150. As discussed above, in the present embodiment of the pulper system 100, the first and second linear regions 390 and 392 have multiple features that allow those structures to provide desired guidance of waste material. First, the first linear region 390 is configured to have a surface that is moved tangent to the path of motion by 10 degrees (or, in alternate embodiments, 5-15 degrees). Secondly, the second linear region 392 is longer than the first linear region 390 flange (e.g., by one inch) and thereby serves as a cutoff or backstop, which causes any waste particles that are flying toward that second linear region to drop at the upper housing of the dewatering unit. Consequently, waste particles emitted in this direction tend to arrive at locations where those particles can be cleaned off by an auto cleaning cycle rather than at locations within the interior of the chute portion (or along the exterior of the dewatering unit) that are more difficult to clean or otherwise undesirable.

[0094] In addition to the above advantages of the pulper system 100, it should further be appreciated that the geometry of the chute portion 160 and bin portion 150, particularly the bottom edge portion 300 and the rim portion 210 thereof, is configured so that operation of the pulper system requires that the chute portion be directly mounted atop the rim portion of the bin portion, as a lid. This arrangement is advantageous because, in contrast to some conventional arrangements in which there is possible space between the collection bin and the discharge chute, there is no significant space between the chute portion 160 and bin portion 150 out of which waste material can easily exit during operation of the pulper system. Further, this arrangement, along with the support rails 162, makes it possible to mount the chute potion 160 in close proximity to the output port 128 of the dewatering unit 108 without any complex fastening mechanisms that might discourage removal. Instead, an operate can assemble the receptacle 102 including both the bin portion 150 and chute portion 160 in relation to the dewatering unit 108 simply by pushing the receptacle along the support rails 162 for placement in or removal from the discharge area of the pulper system.

[0095] Relatedly, because the bin portion 150 and chute portion 160 are combined into a single assembly (in the form of the receptacle 102) such that those two portions can be inserted or removed together relative to the remainder 104 of the pulper system 100, it also becomes possible to confirm the presence of the chute portion and bin portion within the pulper system at the same time. As discussed above, in the present embodiment this is accomplished by providing the tab 180 and slot 190, along with a sensor (e.g., light sensor) that can be tripped when the tab is present and correspondingly provide a signal alerting the pulper system 100 to the presence (and full insertion) of the chute portion 160 and bin portion 150. Relatedly, given the particular design of the bin portion 150, chute portion 160, tab 180, and slot 190 in the pulper system 100, sensing of the presence of tab 180 is indicative of the presence of not only the chute portion 160 but also the entire receptacle 102 including the bin portion 150. As discussed above, the slot 190 is vertically positioned within the pulper system 100 so that the tab 180 only effectively can enter the slot if the chute portion 160 is present atop the bin portion 150. That is, if the chute portion 160 is pushed into the remainder 104 of the pulper system 100 along the support rails 162 without the bin portion 150, the tab 180 will be positioned too low and consequently will not be able to proceed into the slot 190, and consequently the pulper system will continue to act as if a bin/chute assembly is not present.

[0096] Therefore, in view of the above description, it should be recognized that one or more embodiments disclosed herein, such as the pulper system 100 with the receptacle 102, can provide any one or more of a variety of advantages by comparison with one or more

conventional pulper systems or associated receptacles. For example, in at least some embodiments encompassed herein, any one or more of the following advantages are provided: the chance of food or other waste particles escaping the collection bin/discharge chute is reduced to zero or near-zero; simple removal and replacement of the discharge chute to enable better cleaning thereof is facilitate (e.g., the chute portion can be removed and replaced relative to the collection bin, even though all waste material is retained within the bin, and without any need for fasteners for the bin); the combined geometry of an offset discharge chute and an upper housing of the dewatering unit together help to more evenly distribute food or other waste material into a bin portion (including a collection bin that is of relatively short height); a fixed collection bin location, especially in regard to the height (e.g., relative to other portions of the pulper system such as the dewatering unit), enables enhanced monitoring of food or other waste material level within the bin, as well as facilitates the filling of a bin to a fixed or desired level or amount, and correspondingly reduces starting and stopping due to preemptive or excessively-early emptying of the bin (e.g., when the bin is only partly filled); and/or the functioning of the discharge chute as a type of lid to the bin, with the two components being inserted into the pulper system as a combined receptacle together with one another, reduces the chances of improperly using the pulper system without the presence of a bin (or appropriately sized bin) to zero or near zero.

[0097] Notwithstanding the above discussion, the present disclosure is intended to encompass numerous other embodiments having a variety of other features in addition to or differing from those of the pulper system 100 of FIG. 1 through FIG. 23. For example, although the above description of the pulper system 100 includes various dimensions associated various features, other embodiments encompassed here can entail other dimensions. Further for example, although the front and left side sloped sidewalls 302 and 304 of the chute portion 160 are described as extending at a 60 degree angle relative to a horizontal plane (or axis), in other embodiments the angular orientations of one or both of those sidewalls can take on different values including, for example, any angular value ranging from 55 degrees to 65 degrees. Also, although the first linear region 390 is described above as following a line that is 10 degrees off of the tangent to an outer circular path of the auger 398, in other embodiments the first linear region 390 can have a different orientation including, for example, any orientation ranging from 5 to 15 degrees. Additionally, although as discussed above the bin portion 150 has a height that is considerably shorter than the heights of bins for many conventional systems, the present disclosure is also intended to encompass pulper systems having one or more features described herein where the pulper systems employ bin portions or bins (or receptacles) that are larger than the bin portion 150 or that can take on sizes that approach, equal, or exceed those of

conventional systems. For example, the present disclosure is intended to encompass any of a variety of pulper systems, employing any of a variety of differently-sized receptacles or bin portions, in which the receptacle or bin portion (or bin) of the respective pulper system is supported upon rails provided on the pulper system (or frame structure thereof). In such embodiments of pulper systems, by virtue of the support provided by the rails of the respective pulper system, a fixed distance between the receptacle/bin portion relative to other portions of the pulper system such as the output port/discharge terminal of the dewatering unit can be maintained (as opposed to having the receptacle/bin portion rest on the floor beneath the pulper system).

[0098] Further, although the present description describes relationships of one or more components or portions of the pulper system 100 relative to one another or relative to the ground or other (e.g., floor) surface supporting the pulper system by way of different terms indicative of positions or orientations relative to ground, such terms are used for convenience and the present disclosure is intended to encompass other embodiments in which components or portions of the pulper system take on different positions or orientations. For example, although the rim portion 210 of the bin portion 150 is described as extending horizontally, in embodiments the rim portion can extend along an axis that is off-horizontal (e.g., 25 degrees relative to a horizontal). In such an example embodiment, the bottom edge portion 300 of the chute portion can follow a complementary path such that the chute portion can still be supported upon the bin portion.

[0099] Also, the present disclosure is intended to encompass embodiments in which relative orientations of different components are reversed. For example, in some other embodiments encompassed herein, the direction of rotation of an auger can be opposite that described herein (e.g., can be counterclockwise rather than clockwise as indicated by the arrow 397) and, correspondingly, different structural arrangements can be reversed (e.g., the first linear region 390 can be replaced by the second linear region 392, and vice-versa). Further, the present disclosure is intended to encompass embodiments in which the chute portion has a right sloped sidewall (rather than a right vertical sidewall) instead of, or in addition to, the left sloped sidewall 304. Also, notwithstanding that each of the bin portion 150 and chute portion 160 described herein has four sidewalls and is substantially rectangular in its cross-section (at least where the two portions engage one another), it is also intended that the present disclosure encompass other arrangements in which a bin portion and/or chute portion have different geometric shapes.

[00100] Additionally, it should be recognized that the present disclosure is intended to encompass numerous embodiments of pulper systems having additional components, parts, systems, or subsystems, in addition to those described in detail above. For example, the present disclosure is intended to encompass mechanisms for facilitating the insertion or removal of the receptacle 102 relative to the remainder 104 of the pulper system, or for facilitating the lifting or elevating of a receptacle out of the remainder of the pulper system (e.g., for situating the receptacle on a dolly). Such mechanisms can include, further for example, electric motors that are capable driving movement of the receptacle. Additionally for example the present disclosure is intended to encompass embodiments of pulper systems in which sensing or control components are provided to permit automated or semi-automated operation of the pulper systems. For example, in some embodiments, the pulper system 100 can encompass a processing device (e.g., a computer, controller, microprocessor, or application specific integrated circuit) that is in communication with one or more sensing devices and or one or more controllable devices such as the grinding unit 106 or dewatering unit 108. In some such embodiments, for example, the processing device can be coupled both to a first sensor for detecting the presence and full insertion of the receptacle 102 in the remainder 104 of the pulper system (e.g., by way of sensing the presence of the tab 180 protruding through the slot 190) and also to a second sensor for detecting the fill level within the bin portion 150 of the receptacle. Based upon signals received from those sensors indicative of those characteristics, the processing device can operate to start or stop operation of the controllable devices.

[00101] As a further example, FIG. 24 shows portions of an alternate pulper system 400 that also is encompassed by the present disclosure, and that includes a dewatering unit 408, a bin portion 450, and a chute portion 460. In this example embodiment, the bin portion 450 and chute portion 460 do not mate, but fit very closely together, with the chute portion potentially including a skirt to capture stray particles. Further in this embodiment, the chute portion 460 is more angular than the chute portion 160 described above, and the chute portion 460 is mounted to an upper housing of the dewatering unit 408 by way of hooks (or possibly other fasteners). Given this design, a receptacle 402 of the pulper system 400 that receives waste material can be considered as being formed solely by the bin portion 450, and the chute portion 460 can be considered to be a structure that is separate from the receptacle and instead constitutes part of a remainder 404 of the pulper system.

[00102] Therefore, notwithstanding the above discussion, it should be appreciated that the pulper systems 100 and 400 and components thereof, including the receptacles 102 and 402, and other embodiments or portions of embodiments discussed above, merely constitute examples of pulper (or grinding) systems and components thereof that are encompassed by the present disclosure. In addition to these example embodiments, the present disclosure also encompasses numerous other embodiments having numerous features that differ from those of the pulper systems 100 and 400 or other embodiments described herein.

[00103] Accordingly, it is specifically intended that the present invention not be limited to the embodiments and illustrations contained herein, but include modified forms of those embodiments including portions of the embodiments and combinations of elements of different embodiments as come within the scope of the following claims.