System for shredding containers that contain or have contained a plant protection product

Abstract

The present invention relates to a container shredding system comprising a box equipped with a locking device (4) coupled to a first safety device (7). The box (1) comprises a container insertion opening arranged in a top portion of the box and capable of being closed by the locking device (4). The shredding system comprises a shredder including at least one shredding shaft (2, 20) for shredding the containers into chips, a filter basket (3) that recovers the shredded material from the shredding of the containers, and a set of rinsing nozzles (8). The shredding system is configured such that, after the insertion of a container into the box (1) for shredding, the first safety device (7) inhibits the operation of the shredder until the locking device (4) ensures the closure of the box (1).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of agricultural spraying and aims at a system for crushing containers, such as drums, bags, or pouches, containing or having contained a plant protection product. More specifically, the invention lies in a container crushing system configured to crush containers in a confined and secure environment, allowing for the recovery of the crushed material and the resulting liquid. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] As is well known, in the field of agricultural spraying, one is led to incorporate one or more plant protection products, liquid, granular or powdered, into one or more tanks of an agricultural spraying system which may be self-propelled, mounted or trailed.

[0003] In particular, the plant protection product can be transferred to the tank(s) from one or more containers, especially drums, containing the plant protection product(s) in liquid, granular or powder form.

[0004] Generally, plant protection products are introduced into the sprayer via a hopper. This hopper is shaped like a large funnel into which the operator manually pours the contents of the pesticide containers. Alternatively, the operator pours the pesticide directly into the sprayer tank's manhole.

[0005] Also, there are sealed transfer systems called CTS (for Closed Transfer System) from the container to the sprayer, operating by gravity or by forced suction.

[0006] In both cases, the operator must handle full containers of plant protection products, which can weigh up to 20 kg. When using an incorporation hopper, this handling is done with the container already opened, which creates a risk of accidental spillage.

[0007] Each time, regardless of the system used, the handling and the limited emptying speed reduce the overall work rate.

[0008] Most importantly, once the pesticide has been transferred to a tank in a spraying system, the container, more or less empty, remains and must be handled safely for the operator. A key technical challenge lies in processing the containers after the pesticide transfer. These containers may or may not be empty. The goal is to rinse and shred the containers safely for the operator, as pesticides can be toxic.

[0009] There is therefore a need for a secure system for crushing containers containing or having contained a plant protection product.

[0010] A system capable of crushing containers is known from document FR 2644373 A1. PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] For this purpose, the invention relates to a container crushing system according to claim 1.

[0012] The use of a grinding system according to the invention eliminates any risk of pesticide spray splashing during container grinding. The grinding system according to the invention allows for the direct grinding of empty, partially filled, or fully filled containers of pesticide, and also reduces the volume of waste.

[0013] The present invention thus makes it possible to reduce the risks of pollution during an accidental tipping of a non-empty container, to significantly reduce splash contacts with the operator, to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal disorders by reducing container handling, to reduce the volume of container waste and to optimize the total time of incorporation of the different containers of liquid, granular or powdered plant protection products into a spraying system.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the container crushing system according to the invention includes a second safety device configured to inhibit the opening of the container closing device as long as the rinsing nozzle assembly is active.

[0015] Advantageously, the container crushing system includes a filter screen upstream of the suction pipe.

[0016] The filter screen, located at the bottom of the housing and upstream of the suction pipe connecting the device to a spraying system, has a finer filtration size than the filter basket, appropriate for the type of pump used in the spraying system, and can be removed by the operator for cleaning. Alternatively, the screen could be rotated to dewater the wood chips, similar to a centrifuge.

[0017] According to one embodiment, which does not correspond to the invention, the grinding shaft(s) are equipped with knives coupled to counter-knives.

[0018] The knives and counter-knives are specifically configured to obtain a controlled minimum particle size of the shredded material, enabling the shredding of a full product container.

[0019] Advantageously, the teeth are present all around the perimeter of the disc(s), regularly distributed in a sawtooth pattern.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the filter basket is positioned immediately downstream of the grinding tree(s) in order to recover the mulch from the container, the filter basket having perforated walls so as to allow the mulch to be washed by means of nozzles of the nozzle assembly.

[0021] In one embodiment, the filter basket is removable from the housing to allow the operator to empty the shredded material. Alternatively, a shaker can be provided to move the shredded material at the bottom of the filter basket to rinse all surfaces.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the filter basket has a cylindrical opening at its base and is crossed, substantially in its middle, by a continuous evacuation system for the ground material, the evacuation system for the ground material being a screw conveyor or a pusher cylinder or a conveyor belt or any type of suitable conveyor.

[0023] Advantageously, the auger has on at least the outside of its spiral a flexible element in contact with the filter basket, the flexible element being made of brush bristles or a flexible rubber seal, configured to prevent jamming of the ground material.

[0024] In one embodiment, the rinsing nozzle assembly comprises, in an upper part of the housing, at least one rinsing nozzle adapted for washing the upper portions of the inner faces of the housing walls; in a central part of the housing, at least one rinsing nozzle adapted for washing the shredder; and, in a lower part of the housing, at least one rinsing nozzle adapted for washing the shredded material in the filter basket that recovers the shredded material, as well as for washing the lower portions of the inner faces of the housing walls. Alternatively, the water used in the upper and intermediate central parts can be a spray solution, i.e., a mixture of water and plant protection product, from a main tank of a spraying system, in order to conserve clean water. In another embodiment, a complete pre-rinse is carried out using a spray solution, followed by a rinse of the shredded material with clean water.

[0025] In one embodiment, the container shredding system comprises one or more synchronized electric or hydraulic motors configured to rotate the shredding shaft(s). Any other type of motor can also be used, such as a mechanical motor, a combustion engine, a power take-off (PTO) from an agricultural machine, etc.

[0026] The present invention also relates to a spraying system comprising at least one tank for containing plant protection product and at least one clean water tank. The spraying system includes a grinding system as briefly described above, with the suction hose connected to the tank for containing plant protection product and the rinsing nozzle assembly supplied with water via a rinsing hose connecting the nozzle assembly to the clean water tank. In line with the variants mentioned above, the nozzle assembly can also be supplied with spray solution via a dedicated hose to perform a top and central rinse or a pre-rinse. PRESENTATION OF THE FIGURES

[0027] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description, given solely by way of example, and referring to the accompanying drawings given by way of non-limiting examples, in which identical references are given to similar objects and on which: There figure 1 is a schematic representation of a grinding system, which does not correspond to the invention, open and empty; The figure 2 is a schematic representation of the open grinding system with a full container inserted into the chamber; The figure 3 is a schematic representation of the closed and operational grinding system; The figure 4 is a schematic representation of the grinding system in the final rinsing phase; The figure 5 is a schematic representation of a grinding system according to the invention; The figure 6 is a schematic representation of a cross-sectional view of the grinding system according to the invention; The figure 7is a perspective view of the interior of the grinding system according to the invention. figure 8 is a schematic representation of a profile view of a rotating disc of the grinding system according to the invention; The figure 9 is a schematic representation of two grinding shafts in the grinding system according to the invention.

[0028] It should be noted that the figures set out the invention in detail to enable implementation of the invention; although not limiting, said figures serve in particular to better define the invention where appropriate. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] The invention relates to a system for crushing containers (cans, bags, pouches, etc.) containing or having contained plant protection products, liquid, granular or powdered, which may present significant toxicity to the operator.

[0030] The invention aims to ensure improved operator safety and environmental protection by providing a safe and contained way to shred containers containing or having contained plant protection products. After shredding, chips are recovered from the rinsed containers. The contaminated rinse water can be drawn off and incorporated into a tank of a spraying system.

[0031] It is specified here that the container crushing system according to the invention can be either integrated into a spraying system or be an independent, or "stand-alone," system. The container crushing system is described as such in the following; all the features and variants described below are intended to be compatible with both the version of the container crushing system integrated into a spraying system and the "stand-alone" version.

[0032] The embodiments described in detail below are presented in a stand-alone form, but they could easily be integrated into a spraying system without altering their essential characteristics. Furthermore, the following section describes in more detail the case where the container is in the form of a can. It is clear that the container crushing system according to the invention can be used identically with other types of containers, such as bags or pouches.

[0033] The grinding system according to the invention is in the form of a container with an opening for inserting containers, particularly drums, which can be sealed airtight by means of a trapdoor or hood-type closure device. Specifically, the opening is large enough to accommodate a 20-liter drum. The grinding system is equipped with at least one grinding shaft, a set of rinsing nozzles, and a container collection basket for the ground material.

[0034] Preferably, the grinding system is connected to a spraying system by a suction pipe designed to draw the soiled rinse water used in the grinding system into a tank of the spraying system, and by a second pressurized clean water supply pipe, for example from a clean water tank of the spraying system, to supply the rinse nozzles. Alternatively, the second pipe can be connected to a fixed or mobile water supply network independent of the spraying system.

[0035] With reference to the figure 1A container crushing system is presented that does not correspond to the invention. The container 1 comprises a crusher equipped with two crushing shafts 2 and a filter basket 3. The crushing shafts 2 are driven by an electric, hydraulic, mechanical, or thermal motor, or by connection to a power take-off (PTO) of an agricultural machine, etc. In its upper part, the container 1 includes a container inlet and a closure device adapted to close the container inlet. The closure device is in the form of a hinged hatch 4, preferably having at least a partially transparent wall to allow visual inspection of the interior of the container 1. The closure device is preferably equipped with sealing means, such as an O-ring, so that it ensures a tight seal of the container 1. The container 1 is thus tight-sealed when closed.

[0036] In a lower part of the box 1, the container crushing system according to this embodiment includes a second filter 5 connected to the suction of a spraying system via a pipe 6.

[0037] A first safety device 7 (described below) prevents the grinding shafts 2 from rotating until the hatch 4 is closed.

[0038] A set of rinsing nozzles 8 is arranged inside the housing 1. The set of nozzles 8 can be activated manually via a valve 9, allowing pressurized clean water to rinse the inside of the grinding system. Alternatively, the set of nozzles can be activated automatically at the beginning, during, or at the end of grinding, for example, after a predefined time from the start of grinding. In particular, the rinsing nozzle set 8 includes, in an upper part of the housing, at least one rinsing nozzle suitable for washing the upper portions of the inner faces of the walls of the housing 1; in a central part of the housing, at least one rinsing nozzle suitable for washing the grinder; and, in a lower part of the housing 1, at least one rinsing nozzle suitable for washing the ground material in the filter basket 3, as well as for washing the lower portions of the inner faces of the walls of the housing 1.

[0039] In a preferred embodiment, the container shredding system includes a second safety device (not shown) configured to prevent the opening of the container's closing device, here the hatch 4, as long as the rinsing nozzle assembly 8 is active. This second safety device prevents any spraying of water, or even contaminated water, onto the operator. Indeed, the pressurized water sprayed through the rinsing nozzles could cause splashes of contaminated water onto the operator if the hatch 4 were to open unexpectedly. In one embodiment, a means for measuring the concentration of the pesticide is provided in the lower part of the container 1 to measure the concentration of the pesticide in the contaminated rinsing water.In this case, the means of measuring the concentration of plant protection product in the water can be connected to the second safety device so as to inhibit any opening of the hatch 4 as long as the concentration of plant protection product in the contaminated water is above a predefined threshold.

[0040] With reference to the figure 2 The diagram shows a container shredding system in which a container 10 full of plant protection product, or alternatively, partially full or substantially empty, is inserted into the housing 1 and placed on the stationary shredding shafts 2. The hatch 4 is open. As long as the hatch 4 is open, the shredding shafts cannot be set in motion, thanks to the first safety device 7 (described below).

[0041] When the crusher is in operation, the container is crushed by the rotating crushing shafts 2, the crushed material is collected in the filter basket 3, the rinsing nozzles 8 are supplied with clean water, allowing the crushed material 11 to be washed from its creation until its collection in the filter basket 3.

[0042] On the figure 3 , the grinding shafts 2 are equipped with knives 12 and counter-knives 13 to obtain an adequate particle size of the ground material 11, in particular with a view to its optimal rinsing once it has fallen into the filter basket 3.

[0043] The rinsing nozzles 8 are configured to generate sufficiently powerful jets of clean water to rinse the ground material 11 and all the walls of the chamber 1. The filter basket 3 has perforations on its walls to allow the water jets to impact the ground material 11. Through these perforations, the finer particles of the ground material 11 can pass through. Therefore, a second filter 5 can be provided to sift and recover these finer particles before they are sent to the spray system via suction in the pipe 6. The second filter 5 can be connected to a suction circuit configured to reverse the flow in order to unclog the second filter and facilitate its cleaning.

[0044] There figure 4 The image shows the grinding system empty of all ground material, currently being rinsed. All 8 rinsing nozzles are activated to complete the system cleaning.

[0045] To ensure operator safety, it is necessary to prevent and / or stop the rotation of the grinding shafts 2 if the gate 4 is not properly closed. The first safety device 7 is designed to detect the position of the gate 4. This first safety device 7 may include a contactor, specifically an electrical, hydraulic, mechanical, or optical contactor, depending on the design of the drive system for the grinding shafts 2. Thus, as long as the contactor detects that the gate 4 is open, the activation of the grinding shafts is inhibited, i.e., prevented.

[0046] To optimize work rate and reduce operator handling, the rotation of the grinding shafts 2 and the activation of the rinsing nozzles 8 can be automated according to a predefined automatic cycle. For example, the grinding system can include a sequencing module configured so that, when the grinding system is powered on, the grinding shafts 2 and the rinsing nozzle assembly 8 are automatically activated upon detection of the correct closure of the gate 4. Specifically, the grinding shafts 2 and the nozzle assembly 8 can automatically stop after operating for a grinding cycle and a rinsing cycle of a predetermined duration.

[0047] Once the grinding and rinsing cycles are complete, the operator must empty the ground material 11 contained in the filter basket 3. This filter basket 3 can slide like a drawer on one side of the box 1. A third safety device can also be provided to secure this opening.

[0048] In one variant, basket 3 can be emptied continuously using an auger to avoid the operator having to remove the shredded material manually. In this case, basket 3 can be fixed. The auger 25 is shown below on the Figures 5 , 6 , 7 showing a grinding system according to the invention. In particular, the auger 25 has on at least the outside of its spiral a flexible element in contact with the filter basket 3, the flexible element being formed of brush bristles or a flexible rubber seal, configured to prevent jamming of the ground material.

[0049] An embodiment of the grinding system according to the invention is shown in the figures 5 to 9 Unlike the previous embodiment, which does not correspond to the invention, as shown in the figures 7 to 9 In particular, the grinding shafts 20 are equipped here with rotating, toothed discs 22. Only the grinder, that is, the grinding shaft(s), differs. The other aspects of the grinding system already described remain valid for the second embodiment. The grinding shafts 20 are driven in rotation by one or more motors 24, which may be electric, hydraulic, or, alternatively, internal combustion. Alternatively, the grinding shafts 20 can be driven by means of a power take-off (PTO) from an agricultural machine.

[0050] The 100 container shredding system is also shown in a stand-alone version. However, like the shredding system described above, it could be integrated into a spraying system. The 100 container shredding system is shown here mounted on a chassis with casters to improve its mobility.

[0051] Similar to what has been described in the crushing system above, the container crushing system 100 has a box 1 having a container introduction opening adapted to be closed by a closing device in the form of a hinged hatch 4.

[0052] A container can be inserted through the open hatch 4 and placed on the grinding shafts 20. The first safety device (not shown here) prevents the grinder from operating. In other words, the safety device prevents the grinding shafts 20 from rotating until hatch 4 is closed, specifically in a secure and airtight manner.

[0053] When the hatch is closed, the crusher can be activated. The crushing shafts 20 are then set in rotation by the motors 24, driving with them the rotating discs 21 whose saw-toothed peripheries 22 are adapted to crush the can, whether the can sees it empty, partially full or full.

[0054] There figure 8 shows a rotating disc 21 seen in profile. Saw teeth 22 are present all around the periphery of the rotating disc 21.

[0055] More specifically, with reference to the figure 6 , 7 Or 9The crusher may have two crushing shafts 20 arranged parallel to each other in a central part of the casing 1. Each crushing shaft 20 is equipped with a plurality of rotating discs 21, orthogonal to the axis of the crushing shaft 20, spaced apart and parallel to each other. Each rotating disc 21 has on its periphery the saw teeth 22 already mentioned.

[0056] Each shredding shaft 20 thus comprises, in the embodiment shown, a set of rotating discs 21 with saw-like edges. Between each pair of discs 21, hooks 23 may be provided to force the can or pieces of can down between the shredding shafts 20 to be shredded by the saw teeth 22. The rotating discs 21 and the hooks 23 of one shredding shaft 20 and those of the other shredding shaft 20 are arranged in a staggered pattern, as shown in the figure. figure 8in particular. For example, between each pair of discs 21, four offset hooks are placed extending on an axis parallel to a tangent to the discs 21 and distributed every 90°.

[0057] In the grinding system according to the invention, the operation of the first safety device is identical.

[0058] Similarly, the operation of the rinsing nozzle assembly is similar to that described for the previous embodiment. The second safety device configured to prevent the opening of the housing 1 while the rinsing nozzle assembly is active is also preferably present.

[0059] Also, the soiled rinse water collected at the bottom of the grinding system is preferably drawn through a pipe 6 and incorporated into a tank of a spraying system. For this purpose, a suction system can be provided connecting the pipe 6 to a point downstream of a hopper for incorporating the spraying system. Such a suction system is, for example, implemented using a venturi supplied with pressure by a pump of the spraying system, which draws the contents of the hopper.

[0060] The supply of clean water is always done either via a supply pipe carrying pressurized clean water from a tank of a spraying system or from an external, fixed or on-board water supply network.

[0061] The present invention also relates to a spraying system incorporating a grinding system as described in detail above. In this case, the pipe 6 is connected to a tank of the spraying system, and the rinsing nozzle assembly 8 is supplied with water via a rinsing pipe connecting it to a clean water tank of the spraying system.

[0062] It is specified that for the embodiments, it is preferably also provided, before the final evacuation of the chips constituting the container mulch, a drying system by centrifugation or by an air blower device, in order to eliminate the residue of soiled water which is in the mulch.

Claims

1. A container grinding system comprising a box equipped with a closing device (4), the box (1) comprising a container introduction opening arranged in a top part of the box and capable of being closed by the closing device (4), and the box (1) comprising, in a bottom part of the box (1), a set of walls converging towards a suction pipe (6) capable of being connected to a tank of a spray system, the grinding system comprising a grinder arranged in a central part of the box (1), the grinding system also comprising a filter basket for collecting the ground material resulting from the grinding of containers, and a set of rinse nozzles, the grinder being characterized in that it comprises two parallel grinding shafts for grinding containers into chips, the grinding shafts being equipped with rotating discs fitted with teeth, each grinding shaft comprising a plurality of rotating discs perpendicular to the grinding shaft, spaced apart and parallel to one another, with at least one off-axis hook between each pair of rotating discs, the rotating discs and the respective off-axis hooks of each grinding shaft being arranged in a staggered pattern, in that the closing device is coupled to a first safety device, and in that the container grinding system is configured such that, following the introduction of a container into the box for grinding, the first safety device inhibits the operation of the grinder until the closing device effectively closes the box.

2. The container grinding system of claim 1, comprising a second safety device configured to inhibit opening of the closing device (4) of the box (1) as long as the set of rinse nozzles (8) is active.

3. The container grinding system according to one of claims 1 to 2, comprising a filter sieve (5) upstream of the suction pipe (6).

4. The container grinding system of claim 1, wherein the teeth (22) are present around the entire perimeter of the disc(s) (21), evenly distributed in a saw tooth pattern.

5. The container grinding system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filtering basket (3) is arranged immediately downstream of the grinding shaft(s) (2, 20), in order to recover the ground material from the container, the filtering basket (3) having perforated walls so as to enable the ground material to be washed through nozzles of the set of nozzles (8).

6. The container grinding system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the filtering basket (3) is removable from the box (1) to ensure the discharge of the ground material by the operator.

7. The container grinding system according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the filtering basket (3) has a cylindrical opening at its base and has, substantially in its middle, a continuous ground material discharge system passing therethrough, the ground material discharge system being a worm screw (25) or a pusher cylinder or a conveyor belt.

8. The container grinding system according to the preceding claim 7, the ground material discharge system being a worm screw (25), wherein the worm screw (25) has, on at least the exterior of its spiral, a flexible element in contact with the filtering basket (3), the flexible element being formed of brush bristles or a flexible rubber seal, configured to avoid jamming of the ground material.

9. The container grinding system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the set of rinse nozzles (8) comprises, in a top part of the box, at least one rinse nozzle adapted to wash upper portions of the inner faces of the walls of the box, in a central part of the box, at least one rinse nozzle adapted to wash the grinder, and, in a bottom part of the box, at least one rinse nozzle adapted to wash the ground material in the filtering basket (3) recovering the ground material as well as to wash lower portions of the inner faces of the walls of the box.

10. The container grinding system according to one of the preceding claims, comprising one or more synchronized electric or hydraulic motor(s) (27) configured to rotatably drive the grinding shaft(s) (2, 20).

11. A spray system comprising at least one tank intended to contain plant protection product and at least one tank of clear water, the spray system comprising a grinding system according to any of the preceding claims, the suction pipe (6) being connected to the tank intended to contain plant protection product and the set of rinse nozzles (8) being supplied with water through a rinse pipe connecting the set of nozzles (8) to the tank of clear water.

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