Waste bag cartridge

Abstract

A bag cartridge for a waste receiving apparatus has: a reservoir having a support flange; and a continuous bag material comprising an accumulation contained within the reservoir. The reservoir has an inner wall depending from the support flange, and an outer wall depending from the support flange. The reservoir body is at least 50% by weight cellulosic or plant fiber.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Benefit is claimed of US Patent Application No. 63565842, filed March 15, 2024, and entitled “Waste Bag Cartridge”, and US Patent Application No. 63603381, filed November 28, 2023, and entitled “Waste Bag Cartridge”, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties as if set forth at length. BACKGROUND

[0002] The invention relates to waste disposal. More particularly, the invention relates to continuous bagging cartridges as may be used in rotary bagging dry portable toilets and diaper receptacles.

[0003] There are situations where ordinary plumbed toilets are difficult or impossible to install. These include construction sites, public events, campers, water and aircraft, and houses where water is not available. Products sold to fill these niches run the gamut from plastic pails to full bathrooms plumbed in such a way as to collect waste in holding tanks for later disposal. All of these devices have drawbacks related to unpleasantness during use and or emptying of holding tanks.

[0004] During use, users are often confronted by the sight of feces in holding tanks directly under the toilet seat. As air travelers are aware, some flushable toilets recycle a blue liquid to conserve water. Lower price devices with bags require the user to insert and subsequently seal individual bags.

[0005] Holding tanks must be emptied at special facilities prepared to deal with such waste. The task is unpleasant enough that some boaters, and campers will avoid using their onboard toilets to avert the displeasing task of cleaning the so-called black water holding tanks. Furthermore, holding tanks must be purged and cleaned and have chemicals added to prevent the buildup of bacteria and odor problems. Moreover, there are strict laws governing the dumping of holding tanks.

[0006] There are several patents that include bag systems, including some that use a continuous tube feed systems from annular dispensers under the seat. Many of these have rather complicated mechanical systems that dispense bags, flatten them and seal them.

[0007] US Patent 3,452,368 is representative of a group of patents, many of which are improvements on it. It is a box, fitted with a toilet seat and a dispenser for an elongated tube of plastic film. A system of articulated levers, springs and rollers manage the dispensing and sealing of the plastic. The disadvantage of this family of patents is the complicated mechanisms required to manage the plastic film. Some of these systems twist the plastic to close it and some use heat sealing techniques.

[0008] An alternative configuration is found in US Patent 5,088,134 in which a waste receiving bag is opened to receive waste and then temporarily closed until the next use whereupon it is opened again.

[0009] A more recent configuration of bagging toilet is shown in US Patent No. 9,345,369 (the ‘369 patent), of Livingston and Roczynski, May 24, 2016, and entitled “Bagging Toilet”. The disclosure of the ‘369 patent is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety as if set forth at length. A commercial embodiment of the toilet shown in the ‘369 patent is sold under the trademark LAVEO of Waterless Toilets, Inc. of Branford, Connecticut. The refill cartridge for the LAVEO toilet has a two-piece reservoir with each piece having a top flange secured to each other by a circumferential array of tack welds. A bagging material storage area is bounded: at the top by the upper flange of the upper piece; at the inner diameter by a depending wall of the upper piece; at the outer diameter by a depending wall of the lower piece; and at the bottom by an inwardly directed lower flange of the lower piece. The example bagging material is an aluminized BoPET (biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate). The bagging material passes through a reservoir outlet between the upper piece wall and the lower piece lower flange.

[0010] Additionally, a rotary bagging system has been proposed for disposal of diapers and related waste. An example of this is found in US Pregrant Publication 2005 / 0115207. SUMMARY

[0011] One aspect of the disclosure involves a bag cartridge for a waste receiving apparatus. The cartridge has: a reservoir having a support flange; and a continuous bag material comprising an accumulation contained within the reservoir. The reservoir has: a first piece having a first flange; and a second piece secured to the first piece and having a second flange. Stitching through the first flange and second flange secures the second piece to the first piece.

[0012] In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, additionally and / or alternatively, the first and second pieces comprise cellulosic fiber.

[0013] In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, additionally and / or alternatively, the first and second pieces comprise bagasse.

[0014] In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, additionally and / or alternatively, the first and second pieces comprise bamboo fiber.

[0015] In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, additionally and / or alternatively, the first and second pieces comprise: at least 50 wt.% bamboo fiber; and at least 30 wt.% bagasse.

[0016] In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, additionally and / or alternatively, the first and second pieces comprise: plastic or polymer.

[0017] In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, additionally and / or alternatively, the first and second pieces comprise: biodegradable plastic or polymer.

[0018] In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, additionally and / or alternatively, the stitching comprises thread.

[0019] In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, additionally and / or alternatively, the stitching is in two arcs, each of at least 95° or at least 100° about a central axis and separated from each other by two gaps of at least 20° or at least 40°.

[0020] In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, additionally and / or alternatively, the continuous bag material is an aluminized BoPET (biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate) tube.

[0021] In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, additionally and / or alternatively, the cartridge further comprises a member for rotationally interfitting with a rotary support of the waste receiving apparatus, the continuous bag material comprising a portion secured to the member.

[0022] In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, additionally and / or alternatively one or more of: the member comprises folded paperboard; the continuous bagging material extends through a hole in the member; the portion secured to the member is a rolled up end portion; the portion secured to the member is stapled to the member; and the member is polygonal.

[0023] In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, additionally and / or alternatively, the continuous bag material extends through an aperture in the member.

[0024] In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, additionally and / or alternatively, the cartridge is in combination with the waste receiving apparatus.

[0025] In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, additionally and / or alternatively, the waste receiving apparatus is a toilet comprising: a body having an interior and an upper waste-receiving opening; a bagging material storage area holding the reservoir to receive waste introduced through the waste-receiving opening; means for rotating accumulated waste relative to the reservoir; and means for at least one of pressurizing or depressurizing an interior of the body.

[0026] In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, additionally and / or alternatively, a method for manufacturing the cartridge comprises: placing the reservoir on a holder of an apparatus; clamping the first piece relative to the second piece; shifting a sewing machine from a retracted condition to an extended condition for sewing the stitching; and rotating the holder while applying said stitching via the sewing machine.

[0027] In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, additionally and / or alternatively, the rotating while applying may be at least partially driven by the stitching action; whereas other rotating may be exclusively motor driven.

[0028] In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, additionally and / or alternatively, the clamping, shifting, and rotating are under control of an electronic controller.

[0029] A further aspect of the disclosure involves a bag cartridge for a waste receiving apparatus. The cartridge comprises: a reservoir having a support flange; and a continuous bag material comprising an accumulation contained within the reservoir, wherein: the reservoir comprises a body having a top flange an inner wall depending from the top flange, and an outer wall depending from the top flange; the reservoir body is at least 50% by weight cellulosic fiber (or alternatively characterized as plant fiber).

[0030] In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, additionally and / or alternatively, the body comprises: a first piece having a first flange and the inner wall depending from the first flange; and a second piece having a second flange and the outer wall depending from the second flange. The first flange is secured to the second flange to form the top flange.

[0031] In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, additionally and / or alternatively, the second piece comprises a third flange forming a lower wall of the body

[0032] In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, additionally and / or alternatively: the first and second pieces comprise bagasse and bamboo fiber; and / or stitching through the first flange and second flange and / or adhesive between the first flange and the second flange secures the second piece to the first piece.

[0033] In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, additionally and / or alternatively, the first and second pieces comprise: at least 50 wt.% bamboo fiber; and / or at least 30 wt.% bagasse.

[0034] A further aspect of the disclosure involves a bag cartridge for a waste receiving apparatus, the cartridge comprising: a reservoir; and a continuous bag material comprising an accumulation contained within the reservoir, wherein: the reservoir comprises a body having a top flange an inner wall depending from the top flange, and an outer wall depending from 4 the top flange; and the reservoir body is at least 50% by weight plant fiber. The top flanges may combine to form a support flange of the reservoir / body. Various further features may be as discussed above or further below such as for the various aspects and embodiments in any combination.

[0035] A further aspect of the disclosure involves a bag cartridge for a waste receiving apparatus, the cartridge comprising: a reservoir; and a continuous bag material comprising an accumulation contained within the reservoir, wherein: the reservoir comprises a body having a top flange an inner wall depending from the top flange, and an outer wall depending from the top flange; and the reservoir body is at least 50% by weight one or a combination of bagasse and bamboo fiber. The top flanges may combine to form a support flange of the reservoir / body. Various further features may be as discussed above or further below such as for the various aspects and embodiments in any combination.

[0036] A further aspect of the disclosure involves a sewing apparatus comprising: a base; a rotary fixture coupled to the base and having a holder mounted for motor-driven rotation about a holder axis; and a sewing machine mounted for movement via an actuator between a first condition and a second condition, the second condition being an extended condition more remote of the holder than the first condition.

[0037] In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, additionally and / or alternatively, the sewing apparatus is configured for stitching a bag cartridge for a waste receiving apparatus wherein the cartridge comprises: a reservoir having a support flange; and a continuous bag material comprising an accumulation contained within the reservoir, wherein: the reservoir comprises: a first piece having a first flange; and a second piece secured to the first piece and having a second flange, the stitching to be applied through the first flange and second flange to secure the second piece to the first piece; the holder comprises: a flange for supporting the reservoir’s support flange with the reservoir in an installed condition; one or more clamps actuatable between an unclamped condition for installation and removal of the reservoir from the holder and a clamped condition for holding the first and second pieces together.

[0038] In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, additionally and / or alternatively, the sewing apparatus further comprises a controller and one or more sensors for indicating orientation of the holder coupled to the controller. The holder further comprises a timing plate below the holder’s flange. The timing plate has: a periphery engaging a drive belt; and an underside bearing registry features for cooperating with the one or more sensors for indicating orientation of the holder.

[0039] In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, additionally and / or alternatively, one or more of: the timing plate has an adjustable orientational offset from the holder’s flange; the registry features comprise circumferential grooves with interruptions between; and there are a plurality of circumferentially-spaced said registry features for different functions.

[0040] A further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, additionally and / or alternatively, involves a method for using the sewing apparatus to stitch the reservoir. The method comprises: placing the reservoir on the holder; actuating the one or more clamps to the clamped condition to clamp the first piece relative to the second piece; shifting the sewing machine from the retracted condition to the extended condition for sewing the stitching; and rotating the holder while applying said stitching via the sewing machine.

[0041] In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, additionally and / or alternatively, the sewing apparatus has a controller coupled to the sewing machine and the rotary fixture. The holder has registry features for cooperating with one or more sensors for indicating orientation of the holder. The method comprises: the controller rotating the holder and starting stitching responsive to sensor input indicating a start feature of the registry features, the starting comprising an offset being one of a programmed delay and a programmed back-up; and / or the controller stopping stitching responsive to sensor input indicating a stop feature of the registry features, the stopping comprising an offset being a programmed delay.

[0042] In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, additionally and / or alternatively: the sewing apparatus has a controller coupled to the sewing machine and the rotary fixture; and the holder has registry features for cooperating with one or more sensors for indicating orientation of the holder. The method comprises: the controller rotating the holder and starting stitching responsive to sensor input indicating a start feature of the registry features, the starting comprising an offset being one of a programmed delay and a programmed back-up; and / or the controller stopping stitching responsive to a defined number of stitches having been stitched by the sewing machine.

[0043] The features of the aspects and embodiments above may be combined in any combination unless expressly indicated otherwise or technically infeasible.

[0044] The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] FIG. 1 is a top view of a refill cartridge.

[0046] FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the cartridge of FIG. 1 taken along line 2 2.

[0047] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of upper and lower pieces of the cartridge.

[0048] FIG. 4 is a top view of the upper piece.

[0049] FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view of the upper piece taken along line 5-5.

[0050] FIG. 6 is a top view of the lower piece.

[0051] FIG. 7 is a transverse sectional view of lower piece taken along line 7-7.

[0052] FIG 8 is an enlarged upper view of a junction of bagging material and rotation panel.

[0053] FIG. 9 is an underside view of the junction.

[0054] FIG. 10 is a view of an assembly fixture for the cartridge.

[0055] FIG. 11 is an illustrative view of the fixture showing positions of upper and lower pieces but without including the bagging material.

[0056] FIG. 12 is an upward view of an upper region of the fixture.

[0057] FIG. 13 is a cutaway view of a toilet.

[0058] FIG. 14 is a view of a pusher on the fixture for pressing bagging material into the lower piece.

[0059] FIG. 15 is a top view of a refill cartridge with different stitching from FIG. 1.

[0060] FIGs. 16 and 17 are views of a sewing station.

[0061] FIG. 18 is a view from below a cartridge holder assembly and showing cartridge holder orientation sensors.

[0062] FIG. 19 is a top view of a lower plate of the cartridge holder showing underside indexing slots in broken line and surrounded by the outline of a registered cartridge flange peripheral rim.

[0063] FIG. 20 is a view of a spring clipped-together cartridge being installed to the cartridge holder.

[0064] FIG. 21 is a view of the cartridge clamped in place before clip removal.

[0065] FIG. 22 is a view of the sewing station after spring clip removal and prior to commencing of stitching.

[0066] FIG. 23 is a view of the sewing station during machine extension and rotation toward a home orientation of the cartridge.

[0067] FIG. 24 is a view of the sewing station during a further stage of machine extension when the cartridge has reached the home orientation.

[0068] FIG. 25 is a view of the sewing station during a final stage of extension and before commencement of sewing machine closure and commencement of stitching. 5

[0069] FIG. 26 is a view of the sewing station during stitching of a first pass.

[0070] FIG. 27 is a view of the sewing station at the end of a first stitching pass with back stitch. / tack

[0071] FIG. 28 is a view of the sewing station after opening and partial retracting to allow cartridge rotation to commence the second stitching pass. 10

[0072] FIG. 29 is a view of the sewing station during said rotation between passes.

[0073] FIG. 30 is a view of the sewing station after re-extension and reclosing to commence the second pass.

[0074] FIG. 31 is a view of the sewing station during back stitch of the second pass slightly shy of the end thereof. 15

[0075] Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicate like elements. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0076] A commercial embodiment of the toilet shown in the ‘369 patent is sold under the trademark LAVEO of Waterless Toilets, Inc. of Branford, Connecticut. A further development of the cartridge of the ‘369 patent is disclosed herein. In some embodiments of the disclosed cartridge, such cartridge may be used in place of that of the ‘369 patent.

[0077] In an illustrated embodiment, the molded plastic assembly reservoir of the ‘369 patent is replaced by a plant-based reservoir. As is discussed below, the example reservoir comprises two main pieces stitched together. Example plant-based material for the two main pieces comprises bagasse, a sugar cane fiber product. Example material further comprises bamboo. In further examples, the bagasse and bamboo combination forms at least 50% by weight of the material, more particularly, at least 75% or at least 90%. A particular example has fiber consisting essentially of the combination of bagasse and bamboo fiber. Examples of such bagasse-bamboo combinations include a ratio of bagasse to bamboo of between 1:3 and 3:2 by weight, more particularly, about 2:3. Example material thickness is 0.4 millimeter to 1.5 millimeters, more particularly, 0.5 millimeter to 1.2 millimeters or 0.5 millimeter to 1.0 millimeter or about 0.7 millimeter (28 point).

[0078] Example stitching may be bonded polyester thread. Alternative stitching may be plant-based such as cotton thread.

[0079] The baseline commercial cartridge, once filled, is discarded as a unit. The use of a plant-based reservoir material allows the reservoir to be detached from the bagging material and separately disposed such as in a composting landfill or in a recycling stream for paper and the like. For sanitary reasons, the bagging material is relatively non-recyclable. It needs to not decompose prior to or during use and maintain a relatively impermeable condition to prevent odors from emanating from waste stored in the bagging material over the life of a given cartridge. Example bagging material is aluminized BoPET (biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate).

[0080] FIGs. 1 and 2 show a refill combination (cartridge) 20 comprising a body or reservoir 21, a continuous bagging material 22, and a twist panel 23 for interfitting with a rotary platform to twist the continuous bagging material relative to the reservoir such as discussed in the ‘369 patent. The reservoir 21 comprises the combination (FIG. 3) of an upper piece 24 and lower piece 26 concentrically mounted about a central axis 500 (FIG. 1) coincident with an axis of rotation of the toilet rotary platform when installed. FIG. 1 also shows a central vertical front-to-back plane 502 and a central vertical side-to-side plane 504.The upper piece and lower piece each have radially outwardly protruding upper flanges 9 28, 29 with sidewalls 30, 31 depending from a joint / junction 32, 33 (FIG. 2) at a central aperture of the associated flange. The flanges have upper 34, 35 and lower 36, 37 surfaces / faces and outer perimeters / rims 38, 39.

[0081] The sidewalls have inner diameter (ID) surfaces 50, 51 and outer diameter (OD) surfaces 52, 53. The upper piece sidewall 30 extends to lower end at a junction 54 with a lower inward lip 55 having an inner rim 56. The lower piece sidewall 31 extends to a lower end at a junction 57 with a lower flange 58 that is radially-inwardly directed and has an inner rim 59 bounding a central aperture. The lower flange 56 has upper 60 and lower 61 surfaces / faces. As noted above, the upper flanges 28, 29, are secured to each other in the assembled condition to form a combined upper flange 66 of the cartridge having a combined rim 67. The example securing is via stitching 68 through the flanges. The example stitching is in an arc between ends 69A and 69B with a gap therebetween. In the illustrated example, the rims 38, 39, 67 are circular; whereas the sidewalls are elliptical in footprint with the major axis being front-to back along the plane 502 and the minor axis side to side along the plane 504.

[0082] In the assembled condition, an annular space 88 is formed radially between the sidewalls 30, 31 and vertically between the combined upper flange (in particular the upper piece upper flange 28) and the lower piece lower flange 56 for accommodating the unused accumulation 90 of the continuous bagging material 24. An annular bag outlet 92 is formed between the lower rim 52 of the upper piece sidewall and the inner rim 58 of the lower piece lower flange 56. The continuous bagging material extends from the accumulation 90 through the outlet 92 to a closed lower end section 94 (FIG. 9 discussed below) of the continuous bagging material. An upper end portion 95 of the continuous bagging material may be secured to the reservoir such as via adhesive or tape. Example tape is a pair of pieces 70 at opposite sides (e.g., centered along the plane 504).

[0083] As in the ‘369 patent, the closed lower end section 94 is mounted to the panel 23. The example panel 23 is a two-layer paperboard octagon with the two layers joined at a fold along the edges of the two octagons. The example paperboard is 20 point / mil (0.5 millimeter, more broadly 0.40 millimeter to 1.0 millimeter) per layer with the two layers glued to each other. The example panel has an aperture / through-hole (e.g., slot) 120 (FIG. 8) through which the lower end section 94 extends. The lower end section 94 is shown in FIG. 9 folded over onto the underside of the panel and stapled 122 to secure.

[0084] The upper flanges of the two pieces 24, 26 have radial recesses 100, 101, 102, 103 (FIG. 3) that align with each other in the assembled reservoir condition to interfit with features of the toilet to register and restrict rotation of the reservoir. The example recesses are a pair of recesses on each flange forming recesses 104, 105 (FIG. 1) on the combined flange 66 sized and spaced to visually align with seat hinges at the rear of toilet body when the user installs the cartridge. As discussed below, a cover may then be placed over the reservoir and interfit with the recesses 104, 105 to provide the registration.

[0085] FIG. 10 shows a fixture 200 for assembling the combination 20. The example fixture has a base 202 having an upper surface 204, a lower column section 206 having an outer wall surface 208 extending upward from the base to a rim 210, and an upper column section 212 having an outer wall surface 214 extending upward above the outer sidewall rim to an upper end 216. An example upper column section upper end may be enclosed / covered.

[0086] There is an annular gap 220 between the upper column section 212 having an outer wall surface 214 and an inner diameter (ID) surface of the lower column section 206 for a height below the rim 210.

[0087] As is discussed below, this allows the upper piece 24 to be placed over the upper column section of the fixture so that the upper piece sidewall 30 is received in the gap 220 and the upper member is supported vertically. However, in an initial assembly sequence, the lower piece 26 is first installed downwardly with the fixture lower column section 206 passing through the lower member until the lower surface 61 of the lower piece lower flange 58 rests on the upper surface 204 of the base.

[0088] The bagging material may initially be installed in a feed roll 230. The example roll has accumulation of over 500 meters of the bagging material (e.g., 500 meters to 2000 meters). A technician may unroll the bagging material, passing an open end of the bagging material (that will become a lower end of the bag) over the upper and lower column sections of the fixture and pleat the bagging material into the annular space between the lower piece sidewall 31 and the fixture lower column section 206. In this process, the material may pass through a linear measuring device which displays to or signals the technician when a desired length of material (e.g., approximately six meters to ten meters) has been fed. The technician may then cut the bagging material (e.g., with a carriaged blade / slide cutter) to separate the target length from the feed roll.

[0089] As is discussed further below, the technician may then mark (e.g., with marking pen) the inside of the cut bagging material length with a to ultimately act as a warning that the material has been expended (e.g., several circumferentially-distributed longitudinal marks of several inches in length from the cut end). The technician may slide the cut upper end portion of the severed section of bagging material downward along the lower column section 206 below the rim thereof.

[0090] The technician then takes the upper piece and slides it over the upper column section 212 with the upper piece sidewall 30 sliding into the annular gap 220.

[0091] The technician may then take the cut upper end of the severed length of bagging material and draw it over the upper piece sidewall OD surface. The technician may then tape it to the upper piece with the tape pieces 70 (e.g., to the underside 36 of the upper piece flange 28). The taping longitudinally and rotationally secures the bagging material to allow the twisting action to seal each successive increment of waste between twists in the bagging material.

[0092] The technician may raise (e.g., lift by hand) the lower piece along the fixture carefully folding the bag material into the annulus between the lower piece sidewall and the lower column section 206 and then upper piece sidewall. Eventually, the flanges 28, 29 will contact each other with the underside of the upper piece flange contacting the upper surface of the lower piece upper flange.

[0093] In a further variation, FIG. 14 shows a pushing tool (pusher) 280 which may be used to push the bagging material down into the lower piece. This provides a precompression which may be particularly relevant to the fibrous material cartridge body relative to a molded plastic cartridge body. The fibrous cartridge body may be relatively weaker than the plastic and thus not be able to withstand compressing the material between the two cartridge pieces. The example pusher comprises an annular ring with an ID dimensioned to receive the lower portion of the fixture and an OD dimensioned to be of smaller radius than the lower piece sidewall. The example pusher has two handles protruding upward from the ring for a technician to press downward with both hands. After cutting the material, the technician may slide the pusher downward to compress and compact the material into the lower piece. The technician then removes the pusher before installing the upper piece to the fixture and then raising the lower piece as discussed below. The technician may tape the bagging material to the upper piece once the lower piece has been partially raised.

[0094] In an example process for securing the upper piece to the lower piece by securing their respective flanges, the technician may temporarily secure them such as via spring clamps / clips (631 in FIG. 20 below). Example clamps are three to six (e.g., four) spring clamps distributed about the periphery of the mated flanges. In an example situation, the technician then moves the temporarily-secured cartridge body to a sewing station and places it downward on a rotary fixture that supports the underside of the lower piece upper flange. The technician controls an annular upper clamp plate (e.g., pneumatic) to press down on an inboard portion of the upper surface of the upper piece flange to compress the two flanges together. With this compression, the technician may remove the clamps for further securing. The example further securing involves a sewing machine shifting radially into an outboard region of the mated flanges whereupon the stitching is initiated while a rotary actuator (not shown) rotates the fixture. Example stitching is less than full-annulus. This is because the example stitching stays away from the retention features 104, 105. Example stitching is thus over a span of an example 200° to 340° or 220° to 330° or 270° to 340° or 300° to 330° leaving a gap of an angle 9 (of 20° to 90° or 30° to 60° or 20° to 60°). The technician may manually cut the thread from the sewing machine (or it may automatically be cut). However, full annulus stitching embodiments are also possible.

[0095] The technician may then manually disengage the sewing machine away from the sewn flanges (again or this may be automatically done).

[0096] The technician may then remove the reservoir from the fixture and invert it. This inversion allows the technician easy access to the first / lower end of the bagging material in the reservoir. The technician may draw this first end out through the outlet 92 for subsequent closing and mating to the panel. Example closing involves placing the withdrawn / exposed end portion of the bagging material in a holding fixture and welding it using a heating element (e.g., two parallel passes across the material). The now sealed end portion may then be folded to a point and passed through the slot 120 in the panel. For further securing to the panel, the example end portion may be rolled, folded over, and stapled 122 or taped to the underside of the panel.

[0097] In use, when the user sees the marking on the interior of the bagging material, the user will know that the bag has completed its final possible cycle. After the final cycle for a given cartridge, the user may remove the cartridge from the toilet. Pulling the bagging material from the cartridge may disengage the tape 70 or other adhesive or fastener and separate the bagging material from the reservoir. The reservoir, now consisting only of the two pieces and the stitching may be disposed of in an ecologically friendly way (e.g., in a composting landfill or paper recycling stream). The full bagging material and the panel may be separately disposed of (e.g., in the carton or box shown in the ‘369 patent). In other variations, the panel may be made readily detachable from the bagging material, allowing the panel to also be disposed of in a composting landfill or paper recycling stream. Potentially, if a bagging material is developed that is sufficiently robust to survive use with adequate impermeability but later compost, the expended cartridge may be recycled as a unit.

[0098] Example upper and lower pieces are manufactured by pulp molded thermoforming.

[0099] FIG. 13 shows a bagging toilet 400 reflecting an embodiment of the ‘369 patent. The example toilet 400 comprises a body (e.g., an assembly) 402 having an interior 404 and a waste-receiving opening 406. An example body comprises a main body 408 with a seat assembly 410 (e.g., including a seat 412 and a cover 414) thereatop. The main body 408 comprises an outer housing 460 (e.g., a one-piece molded body) and an inner housing 462 (e.g., formed as a wall assembly). The main body further comprises a cover 464 which covers the bagging material / cartridge storage area. The flange 66 of the cartridge is sandwiched between an annular inwardly-directed upper web or flange 461 of the outer housing 460 and an upper wall or flange 465 of the cover 464. There may be gaskets on the surfaces of the flanges 461 and 465 contacting the associated surfaces of the cartridge flange 66 for sealing. The cover 464 has a depending central inner wall or collar 466 adjacent the inner wall 30 of the cartridge and extending downward parallel thereto. The various body components may be of appropriate molded plastics, fiberglass, or the like. For example, polypropylene. The example cover has an outer wall 467 with footprint having inward excursions 468 to interfit with the recesses 104, 105 and maintain registry of the cartridge.

[0100] A waste-receiving portion of the bagging material depends downwardly into the interior and divides a waste-receiving volume 430 from a surrounding portion 432 of the interior. The interior further contains a container 434 into which the waste receiving portion depends. The example container 434 is relatively rigid (e.g., compared to the bagging material).

[0101] The example container is a bucket mounted for rotation about an axis (e.g., a vertical axis). A bag / liner 436 is then used in the bucket to provide additional containment. In use, after removal of a spent cartridge and prior to installation of a new cartridge, the bag / liner is installed into the bucket and a portion near an upper rim wrapped over the upper rim portion of the bucket.

[0102] The example bucket 434 is a one-piece molded bucket (e.g., of plastic such as high density polypropylene). It has a polygonal planform (e.g., octagonal) to rotationally interlock with the panel 23. It is also waterproof to provide additional back-up containment. The example interfitting of panel and bucket provides a means of imparting twist to the bagging material which otherwise has no direct connection to the rotating bucket. In this sense the octagonal panel serves as a key to the octagonal bucket. The example panel is of such dimensions so as to fit snugly into the bottom of the eight-sided bucket. The frictional 14 engagement of the snug fit keeps the bagging material from lifting upwards during the first few use cycles during which not enough waste has accumulated to keep the material from lifting out during the part of the use cycle when positive air pressure is imparted to collapse the bagging material as an aid to the twisting process.

[0103] The example bucket has a square receptacle in the bottom to receive a square clamp 446 to impart rotational torque. The example bag / liner 436 is of approximately 0.002 inch (0.05mm) thick polyethylene. This bag / liner serves two purposes: one, as a secondary containment device for liquids, should the primary bagging material fail, two, as removal and disposal container or trash bag for the contained waste twisted within the primary bagging material. In this latter function, contained waste is removed by hinging back the toilet seat, lifting off the cover 464 and lifting out the bag / liner. The empty or partially empty refill may be put into the bag / liner along with the waste to be disposed of.

[0104] As a means for rotating the container, the toilet may include an electric motor 440. An example electric motor is vertically mounted and coupled to a shaft 441 along the axis 500 via a transmission 442 (e.g., a geared reduction transmission).

[0105] FIG. 13 also shows a bearing system 444 supporting the container for rotation about the axis 500. A clamp 446, being square in shape, transmits rotational torque to the container via a square recess in the container bottom. Additional routine mounting features, etc., may be provided. As is discussed further below, the motor may rotate the container while the bag supply remains stationary and, thereby, imparting twist to / along the receiving portion of the bagging material to isolate received waste from a portion of the bagging material thereabove. As is discussed further below, this leaves a new receiving portion of the bagging material above the twist in a process which may be repeated a number of times before the box is full and / or the bagging material expended.

[0106] As is discussed further below, one or more fans may be used to affect pressure within the interior (namely, alternatingly pressurizing the portion 432 of the interior surrounding the bagging material to compress the bagging material around received waste and, after the twisting and isolation of the waste, depressurizing the portion 432 to withdraw bagging material from the cartridge and expand the new receiving portion of the bag (e.g., not merely relieving the pressure but depressurizing below an ambient pressure)). In the example implementation, respective fans 490 and 491 are provided for respectively pressurizing the outer portion 432 and depressurizing it. The example fans 490 and 491 are squirrel cage-type centrifugal fans each with its own associated electric motor. The example fans are respectively mounted to the inside and to the outside of the sidewall of the main body outer housing 460 (namely, along a rear wall section of the sidewall).

[0107] An example depressurizing is to a greater gauge pressure than is the pressurizing. An example pressurizing is to a gauge pressure of 2.0 inches (5.0cm) of water; whereas, an example depressurizing is to a gauge pressure of 3.1 inches (7.9cm) of water. More broadly, example pressurizing is to at least 1.0 inches (2.5cm) of water, more narrowly, 1.5-3.0 inch (3.8-7.6cm); example depressurizing is to at least 2.0 inches of water, more narrowly, at least 2.5 or 2.5-3.5 inches (6.4 or 6.4-8.9cm).

[0108] Additionally, a controller is shown as a printed circuit board (PCB) 450 (FIG. 13) physically remote of the battery 452 which, for replaceability purposes, is placed in its own bay recessed in the outer housing (e.g., and held by a spring clip 454). The battery may be coupled to power the controller and the various motors. The power may alternatively be externally supplied (e.g., DC power by the recreational vehicle or boat associated with the toilet). The controller may receive user and / or sensor input (e.g., from a switch (not shown) (e.g., a pushbutton) used by the user to flush and one or more display lights (not shown) for status information or a more complex informative touch panel arrangement).The inner housing 462 (e.g., formed as a wall assembly) isolates spaces containing the pressurizing fan 490 and motor / transmission from the bucket area (this isolates electrical components from exposure to the user when changing bags, etc.). The inner housing 462 may be formed as an assembly of molded plastic pieces screwed, adhered, welded or otherwise secured in place. The inner housing may be vented or its securing may be non-airtight so as to allow withdrawal of air from the interior around the bucket.

[0109] In an example embodiment, the depressurizing fan 491 is mounted generally external to the outer housing 460 in a compartment enclosed by a panel 492 (e.g., sheet metal). The material strength of the liner 436 may keep it secured to the bucket (although additional securing may be provided via tapes, clamps, or the like). Pressurizing of the interior will cause the expanded continuous bagging material to peel away from the liner. Upon depressurizing, there may be trapped air in an approximately annular space along a lower portion of the bucket between the liner and expanded bagging material. This trapped air may prevent the bagging material from further expanding downward and outward. However, this is not believed a problem and may actually help centrally localize the next received waste.

[0110] In the illustrated example, the cartridge lacks an integral gasket. Instead, the horizontal upper surface of the cartridge-receiving area of the toilet may have a gasket for sealing with the underside of the cartridge flange 66. Nevertheless, integral gasket variations on the cartridge are possible. The elongate nature (e.g., elliptical) of the cartridge openings and the particular location of the flange recesses 104, 105 are an artifacts of a particular toilet configuration. Nevertheless, other toilet and non-toilet variations are possible. For example, there may be non-elliptical elongate openings or circular openings. Other anti-rotation / keying features may be used instead of the recesses 104, 105 or there may be none (e.g., instead relying on friction or stiction to achieve relative rotation of the waste accumulation and reservoir -particularly for non-pressurized apparatus).

[0111] In the example where the rims 38, 39, 67 are circular and the sidewalls elliptical, an additional consideration is sewing machine access near the major axis (at plane 502) of the ellipse. The radial span of the flange 66 will be lower at the major axis than at the minor axis (at plane 504). If a given radial offset of the stitching from the rim is desired, the stitching thus gets closer to the sidewall 31 as stitching progresses from the minor axis to the major axis. Depending upon the sewing machine, there may be insufficient radial span at the major axis and thus the machine would interfere with the sidewall 31. Accordingly, in such a situation, rather than enlarge the flange diameter or reduce the size of the ellipse, the circumferential extent of the stitching may be limited to regions where there is sufficient radial span. Thus, for example, there could be two arcs 68A, 68B (FIG. 15) of stitching traversing the minor axis but ending short of the major axis. In a particular example discussed below, a second gap 511 of roughly equal size 9i to the size 0 of gap 510 is diametrically opposite. The arc 68A has ends 69A and 69C and the arc 68B has ends 69B, 69D. End portions of the arcs may be formed by backstitching for reinforcement. FIG. 15 shows equal stitching arcs of angular span 9s. Example 9s is at least 95° or at least 100°. Example gap sizes 9i and 92 are at least 20° or at least 40° or at least 45° or at least 60°.

[0112] The example sewing station 600 (FIG. 16) includes a rotary fixture 604 and a commercial sewing machine 606 both mounted to a base 602 (e.g., a cart, bench, or table). The sewing station may include or be connected to a control (controller, schematically shown as 609) system such as a microcontroller. The microcontroller may be connected to input / output (I / O) devices such as, in a simple form, switches and indicator lights. Yet more complex systems may involve other I / O devices such as touchscreen displays. The example fixture has a cartridge holder 610 driven for controlled rotation about its central vertical axis 520 by a motor such as an electric motor with belt drive. The cartridge holder has a central core 612 of elliptical footprint to be received closely within the interior of the cartridge housing (sidewall 30) when the cartridge is installed and thus angularly registering / keying the 17 cartridge housing relative to the cartridge holder. The cartridge holder further includes a flange 614 having an upper surface for supporting the cartridge flange 66 (at surface 34) and radially recessed from the edge / rim 67 of the cartridge flange sufficiently to provide sewing machine access.

[0113] As a means for determining the orientation of the rotary fixture cartridge holder 610, the rotary fixture includes an encoder such as an optical encoder or a mechanical encoder. An example mechanical encoding involves grooves on the underside of the cartridge holder cooperating with proximity switches 618 (FIG. 18) mounted relative to the base. The circumferential extent of the grooves encodes angular orientation of the cartridge holder corresponding to the beginning and ending of stitching passes. Thus, as the holder rotates, input may be triggered by the rotation bringing the end of a groove to a proximity sensor so that intact material at the end of the groove triggers the proximity sensor. The proximity sensor may continue to provide input indicating intact material until rotation brings the or another groove at like radial position into proximity of the proximity sensor. Example sensors are DC metallic-object proximity switches.

[0114] A particular example discussed in further detail involves a situation that provides alternative manual control and automatic control. However, systems may be made that only have one such mode or may have other modes.

[0115] To adjust phase and provide further control opportunities, the example grooves are in a separate piece 620 (also FIG. 19) from the holder flange. In this example, the grooves are in the underside of an annular timing plate 620 spaced downwardly from the flange via spacers 622 (FIG. 16). The example plate has an outer diameter periphery 621 (FIG. 19) which any be toothed to engage teeth of a drive belt connecting the plate to a drive pulley / gear of the motor. The example spacers are secured to one or both pieces in at least a small range of orientation. In the example, this range of orientation is accomplished by having elongate circumferential through-slots 624 (FIG. 19) through which fasteners (e.g., threaded such as screws or bolts) pass to attach the two pieces. To allow changes to where the stitches begin and end (and thus potentially the circumferential length of the stitches) relative rotation of the two pieces combined with software programming of various delays or advances in timing may be used. Thus, if the circumferential length of the stitching is to be increased, the fasteners may be loosened, and the two pieces slightly rotated to cause stitching to commence early. However, absent other changes, this would cause stitching to stop early. Thus, delays may be imposed on stopping to correspondingly extend the length of stitching.

[0116] An example system involves four annular tracks 700, each comprising grooves 711 and associated intact material 710 at four distinct radial positions associated with four distinct proximity sensors 618. The grooves each have first and second circumferential ends 712, 713 and circumferentially extending ID and OD walls and an upper base surface. The example proximity sensors are all at a given absolute orientation about the holder axis (e.g., mounted to the table or base structure). For purposes of reference, from radially inward to radially outward, the tracks are sub-numbered 700-1, 700-2, 700-3, and 700-4. Similarly, the associated grooves and intact material include the associated number one through four after a hyphen, along with a letter to distinguish individual grooves or intact areas in each such track from each other.

[0117] In this example, an innermost or first track 700-1 is a home track having two grooves (groove segments) 711-1A, 711-1B separated by two areas / regions 710-1A, 710-1B of intact material separating the grooves. The intact material triggers a home response from the associated sensor 618-1 indicating an initial predetermined registry condition has been reached.

[0118] The second track 700-2 (next radial outward) is a “no sew track”. The apparatus may have indicators such as yellow 720, green 721, and red 722 lights for indicating particular status. This may be useful to inform a manual operation wherein the technician is controlling one or more functions, most notably, the stitching operation and extension / retraction of the sewing machine. Here two intact areas 710-2A,2B are associated with the gaps in sewing and are separated by two grooves 711-2A,2B. When the no sew intact areas are in proximity to the associated sensor 618-2, the red light is lit (via direct electrical connection or responsive to controller control). Thus, the red light indicates to the manual operator that the sewing machine should not be sewing and should be sufficiently retracted to avoid interference with the cartridge.

[0119] The third or next outermost track 700-3 represents a sewing stop command and is associated with the yellow light. Again, it has four intact areas 710-3A,3B,3C,3D separated by four grooves 711-3A,3B,3C,3D. The intact areas are associated with sensor 618-3 for displaying the yellow light. The track 700-3 may also serve a control function discussed below.

[0120] The fourth (outermost) track is 700-4 a sew track associated with the green light cooperating with sensor 618-4. It has two relatively long intact areas 710-4A,4B separated by grooves 711-4A,4B. In manual operation, it may signal the technician to sew. In an automatic operation, it may simply indicate that the machine is then sewing.

[0121] The cartridge holder comprises one or more clamps 630 (FIG. 17) actuatable between unclamped and clamped conditions. In the clamped condition, the clamp(s) hold the two cartridge housing pieces together for stitching. The unclamped condition is disengaged from the housing to allow housing installation to and removable from the fixture. The example clamps are four evenly circumferentially spaced pneumatic clamps mounted within the footprint of the cartridge holder central core 612. Each has a rotating (hinged) jaw 632 having a raised / vertical unclamped condition and a lowered / horizontal clamped condition. In the clamped condition, the jaw protrudes laterally beyond the central core footprint. Example clamps are air-powered hold-down toggle clamps. A pneumatic rotary union (not shown) may pass air to the clamps from a controlled air source (e.g., compressor or “house air”). FIG. 17 shows a pair of pushbutton switches 724, 725 for clamp controlled by the technician. In this example, 724 is labeled “Lock” and 725 is labeled “Release”. However, in one example, both buttons must be pressed to lock as an additional safety feature but only the release button needs to be pressed to release. FIG. 17 also shows a master power switch 729. An alternative to pneumatic clamp may be electromechanical such as using solenoids to replace pneumatic cylinders.

[0122] The sewing machine is mounted via a linear actuator (schematically shown as 607) for horizontal linear movement in a linear direction (bidirection) 530 (FIG. 16) between a retracted condition away from the fixture and an extended sewing condition wherein the needle is operatively positioned at the appropriate radius for stitching. An example drive is an electric or a pneumatic motor-driven screw drive (not shown). FIG. 16 shows a group of three pushbutton switches 726, 727, and 728 for sewing machine control. For manual operation, switches 726 and 727 respectively extend and retract the sewing machine when pressed and held. Switch 728 initiates an automatic cycle. Additionally, FIG. 16 shows an emergency stop switch 730 and a sewing control lever 731. The sewing control lever 731 is used for manual operation wherein pushing forward will lower the sewing machine’s foot and commence the stitching process and pulling back initiates a back stitch to lock the stitch and subsequently cuts the thread and raise the foot.

[0123] Typical programmable commercial sewing machines have features for lock stitching / back stitching (tacking) at the ends of a pass. Typically, the initial such stitch / tack is identified as a start tack and the terminal one an end tack. In one example, the start tack process involves a short number of stitches in the forward (counterclockwise rotation looking down on the holder in this example) direction followed by an equal short number in the reverse direction and then forward stitching the full length of stitching arc. In that example, 20 the similar end tack includes a short reverse followed by a short forward stitch and then trimming so that the end portions of the arc are triple stitched. Such use of the sewing machine’s programming may allow some simplification of mechanical encoding such as the grooves on the underside of the lower plate.

[0124] By having two equal size diametrically opposed gaps 510, 511 in the stitching as discussed above, orientational complications are reduced. It does not then matter which of two 180° reversed orientations of the major axis the cartridge is installed in. However, if the registration features 104, 105 cause the gap 510 to be larger than 511, there may be a marking / indicia 640 (FIG. 17) indicating which side the features 104, 105 go on.

[0125] In an example operational sequence, the technician places the clipped (spring clipped / clamped flanges) unsewn cartridge on the fixture with the cartridge flange contacting the cartridge holder flange. The technician then manually or via controller command causes the clamps to go from the unclamped condition to the clamped condition. For example, in a manual or automatic operation, FIG. 17 shows a lock button and a release button which the technician simultaneously presses to actuate the clamps to the clamped condition. The technician may then manually remove the clips holding the two pieces together. An example implementation has the controller programmed to only allow powered rotation of the fixture and actuation of the sewing machine with the clamps in the clamped condition.

[0126] Based upon encoder input, the machine then rotates the cartridge holder to a known start condition (if not already there). Also, technician or controller extends the sewing machine to its extended / sewing position and commences the stitching process. Each stitching may involve a single pass or may involve backstitching at beginning and / or end so as to reinforce the ends of the stitching arcs. After finishing one of the stitching arcs, the cartridge holder then automatically rotates to the beginning of the opposite stitching arc.

[0127] In one particular example, during stitching, rotation of the holder is driven by the sewing machine itself. During this period, the holder’s motor is unenergized. The motor has relatively low drags so that the sewing machine’s sewing action is capable of rotating the holder without the need for a clutch to decouple the motor from the holder. When not stitching, rotation is driven by the motor in (e.g., at least in the automated mode). The driving may be via friction of the sewing machine foot against the exposed cartridge flange. However, in other embodiments, the rotation may at least have a motor assist synchronized with the stitching action to avoid slipping.

[0128] In a specific automated example, the technician may press an automatic operation button which simultaneously rotates the holder and begins to extend the sewing machine (stage shown in FIG. 23). In a particular example, this homing rotation is counterclockwise when viewed from above. The opposite may alternatively be the case. The initial rotation and extension are synchronized so that one of the home intact locations 710-1 A, IB of the first track will reach the associated sensor 618-1 before the sewing machine has reached full extension (or gets sufficiently close thereto to avoid interference). Upon the first home position reached, the controller terminates rotation and allows further extension of the sewing machine into the operative extended position.

[0129] The controller may then command commencement of stitching (including closing the sewing machine jaw). As discussed above, there may be an example back stitching / tack and this may occur in any of several ways. For example, for a single back stitching, the stitching commences along with a short increment of clockwise rotation preprogrammed in (e.g., four stitches). Upon reaching that, the controller reverses the direction of rotation and rotates counterclockwise to complete the main arc of the stitch. In some embodiments, this back stitching may be dictated by sensor input (for example, the third sensor encountering third track intact areas 710-3A in the example where the home detected was 710-1 A). Upon reversing back to counterclockwise rotation, the third sensor will encounter groove 711-3D until it reaches the clockwise end 712 thereof and the intact region 710-3D. That may then trigger the short reversal and back stitch.

[0130] After completing the first stitch arc, the controller causes the sewing machine to open, cut the stitch, and partially retract. The controller then commands the holder to rotate to the other home position (710-IB in this example) and the process repeats but with the opposite side grooves and intact features dictating movement.

[0131] The controller then automatically retracts the sewing machine and the controller or technician disengages the clamps, allowing the technician to remove the sewn cartridge and repeat the process.

[0132] Various of the tracks are used to control lights which may be particularly relevant in a manual operation situation noted above. For example, the second track intact areas cause red light 722 to be lit. The third track intact areas cause yellow light 720 to be lit, and the fourth track intact areas command green light 721 to be lit. As a safety precaution, switching between automatic and manual modes may be controlled by a switch on the controller circuit board (not shown). This protected or remote switch prevents unintentional switching between modes or actuating a mode the operator did not intend.

[0133] Thus, in a manual operation scenario, the left button 726 is pressed to index the rotator and move the sewing machine into position. Then the operator / technician pushes the 22 lever 731 forward to sew the product. When the operator sews to the desired locations, then pull the lever back to end the stitch and raise the sewing machine’s foot. The operator presses the middle button 728 to move the sewing machine partially away from the part. The operator presses the left button 726 again to repeat the sequence to sew the second side of the part. After the second arc is sewn, the operator may press the right button 727 to fully retract the sewing machine.

[0134] The machine may be made by conventional techniques and of conventional materials. For example, the components of the cartridge holder may be machined from plate stock (e.g., aluminum alloy).

[0135] There may be numerous control variations. The illustrated use of essentially hardcoded grooves and proximity sensors may be replaced or augmented with other position detecting means and rotation amount detecting means. Either of these may include reliance on the motor’s encoder (if any, e.g., on a stepper motor) or some separate encoder such as an optical encoder. Thus, as long as there is an ability to detect at least one home orientation, rotations therefrom may be programmed and achieved via motor control and / or sewing machine control alone. As an example of the sewing machine control, as noted above, the stitching action may rotate the holder. Accordingly, stitch count may be used as a proxy for the amount of rotation. Thus, for example, the motor encoder or the home position sensor may get the system to the initiation of stitching. Programmed stitch count may then get a given arc completed and motor encoder may then be used to get to the beginning of the second arc (whereupon the stitch count is used to determine the length of the second stitching pass).

[0136] Although a single microcontroller (not shown) is discussed, the various control functions may be redistributed in one or more control systems / subsystems having storage, memory, and processor(s) (appropriately connected to the other hardware) for storing and executing instructions / programming to perform the methods. As noted above, for example, with programmable sewing machines, portions of control may be integrated into the sewing machine’s own baseline hardware / software.

[0137] An adhesive may be used as an alternative to or in addition to the stitching. An example adhesive is hot melt glue. An example hot melt glue or other adhesive is biodegradable or at least compostable (e.g., see European Standard EN 13432). Depending upon implementation, the adhesive may be applied in a continuous bead on one of the mating surfaces. For example, such bead could be coextensive with the stitching 68. However, for similar reasons to the segmentation of the stitching 68A, 68B, the adhesive may be segmented. For example, it may be desired to keep the adhesive bead sufficiently radially far away from the outer wall 53 (FIG. 2) so that subsequent compressing of the joint does not extrude adhesive into interior 88 wherein it could stick to or potentially puncture the bagging material. Thus, that distancing consideration may be similar to the sewing machine access consideration.

[0138] In alternative embodiments, there may be a greater number of adhesive locations such as a circumferential array of individual dots of adhesive forming bonds similar to tack welds in spacing. These may be in arrays corresponding to the stitching arc(s) discussed above.

[0139] In an example situation, the adhesive may be placed at a plurality of locations on the upper surface of the lower piece flange and then the upper piece may be pushed down into position. This, for example, may be done after transferring from the fixture of FIG. 14 to another fixture which supports the undersides / surfaces 37 and 61.

[0140] In an automated system generally similar to the sewing machine system (e.g., with a rotary holder), a glue head could move into place similarly to the sewing machine. In one group of implementations, the upper piece is held sufficiently spaced apart from the lower piece to allow glue head access to form the beads or dots. In that example, after all beads or dots are applied, a pushing mechanism could compress the flanges together. In that example, the lower piece flange 29 underside 37 might be supported atop a platen of the holder all the way out to its periphery 39. There may not be need for underside access as with the sewing machine.

[0141] An alternative group of automated systems may integrate the glue head with a wedge so that the wedge slides radially inward between two flanges 28, 29 which might be held together with light pressure. The wedge may also taper circumferentially (relative to the holder axis) to help locally separate the flanges during rotation of the holder. If there is no separate mechanism applying clamping forces to the flanges, the head may further be integrated with a roller to apply pressure and allow the glue to harden. Thus, in that example, in a circumferential direction, the wedge may lead the outlet of the glue head whereas the roller (e.g., initially spaced above) trails the glue head. Thus, the insertion may involve the wedge, glue head, and roller moving together with the roller spaced upward away from the flange 28 but then lowered to engage the flange 28 upper surface 34. Optionally, this inserted assembly of wedge, glue head, and roller may be made circumferentially bi directional (e.g., a wedge and a roller on opposite circumferential sides of the central glue head (with circumferential measured relative to the cartridge and holder)).

[0142] A variety of automated hot melt jetting valves are available and include those from W.H. Leary Co., Inc. of Tinley Park, Illinois.

[0143] In an example of stitching and adhesive, one example of an adhesive location is in the stitching gap, particularly between the recesses 104 and 105 of FIG. 1. Similarly to the FIG. 1 single-gap variant, prior to stitching, an adhesive 80, 81 may be applied for adhering the two FIG. 15 pieces in one or both gaps 510, 511 (e.g., to one of the two mating flange faces). Such adhesive may be applied by hand (e.g., using a hand-held hot melt glue gun). Such application may be made at the FIG. 14 fixture such as applying to the upper surface of the lower piece flange immediately prior to the assembling of the upper piece thereto and camping / clipping.

[0144] The use of “first”, “second”, and the like in the following claims is for differentiation within the claim only and does not necessarily indicate relative or absolute importance or temporal order. Similarly, the identification in a claim of one element as “first” (or the like) does not preclude such “first” element from identifying an element that is referred to as “second” (or the like) in another claim or in the description.

[0145] One or more embodiments have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made. For example, when applied to an existing baseline cartridge configuration (e.g., and its associated waste disposal apparatus), details of such baseline may influence details of particular implementations. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A bag cartridge (20) for a waste receiving apparatus (400), the cartridge comprising: a reservoir (21) having a support flange (66); anda continuous bag material (22) comprising an accumulation (90) contained within the reservoir,wherein:the reservoir comprises:a first piece (24) having a first flange (28); anda second piece (26) secured to the first piece and having a second flange (29); and stitching (68; 68A, 68B) through the first flange and second flange secures the second piece to the first piece.

2. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein:the first and second pieces comprise cellulosic fiber.

3. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein: the first and second pieces comprise bagasse.

4. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein: the first and second pieces comprise bamboo fiber.

5. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the first and second pieces comprise:at least 50 wt.% bamboo fiber; andat least 30 wt.% bagasse.

6. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein: the stitching comprises thread.

7. The cartridge claim 1 wherein:the stitching is in two arcs (68A, 68B), each of at least 100° about a central axis (500) and separated from each other by two gaps (510, 511) of at least 20°.

8. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein:the continuous bag material is an aluminized BoPET (biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate) tube.

9. The cartridge of claim 1 further comprisinga member (23) for rotationally interfitting with a rotary support (434) of the waste receiving apparatus, the continuous bag material comprising a portion (94) secured to the member.

10. The cartridge of claim 9 wherein one or more of:the member comprises folded paperboard;the continuous bagging material extends through a hole in the member;the portion secured to the member is a rolled up end portion;the portion secured to the member is stapled to the member; andthe member is polygonal.

11. The cartridge of claim 9 wherein:the continuous bag material extends through an aperture (120) in the member.

12. A combination of the cartridge of claim 1 and the waste receiving apparatus (400).

13. The combination of claim 12, wherein the waste receiving apparatus is a toilet comprising:a body (402) having an interior (404) and an upper waste-receiving opening (406);a bagging material storage area holding the reservoir to receive waste introduced through the waste-receiving opening;means (440) for rotating accumulated waste relative to the reservoir; andmeans (490, 491) for at least one of pressurizing or depressurizing an interior of the body.

14. A method for manufacturing the cartridge of claim 1, the method comprising:placing the reservoir on a holder (610) of an apparatus (600);clamping the first piece relative to the second piece;shifting a sewing machine (606) from a retracted condition to an extended condition for sewing the stitching; androtating the holder while applying said stitching via the sewing machine.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein:the clamping, shifting, and rotating are under control of an electronic controller (609).

16. A bag cartridge (20) for a waste receiving apparatus (400), the cartridge comprising:a reservoir (21) having a support flange (66); anda continuous bag material (22) comprising an accumulation (90) contained within the reservoir,wherein:the reservoir comprises a body having a top flange (66) an inner wall (30) depending from the top flange, and an outer wall (31) depending from the top flange; andthe reservoir body is at least 50% by weight cellulosic fiber.

17. The cartridge of claim 16 wherein the body comprises:a first piece (24) having a first flange (28) and the inner wall depending from the first flange; anda second piece (26) having a second flange (29) and the outer wall depending from the second flange,wherein:the first flange is secured to the second flange to form the top flange.

18. The cartridge of claim 17 wherein:the second piece comprises a third flange (58) forming a lower wall of the body.

19. The cartridge of claim 16 wherein:the first and second pieces comprise bagasse and bamboo fiber; andstitching (68; 68A, 68B) through the first flange and second flange secures the second piece to the first piece.

20. The cartridge of claim 16 wherein the first and second pieces comprise:at least 50 wt.% bamboo fiber; andat least 30 wt.% bagasse.

21. A bag cartridge (20) for a waste receiving apparatus (400), the cartridge comprising:a reservoir (21); anda continuous bag material (22) comprising an accumulation (90) contained within the reservoir,wherein:the reservoir comprises a body having a top flange (66) an inner wall (30) depending from the top flange, and an outer wall (31) depending from the top flange; and the reservoir body is at least 50% by weight plant fiber.

22. The cartridge of claim 21 wherein:the reservoir comprises:a first piece (24) having a first flange (28); anda second piece (26) secured to the first piece and having a second flange (29); and stitching (68; 68A; 68B) through the first flange and second flange secures the second piece to the first piece.

23. The cartridge of claim 21 wherein the first and second pieces comprise: at least 50 wt.% bamboo fiber; andat least 30 wt.% bagasse.

24. The cartridge of claim 21 further comprising:a member (23) for rotationally interfitting with a rotary support (434) of the waste receiving apparatus, the continuous bag material comprising a portion (94) secured to the member.

25. A bag cartridge (20) for a waste receiving apparatus (400), the cartridge comprising: a reservoir (21); anda continuous bag material (22) comprising an accumulation (90) contained within the reservoir,wherein:the reservoir comprises a body having a top flange (66) an inner wall (30) depending from the top flange, and an outer wall (31) depending from the top flange; andthe reservoir body is at least 50% by weight one or a combination of bagasse and bamboo fiber.

26. The cartridge of claim 25 wherein:the reservoir comprises:a first piece (24) having a first flange (28); anda second piece (26) secured to the first piece and having a second flange (29); and stitching (68; 68A; 68B) through the first flange and second flange secures the second piece to the first piece.

27. The cartridge of claim 25 wherein the first and second pieces comprise: at least 50 wt.% bamboo fiber; andat least 30 wt.% bagasse.

28. The cartridge of claim 25 further comprising:a member (23) for rotationally interfitting with a rotary support (434) of the waste receiving apparatus, the continuous bag material comprising a portion (94) secured to the member.

29. A sewing apparatus (600) comprising:a base (602);a rotary fixture (604) coupled to the base and having a holder (610) mounted for motor-driven rotation about a holder axis (520); anda sewing machine (606) mounted for movement via an actuator (607) between a first condition and a second condition, the second condition being an extended condition more remote of the holder than the first condition.

30. The sewing apparatus of claim 29 being configured for stitching a bag cartridge for a waste receiving apparatus wherein the cartridge comprises:a reservoir (21) having a support flange (66); anda continuous bag material (22) comprising an accumulation (90) contained within the reservoir,wherein:the reservoir comprises:a first piece (24) having a first flange (28); anda second piece (26) secured to the first piece and having a second flange (29), the stitching to be applied through the first flange and second flange to secure the second piece to the first piece;the holder comprises:a flange (614) for supporting the reservoir’s support flange with the reservoir in an installed condition;one or more clamps (630) actuatable between an unclamped condition for installation and removal of the reservoir from the holder and a clamped condition for holding the first and second pieces together.

31. The sewing apparatus of claim 30 wherein:the sewing apparatus further comprises a controller (609) and one or more sensors (618) for indicating orientation of the holder coupled to the controller;the holder further comprises a timing plate (620) below the holder’s flange;the timing plate has:a periphery engaging a drive belt; andan underside bearing registry features for cooperating with the one or more sensors for indicating orientation of the holder.

32. The sewing apparatus of claim 31 wherein one or more of:the timing plate has an adjustable orientational offset from the holder’s flange;the registry features comprise circumferential grooves with interruptions between; and there are a plurality of circumferentially-spaced said registry features for different functions.

33. A method for using the sewing apparatus of claim 30 to stitch the reservoir, the method comprising:placing the reservoir on the holder;actuating the one or more clamps to the clamped condition to clamp the first piece relative to the second piece;shifting the sewing machine from the retracted condition to the extended condition for sewing the stitching; androtating the holder while applying said stitching via the sewing machine.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein:the sewing apparatus has a controller (609) coupled to the sewing machine and the rotary fixture;the holder has registry features for cooperating with one or more sensors for indicating orientation of the holder; andthe method comprises:the controller rotating the holder and starting stitching responsive to sensor input indicating a start feature of the registry features, the starting comprising an offset being one of a programmed delay and a programmed back-up; and / orthe controller stopping stitching responsive to sensor input indicating a stop feature of the registry features, the stopping comprising an offset being a programmed delay.

35. The method of claim 33 wherein:the sewing apparatus has a controller (609) coupled to the sewing machine and the rotary fixture;the holder has registry features for cooperating with one or more sensors for indicating orientation of the holder; andthe method comprises:the controller rotating the holder and starting stitching responsive to sensor input indicating a start feature of the registry features, the starting comprising an offset being one of a programmed delay and a programmed back-up; and / orthe controller stopping stitching responsive to a defined number of stitches having been stitched by the sewing machine.

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