Waste container with volume-calibrating waste introduction system

Abstract

Waste container comprising a casing (1) above the waste storage container (2), in which is made an opening (3) for the introduction of waste which can be closed by a hatch which can be moved by the user by means of maneuvering (10, 20) between an open position for the introduction of waste and a closed position for the emptying of waste.This container is such that the hatch is a solid wall of a single drum (4) rotatably mounted in the housing (1), said drum (4) having a window (5) which is positioned opposite the opening (3) of the housing (1) in a first positioning of the operating means (10, 20) corresponding to the open position for waste introduction, and is positioned directly above the container (2) in a second positioning of the operating means (10, 20) corresponding to the closed position for waste discharge, the opening (3) of the housing (1) being completely obstructed by the drum (4) in this second position of the drum (4), return means (40) being provided to return the drum (4) to said second position. (See Fig. 2 in the abstract.)

Description

Title of the invention: Waste container with volume-calibrated waste introduction system

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of waste collection, specifically public waste containers, and more particularly to a system for introducing such waste—notably in the form of standard household garbage bags—which allows for calibrating the volume of waste deposited. This calibration is a response to the progressive implementation, by various public and private operators, of the polluter-pays principle, which leads these operators to establish pricing systems based on the volume of waste deposited by a user. This implies an assessment of the quantity of waste to be processed, which is carried out at the level of the waste introduction system into the containers. Essentially, the waste collector includes and makes available to users, through its introduction system, a volumetric capacity that cannot be exceeded during each operation of said system.

[0002] Waste volume calibration systems are based on a movable compartment located above the main storage container, which the user fills as many times as necessary to dispose of all their waste. The more waste a user generates, the more movable compartments they fill, and the more they pay for its subsequent treatment. The polluter-pays principle is intended, in particular, to provide users with a financial incentive to reduce their waste production. It also constitutes an indirect incentive for waste sorting and recycling. For authorities, it allows for more efficient management of the quantity of waste to be treated, which, it should be noted, increases significantly year after year. It also reflects, quite simply, a certain fairness, as the "polluter-pays" principle effectively ensures that those who generate more waste logically pay a larger share of the costs of its management.

[0003] Currently, existing waste measurement systems are based on permanently closed double-drum configurations. These designs comprise two coaxial half-cylinders or drums rotating in opposite directions, so that when the opening for waste insertion is facing the user, the rest of the double-drum system, on the side for emptying waste into the container, is closed. The system is therefore designed so that when the user places their waste in the double drum, it remains there. Only when the user closes the double drum is an opening created above the container, allowing the waste to fall into it by gravity.

[0004] The disadvantages of these structures are of several kinds. First, double-drum systems are expensive because they consist of two drums with separate movements, requiring relatively complex mechanics. This is especially true since, when the waste introduction system is opening or closing, it must not be possible to introduce waste before the passage to the waste container is completely closed; otherwise, the calibration mentioned above cannot be performed. If it is possible to bypass the system by introducing waste during the opening or closing phases, knowing that it falls directly into the storage container, the calibration for billing purposes becomes largely meaningless.Therefore, the movements of the two drums must be mechanically managed to avoid direct paths during the intermediate phases of rotation, which complicates the mechanical structure.

[0005] The system must also be equipped with a handle and / or a foot pedal that can be operated by users to move the system from a closed position to an open position for waste insertion. However, in these double-drum systems, the actuation angles of these components are limited by the shape of the waste insertion systems, which are dependent on the specific configuration of the rotating double cylinder. They are also limited by the shape of the waste containers themselves. The ergonomics and practicality of these operating mechanisms can therefore be improved.

[0006] The present invention overcomes these drawbacks by offering a mechanically less complex structure that is easy to use and reliable in calibrating the volumes of waste discharged. The simplicity of the design ensures robustness. Furthermore, the configuration has been designed to facilitate handling by users.

[0007] For these purposes, the waste container of the invention, conventionally comprising a casing above the waste storage container, in which is made a waste inlet opening that can be closed by a hatch movable by the user by means of operation between an open position for inlet waste and a closed position for emptying waste, is such that the hatch is a solid wall of a single drum mounted rotatably in the casing, said drum having a window which is positioned opposite the opening of the casing in a first positioning of the means of operation corresponding to the open position for inlet waste and which is positioned vertically above the container in a second positioning of the means of operation corresponding to the closed position for emptying waste, the opening of the casing being completely obstructed by the drum in this second position of the drum,means of return are provided to return the drum to said second position.

[0008] The configuration is in this case based on a single rotating cylinder or drum, which considerably simplifies the structure and allows for a rethinking of the means of its actuation.

[0009] The operating means in the structure of the invention are designed to drive the drum through a rotation greater than 180° and less than 220°. Preferably, this is a rotation of approximately 200°, the drive of which is not directly on the drum, for obvious practical reasons. This significant angular displacement is necessary due to the existence of a single drum. It also results from the configuration of the housing and addresses the need to prevent any unwanted deposit of waste between the open and closed positions. Finally, it results from design choices, the drum window, for example, being designed to be large, both to facilitate filling and to ensure emptying. Thus, for example, according to the invention, the angular sector covered by the drum window is close to the diameter of the drum.

[0010] To prevent any attempt at fraud by trying to "post" waste directly to the storage container during the drum's movement phases, and to ensure correct calibration, the invention provides that the respective shapes of the drum and the casing leave a minimal gap, on the one hand between the edges of the opening made in the casing and the drum, and on the other hand between the casing wall opposite the opening and the drum.

[0011] The issue of the drum's operating means, which allow it to be moved between its two positions—open, with the drum window facing the user, and closed, with the window overhanging the storage container for emptying the waste from the drum—has already been mentioned. In the present invention, these two positions are relatively far apart angularly, on the order of 200°, which poses particular problems in terms of the operation of the operating means. Thus, it is not possible to attach a handle directly to the drum, as this would require an opening in the casing over a similar angular sector, making it virtually impossible to achieve sufficient enclosure to prevent users from directly throwing their waste into the storage container.

[0012] In the invention, according to a preferred configuration, the operating means may comprise a handle that rotates relative to the housing through a predetermined stroke with an amplitude between 90° and 110°, connected to the axis of rotation of the drum by a mechanism that multiplies the rotary stroke of the handle, multiplying the rotary stroke of the drum by a factor between 1.9 and 2.1. Preferably, the multiplication factor is on the order of 2.

[0013] The handle being offset from the hatch formed by the drum, generally arranged the Lateral to the casing and therefore free from the constraints inherent in drum movement, the operation is easy for users. The stops limiting the stroke range are also managed by a rotating mechanism on the handle, which is separate from the drum / casing structure. This separation of functions results in improved overall robustness, as each function can be individually analyzed and optimized for the proper operation of the system.

[0014] Preferably, the multiplication mechanism comprises a drive wheel fixed to the axis of rotation of the handle, connected by a chain or belt to a drive wheel fixed to the axis of rotation of the drum. The principle thus established, it may consist of toothed wheels cooperating with a chain, friction wheels cooperating with a belt, etc.

[0015] Secondarily, or alternatively, the operating means may include a pivoting pedal with an angular range of between 15° and 25°, which may be connected to the drum's axis of rotation by a pedal travel multiplier mechanism, thereby multiplying the drum's rotational stroke by a factor of between 8 and 13. Each action on the pedal opens the waste inlet system and initiates the calibration operation, which is completed when the pedal is released, at which point the drum is in the waste emptying position. These operations are performed under the same conditions as via the handle, which is activated and then released. Preferably, the pedal's rotation range is approximately 20° for ergonomic reasons.

[0016] Preferably, each container can be equipped with two operating mechanisms that can be used in combination, and the operating means in this case comprise a pedal pivoting through an angular range always between 15° and 25°, connected by linkage means to the handle stroke multiplication mechanism. Only one multiplication mechanism is then used, which simplifies the system.

[0017] Assuming that this multiplication mechanism is as described above - that is to say based on two wheels, a drive wheel fixed to the axis of rotation of the handle connected by a belt or a chain to a drive wheel fixed to the axis of rotation of the drum - the linkage means consist of a cable or a connecting rod mounted pivotally on the pedal on one side and on the other side to the periphery of a rotating device of the handle, in a pivot axis capable of transforming the angular displacement of the pedal into a rotation of said rotating device of the handle covering the amplitude of the predetermined stroke of said handle.

[0018] Actions on the pedal therefore cause a complete rotation of the handle, according to the predetermined amplitude, and move the drum by one sector angular allowing it to move from the second closed position to the first open position for waste introduction.

[0019] Recall means may be provided to return these operating means to the second position of the drum, which allows the emptying of waste and corresponds to the closing of the hatch, include for example a tension spring interposed between the pedal and a support of the drum, which may also be covered by the casing.

[0020] In the invention, the stable rest position, in the absence of any action, is logically the closed position, and the return means bring it to this position after each operation of the handle and / or the pedal. The calibration function, which consists of a cycle of opening, waste insertion, and closing / emptying, effectively imposes this "normal" closed state when not actuation. The division into two successive phases—first, opening performed manually or by foot by the user, and then automatic closing—can be controlled, for billing purposes, by an electronic identification and authorization unit cooperating with an electromechanical drum locking / unlocking device.

[0021] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, which presents a preferred embodiment of the invention. This is given, however, only by way of illustration and not limitation.

[0022] Understanding this description will be facilitated by referring to the drawings attached in the appendix, in which:

[0023] Fig. 1 represents a central section view of a container according to the invention, with the drum in the open position for introducing waste;

[0024] [Fig.2] reproduces the sectional view of [Fig.1], with the drum in the closed position for emptying waste;

[0025] Fig. 3 shows the same section view as the two preceding ones, with the drum in an intermediate position between open and closed;

[0026] Fig. 4 represents a cross-sectional view at one lateral end of the container of the invention, without the casing;

[0027] Figure 5 illustrates an enlarged detail of the rotating handle mechanism; and

[0028] Fig. 6 shows a cross-sectional view revealing the multiplier mechanism of the rotary stroke of the handle.

[0029] With reference to Figures 1 to 3, the container comprises a housing 1 mounted above the waste storage container 2 (or bin), which can be buried underground. This housing 1 has an opening 3 in front of which a rotating drum 4 rotates about a horizontal axis. The drum is rotatably mounted on a support structure, for example, a gantry-type structure, which is covered by the housing 1. The drum 4 rotates within the housing 1 such that if a solid wall of said drum 4 is placed in front of Through opening 3, it is not possible to introduce waste. Drum 4 acts like a pivoting hatch. It has a window 5 (shown in cross-hatched lines) that moves according to the rotation of drum 4.

[0030] In Figures 1 to 3, this window 5 is successively located opposite and facing the opening 3, overhanging the storage container 2, and finally in an intermediate position between these two. The opening 3 is delimited, on its upper and lower sides, by the facets 6, 7 of the housing, and is generally rectangular. The housing also delimits it on its lateral sides. The window 5 of the drum 4 is also rectangular, covering an angular sector larger than that of the opening 3, which, as previously mentioned, is preferably close to the diameter of the drum 4 in order to facilitate the introduction of waste and, above all, its emptying, in the position shown in [Fig. 2]. The housing 1 and the drum 4 are designed so that the housing prevents any possibility of waste passing between the drum 4 and the housing 1, regardless of their relative position.The remaining clearance between them, very small, for example less than 5 mm, leaves no sufficient space for waste to fall between the housing 1 and the drum 4. The clockwise rotation of the drum 4, driven by the operating means manipulated by the user (see below) has the consequence that even in an intermediate position, such as appearing in [Fig. 3], if the user introduces waste into the drum 4, which is still possible because they always have access to a portion of the window 5 near the panel 6, this waste will fall into the drum 4 and will be part of the quantity of waste that is calibrated by the drum 4. It cannot fall directly into the storage container 2.

[0031] In the position of the drum 4 illustrated in [Fig. 2], which corresponds to the emptying position, the solid wall of the drum 4 faces the user, between the sides 6 and 7, and no further introduction of waste is possible. On the other hand, in this so-called emptying position, the large width of the window 5 allows the drum to empty completely, the waste falling by gravity through this wide opening into the container 2 located below. This position corresponds to the rest state of the system, which can be considered the initial step of a waste volume calibration operation. It corresponds to the stable state to which the operating means have been returned by the system's return means, as will be explained in more detail later. An action on these operating means allows the drum 4 to be opened by rotation to its position appearing in [Fig. 2].[l] for the purpose of filling, which the user should aim to do as completely as possible, the compartment delimited by the drum 4, the internal volume of which essentially defines a calibration volume, a possible basis for subsequent billing.

[0032] The means for operating the movement of the drum 4 available to the user are shown in Figures 4 to 6 and allow the user, by acting on these means, to to move from a stable closed rest position to an open waste introduction position, before automatic return - due to the return means - to the closed emptying position.

[0033] The handle or lever 10 is in the raised position at rest and can be lowered to move the drum 4 from its position in [Fig. 2] to that in [Fig. 1], in the open position for waste insertion. An action on the pedal 20 has the same effect. These two components 10 and 20 have a rotational stroke—around axes of rotation 11 and 21—limited by stops in the system. A mechanism for multiplying the stroke of the handle 10 is shown in [Fig.6]: a toothed wheel 12 fixed to the axis of rotation 11 is connected via a chain 13 to a second toothed wheel 14, of smaller diameter, fixed to the axis of rotation of the drum 4. The respective diameters of the wheels 12, 14, and consequently the number of teeth of each of these wheels 12, 14, are chosen to amplify the angular stroke of the wheel 12, in this case by a factor of order 2.More specifically, the angular stroke of the handle 10 is planned to be around 100°, and that of the drum 4 driven by the wheel 14 is around 200°. This latter value corresponds to the amplitude of rotation that is to be given to the drum 4 so that it can fulfill its inlet / outlet function in relation to the configuration given to the calibration system of the invention.

[0034] The choice of offsetting the operating handle 10 to the side makes it possible to implement such a rotational amplitude for the drum 4, whereas conventional systems with the handle directly located on the drum 4 would not have allowed this type of amplitude. Between an open position allowing waste to be deposited and a closed position preventing waste from being deposited but allowing it to fall into the storage container 2, a rotation greater than 180° is necessary in the configuration of the invention, while the stroke made by the user to control the operating mechanism is more limited, primarily for ergonomic reasons.

[0035] The user is also offered a second way to operate the system: the pedal 20 produces the same rotational effect for the drum 4, also controlled between its closed rest position in [Fig. 2] and the open position in [Fig. 1]. In this case, however, the multiplication problem is slightly different, given that the rotational amplitude of a normally ergonomic pedal is on the order of 20°. A single mechanism is used, and the pedal 20 is connected for this purpose to a rotating device 15 of the handle 10 by a connecting rod 30 articulated on one side to the pedal 20 at an axis 31, and on the other side to the said rotating device 15 of the handle 10, at an axis of rotation 32. The articulation 31, located near the point of contact of the foot on the pedal 20, ensures that the range of motion is close to that which exists at the pedal 20. The articulation 32 is located on the periphery of the The rotating device 15 of the handle 10, the device 15 which takes, for example, the form of a plate to which said handle 10 is attached and which manages the rotation relative to the housing 1 and the rotary linkage 32 with the connecting rod 30. The location of this joint 32, in the immediate vicinity of the base of the handle 10, allows its rotating device 15 to have substantially the same angular stroke as when it is actuated by a user directly via the handle 10. The rotary stroke of the drum 4, when it is driven by the pedal 30, is therefore the same as when it is controlled by the handle 10.

[0036] Return means, in the form of a tension spring 40, are interposed between the pedal 20 and the structure of the container of the invention, at the level of a fin 51 protruding from one of the uprights 50 of a gantry supporting the rotation of the drum 4.

[0037] The design modalities illustrated by the figures are of course not exhaustive of the invention, which on the contrary includes variants of form for its different components.

Claims

Demands

1. Waste container comprising a casing (1) surmounting the waste storage container (2), in which is made an opening (3) for the introduction of waste which can be closed by a hatch movable by the user by means of maneuvering (10, 20) between an open position for the introduction of waste and a closed position for the emptying of waste, characterized in that the hatch is a solid wall of a single drum (4) rotatably mounted in the casing (1), said drum (4) comprising a window (5) which is positioned opposite the opening (3) of the casing (1) in a first positioning of the means of maneuvering (10, 20) corresponding to the open position for the introduction of waste and which is positioned vertically above the container (2) in a second positioning of the means of maneuvering (10, 20) corresponding to the closed position for the emptying of waste,the opening (3) of the casing (1) being completely obstructed by the drum (4) in this second position of the drum (4), return means (40) being provided to return the drum (4) to said second position.

2. Waste container according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the operating means (10, 20) drive the drum (4) through a rotation greater than 180° and less than 220°.

3. Waste container according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the angular sector covered by the window (5) of the drum (4) is close to the diameter of said drum (4).

4. Waste container according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the respective shapes of the drum (4) and the casing (1) leave a minimal gap, on the one hand between the edges of the opening (3) made in the casing (1) and the drum (4) and on the other hand between the wall of the casing (1) opposite the opening (3) and the drum (4).

5. Waste container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the operating means comprise a handle (10) rotating relative to the housing (1) along a predetermined stroke of amplitude between 90° and 110°, connected to the axis of rotation of the drum (4) by a mechanism multiplying the rotary stroke of the handle (10) achieving a multiplication by a factor between 1.9 and 2.1 of the rotary stroke of the drum (4).

6. Waste container according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the multiplication mechanism comprises a wheel (12) drive wheel fixed to the axis of rotation (11) of the handle (10), connected by a belt or chain (13) to a drive wheel (14) fixed to the axis of rotation of the drum (4).

7. Waste container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the operating means comprise a pedal (20) pivoting through an angular range of between 15° and 25°, connected to the axis of rotation of the drum by a pedal stroke multiplication mechanism (20) achieving a multiplication by a factor of between 8 and 13 of the rotary stroke of the drum (4).

8. Waste container according to any one of claims 5 and 6, characterized in that the operating means comprise a pedal (20) pivoting with an angular range of between 15° and 25°, connected by linkage means to the stroke-multiplying mechanism of the handle (10).

9. Waste container according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the connecting means consist of a cable or a connecting rod (30) pivotally mounted on the pedal (20) on the one hand and on the other hand on the periphery of a rotating device (15) of the handle (10), in a pivot axis (32) capable of transforming the angular displacement of the pedal (20) into a rotation of said rotating device (15) of the handle (10) covering the amplitude of the predetermined stroke of said handle (10).

10. Waste container according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the return means comprise a tension spring (40) interposed between the pedal (10) and a support (50) of the drum (4).

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