Waste storage device

Abstract

To provide a waste storage device which is compact, and which is suitable for sealed disposal of larger wastes such as a urine leakage pad and the like absorbing hundreds of cubic centimeters of urine.SOLUTION: A casing 2 is a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view. Two film feeding rollers 31, 32 and two film drawing rollers 33, 34 for constituting a packaging mechanism part 3 are arranged in parallel having an interval in the width direction in the casing 2 respectively. As the casing 2 is long in one direction, and each roller is arranged along the longer direction, it is easy to arrange in a narrow space.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a waste container suitable for packaging and disposing of waste such as used incontinence pads, disposable diapers, sanitary products, and other garbage. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose devices for sealing and storing waste that is prone to generate odors, such as used disposable diapers and sanitary products, with a film.

[0003] Specifically, a packaging device (packaging mechanism) is provided above a garbage storage section that stores waste. This packaging device includes two film supply rollers rotatably arranged in parallel at a distance from each other, each supplying film, and two film pull-out rollers arranged in parallel so that their peripheral surfaces contact each other via the film pulled out from each film supply roller. At least one of the two film pull-out rollers has a peripheral surface that elastically deforms to conform to the shape of the waste, and each film pull-out roller is rotated by a drive unit.

[0004] At least one of the films supplied from the two film supply rollers has an adhesive layer formed on the surface facing the other film. When waste is placed between the two film supply rollers and the drive unit is driven, the two film pull-out rollers rotate, and at least one of the film pull-out rollers is elastically deformed by the waste. Furthermore, as the waste passes between the film pull-out rollers, the films adhere to each other around the waste, and multiple pieces of waste are stored consecutively in the waste storage unit in an individually sealed state.

[0005] Patent Document 3 discloses a configuration in which gears are provided at both ends of two film pull-out rollers to reliably synchronize the rotation of the two film pull-out rollers and the film is passed between the opposing gears to increase the film pulling force. Patent Document 4 discloses a sealing film that is wound around a film supply roller and is suitable for sealing waste. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] WO2005 / 037684 publication [Patent Document 2] WO2010 / 150763 publication [Patent Document 3] Patent Publication No. 2021-1044 [Patent Document 4] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-89580 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] The devices disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3 are provided in relatively small or large sizes selected according to the size of the waste to be sealed. That is, for used sanitary napkins, which are relatively compact when disposed of, a narrow tubular elastic member attached around the film-pulling roller and a small opening are used to provide a compact overall size. On the other hand, devices for sealing and disposing of pants-type disposable diapers are provided in a larger overall size, using a thicker tubular elastic member or a longer axial length, and having a larger opening and waste storage compartment. Thus, conventionally, relatively small containers suited to the size of sanitary napkins have been installed in areas where sanitary napkins are disposed of, such as stalls in women's restrooms, while larger containers have been installed in areas where disposable diapers are disposed of, such as areas where cribs and diaper changing tables are installed, due to the relatively large space required.

[0008] However, some incontinence pads available on the market in recent years, especially those for men, have a urine absorption capacity of 200cc or 300cc, which is much larger than regular sanitary napkins. Furthermore, when the pads have absorbed close to the maximum capacity of 200cc or 300cc, they can be difficult to roll up compactly, and even if they are rolled up, their large diameter makes them difficult to insert into the insertion slot.

[0009] Therefore, if a container the same size as a traditional disposable sanitary napkin for women were prepared for changing and disposing of incontinence pads in a men's restroom stall, it might not fit into the slot, or even if it did, it might not be sealed with the sealing film. Furthermore, men's restrooms often do not even have baby cribs or diaper changing tables. Furthermore, regardless of gender, users of this type of incontinence pad often prefer to change and dispose of them in the stall, just like with sanitary napkins. However, encouraging users to use the large disposable diaper disposal containers installed next to baby cribs or diaper changing tables would require users to take used incontinence pads outside the stall, which would be inconsiderate of the psychological burden placed on users.

[0010] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above, and its object is to provide a waste storage device that can be installed in a small space such as a toilet stall, and is suitable for sealing and disposing of larger waste items than conventional devices. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides: A waste storage device including a packaging mechanism that packages waste by positioning it between two sealing films with their adhesive layers facing each other, and a waste storage unit that is provided below the packaging mechanism, The packaging mechanism unit a casing having a predetermined length and width and a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view, wherein the sealing films are wound around the casing so that the adhesive layers face each other when the casing is pulled out, and two film supply rollers are arranged in parallel at an interval in the width direction of the casing; two film pull-out rollers arranged in parallel at a distance in the width direction of the casing and downstream of the two film supply rollers in the direction of transport of the waste, which rotate to unwind and pull out the sealing film from each of the film supply rollers, contact each of the pulled-out sealing films, and have cylindrical elastic members arranged on their rotation shafts that deform along the outer diameter of the cylindrical elastic members when the waste passes through; a drive unit for rotating each of the film pull-out rollers; Equipped with The waste input portion provided in the casing is formed in a cylindrical shape having an upper end opening that opens along the outer surface of the casing and a lower end opening that is located between the two film supply rollers, and the lower end opening is provided at a position corresponding to a distance of at least 1 / 4 of the outer diameter of each of the sealing films wound around the two film supply rollers when unused, as a distance from the top of the sealing film toward the center of rotation in a cross section in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of each of the sealing films in a wound state, The two film supply rollers are arranged in positions such that the innermost portions of the wound sealing films when unused are outside the lower end opening. A waste containment device is provided.

[0012] The maximum dimension of the upper end opening and the lower end opening of the input portion along the longitudinal direction of the casing is 1.1 to 1.6 times the maximum dimension of the upper end opening and the lower end opening of the input portion along the width direction of the casing in a plan view. long It is preferable that the thickness is small. It is also preferable that a guide member be provided corresponding to each sealing film, in the vertical range from the height of the center of rotation of each film supply roller to the height of the top of each film pull-out roller, through which each sealing film passes before being pulled out from each film supply roller and pulled between each film pull-out roller.

[0013] The two film supply rollers are preferably arranged in a parallel positional relationship with a gap between them in the diagonal vertical direction, with one roller positioned above the other roller positioned below. It is preferable that the feeding section is provided at a position facing a space formed diagonally above and below by the two film supply rollers.

[0014] It is preferable that a guide member be provided on the side of the low-positioned film supply roller, in the vertical range from the height of the center of rotation of the lower-positioned film supply roller of the two film supply rollers arranged in a diagonally upward and downward positional relationship to the height of the top of the film pull-out roller located on the side of the low-positioned film supply roller, through which the sealing film passed before being pulled out from the low-positioned film supply roller and drawn between the two film pull-out rollers.

[0015] It is preferable that the cylindrical elastic member arranged on the two film-pulling rollers is configured to have multiple separate cylindrical portions separated in the axial direction, and that the separate cylindrical portions arranged near the center in the axial direction are relatively softer than the separate cylindrical portions arranged in the outer range.

[0016] It is also preferable that the cylindrical elastic member arranged on the two film-pulling rollers is configured to have a plurality of separate cylindrical portions separated in the axial direction, and that the separate cylindrical portions arranged near the center in the axial direction have a relatively smaller diameter than the separate cylindrical portions arranged in the outer range.

[0017] The waste storage device of the present invention is preferably used by being placed in a toilet stall. It is preferable that the waste storage device of the present invention is arranged between a toilet bowl installed in a toilet stall and a side wall of the stall located to the side of the toilet bowl, with the longitudinal direction of the casing aligned with the depth direction of the side wall. It is suitable for use when used incontinence pads are disposed of as waste. It is also preferable that the configuration be equipped with a detection device that detects device information including the amount of waste stored in the waste storage section, and a communication device that transmits the device information detected by the detection device to the maintenance company's terminal device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] According to the present invention, the casing is substantially rectangular in plan view, and the two film supply rollers and two film pull-out rollers constituting the packaging mechanism are arranged parallel to each other and spaced apart in the width direction within the casing. That is, since the casing is long in one direction and the rollers are arranged along the longitudinal direction, it is easy to arrange the packaging mechanism in a narrow space. Furthermore, the waste input section is formed in a cylindrical shape with an upper opening along the outer surface of the casing and a lower opening located between the two film supply rollers. The lower opening is located at a position corresponding to at least ¼ of the outer diameter of each sealing film wound around the two film supply rollers when unused, in a cross section perpendicular to the rotation axis of each of the wound sealing films, from the top toward the center. Furthermore, the two film supply rollers are located at a position such that the innermost portions of each wound sealing film when unused are outside the lower opening. For this reason, the two film-pulling rollers are positioned widthwise within the casing at a distance greater than the maximum widthwise dimension of the lower opening, and by setting the dimensions of the upper and lower openings of the input section to a size that allows waste of a predetermined size (for example, an incontinence pad that has absorbed 300cc of urine) to pass through, the container has a rectangular shape in plan view that is suitable for placement in a narrow space, but is also suitable for packaging and disposing of waste of larger dimensions and volume.

[0019] Furthermore, by making the maximum dimension of the upper and lower openings of the input section along the longitudinal direction of the casing 1.1 to 1.6 times longer than the maximum dimension along the width direction of the casing, the waste can be input so that the wider direction is aligned with the longitudinal direction of the casing, and even a narrow casing can accept waste of a specified size.

[0020] Therefore, it is suitable as a waste storage device to be installed in a narrow space in a toilet stall to dispose of waste that is larger in size when disposed of than sanitary napkins, such as incontinence pads that have absorbed several hundred cc of urine. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] FIG. 1(a) is a perspective view of a waste storage device according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1(b) is a perspective view of the device with an opening / closing door open. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a casing of the waste storage device of the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the packaging mechanism of the embodiment with the top plate of the casing removed. [Figure 4] 4(a) and (b) are diagrams for explaining the packaging mechanism section, where (a) is a perspective view seen from the top direction, and (b) is a perspective view seen from the front direction. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1, and is a diagram for explaining the operation of the packaging mechanism unit of the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the guide member and its function. [Figure 7] Figures 7(a) to (d) show the configuration of a packaging mechanism unit provided with guide members, where (a) and (b) show the case where the gap between the two guide members is wide, and (c) and (d) show the case where the gap between the two guide members is wide. (a) and (c) are views of the packaging mechanism unit viewed from the top, (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line DD in (a), and (d) is a cross-sectional view taken along line EE in (b). [Figure 8]Figures 8(a) to (d) are diagrams showing the appearance of a waste storage device according to another embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a plan view, (b) is a front view, (c) is a side view, and (d) is a view taken along the arrow C in (c). [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the packaging mechanism section of the waste storage apparatus according to the other embodiment. [Figure 10] Figure 10(a) is a diagram for explaining the movement of the sealing film of the packaging mechanism section of the waste storage device according to the other embodiment, and Figure 10(b) is a diagram for explaining the movement of the sealing film when no guide member is provided. [Figure 11] 11(a) to 11(c) are diagrams illustrating a preferred configuration of a film pull-out roller used in the waste storage device of the present invention. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a waste storage device equipped with a detection device that detects device information and a communication device that transmits the device information detected by the detection device to a terminal device of a maintenance company. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] The present invention will be described in more detail below based on the embodiments of the present invention shown in the drawings. Figure 1 is a diagram showing the appearance of a waste storage device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is an exploded oblique view of a substantially box-shaped casing 2 omitting the packaging mechanism part 3 such as film supply rollers 31, 32 and film pull-out rollers 33, 34, and Figures 3 and 4(a) and (b) are perspective views showing the internal structure.

[0023] The casing 2 is divided into an upper casing 2A and a lower casing 2B, which are vertically adjacent and connectable. The upper casing 2A houses a mechanism housing 30 housing the packaging mechanism 3. The lower casing 2B houses a waste housing 4, which accommodates waste. By opening and closing the door 2B1, waste accumulated in the waste housing 4 can be removed and disposed of. The casing 2 is formed into a box-like shape that is approximately rectangular in plan view with a predetermined length and width. The approximately rectangular shape allows for placement in a narrow space by aligning the longitudinal direction with the depth of the placement space. Since the mechanism housing 30 houses the packaging mechanism 3, it is necessary to support the film pull-out rollers 33, 34 and other components to ensure stable operation. Therefore, the mechanism housing 30 is preferably molded from a material with excellent rigidity, impact resistance, dimensional stability, etc., such as ABS resin. The upper casing 2A, the lower casing 2B, the opening and closing door 2B1, and the top plate 21 and the input portion 22, which will be described later, are preferably molded from polypropylene, which has excellent mechanical strength and a small specific gravity.

[0024] A removable top panel 21 is provided on the top of the upper casing 2A, and an insertion section 22 is provided on this top panel 21. The insertion section 22 has an upper opening 22a on the outer surface 21a of the top panel 21 and is formed in a cylindrical shape extending downward from the upper opening 22a, with its end being a lower opening 22b. The shapes of the upper opening 22a and the lower opening 22b are preferably a substantially elliptical or rectangular shape elongated in the longitudinal direction of the casing 2 in a plan view. Although the shape of waste is not uniform, when discarding incontinence pads, sanitary napkins, or disposable diapers, they are often discarded in a folded or rolled state in the longitudinal direction. When folded or rolled, the dimension along the width direction is often longer than the dimension along the folding or rolling direction. When the upper end opening 22a and the lower end opening 22b have the above-described shape that is long along the longitudinal direction of the casing 2, it becomes easier to insert waste with the width direction aligned with the longitudinal direction of the casing 2. As a result, the width dimension of the casing 2 can be reduced compared to when the upper end opening 22a and the lower end opening 22b are long in the width direction of the casing 2, making it suitable for placement in narrow spaces.

[0025] It is preferable that the maximum dimension of the upper end opening 22a and the lower end opening 22b through which the waste passes, in plan view, along the longitudinal direction of the casing 2 is 1.1 to 1.6 times the maximum dimension along the width direction of the casing 2. This makes it easier to insert the waste with its width direction aligned with the longitudinal direction of the upper end opening 22a and the lower end opening 22b, making it suitable for disposing of larger-sized waste.

[0026] However, if the maximum dimension along the longitudinal direction is not somewhat smaller than the width of sealing films 311, 321 (the length along the longitudinal direction of film supply rollers 31, 32), which will be described later, it may be difficult to seal both sides of the waste. Furthermore, if the upper end opening 22a and the lower end opening 22b are too large, there is a high possibility that foreign objects other than the intended waste will be introduced. Therefore, although the length is set to 1.6 times as described above, more preferably, the maximum dimension along the longitudinal direction of the casing 2 of the upper end opening 22a and the lower end opening 22b is 1.1 to 1.4 times the maximum dimension along the width direction of the casing 2 in a plan view. Note that the upper end opening 22a can have an opening area equal to or larger than the lower end opening 22b to facilitate the introduction of waste, but it is preferable that the upper end opening 22a be tapered so that its opening area is larger than that of the lower end opening 22b.

[0027] A mechanism housing section 30 is disposed below the top panel 21 provided at the top of the upper casing 2A. The mechanism housing section 30 has a box-shaped roller arrangement section 30a for arranging two film supply rollers 31, 32 and two film pull-out rollers 33, 34, as well as a drive unit arrangement section 30b and a battery box 30c provided adjacent to the roller arrangement section 30a on one of the side panels 25. The bottom surface 30a1 of the roller arrangement section 30a is open in the center, forming a communication opening 30a2 that communicates with the waste storage section 4 below. An opening / closing lid 21b is provided on the top panel 21 at a position corresponding to the battery box 30c. Opening and closing the opening / closing lid 21b allows for easy replacement of the battery 39 disposed in the battery box 30c.

[0028] The lower end opening 22b of the feeding section 22 is provided so as to be positioned between the film supply rollers 31, 32 arranged in the roller arrangement section 30a. Specifically, the lower end opening 22b is provided at a position corresponding to a distance from the tops 311a, 321a of the sealing films 311, 321 wound around the two film supply rollers 31, 32 toward the rotation centers 311c, 321c when the sealing films 311, 321 are unused, and at a distance corresponding to at least ¼ of the outer diameter of the sealing films 311, 321 when unused. Preferably, the lower end opening 22b is provided so as to be positioned in a range of ¼ to ¾ of the outer diameter of the sealing films 311, 321 when unused, from the tops 311a, 321a toward the rotation centers 311c, 321c. 2 to 4, it is preferable that peripheral wall 22c extending from upper end opening 22a to lower end opening 22b has a curved shape that bulges inward, and two film supply rollers 31, 32 are disposed at positions where innermost portions 311b, 321b of wound sealing films 311, 321 when not in use are outside lower end opening 22b. Because input portion 22 has curved peripheral wall 22c, two film supply rollers 31, 32 can be disposed at positions close to peripheral wall 22c while ensuring the opening areas of upper end opening 22a and lower end opening 22b required for input portion 22, which helps to minimize the width dimension of casing 2.

[0029] The packaging mechanism 3 includes two film supply rollers 31 and 32, two film pull-out rollers 33 and 34, and a drive unit 35. The two film supply rollers 31 and 32 are arranged parallel to each other along the longitudinal direction of the casing 2 and spaced apart in the width direction of the casing 2. In this embodiment, the two film supply rollers 31 and 32 are arranged in the roller arrangement section 30a of the mechanism housing section 30, as described above. Arranging the two film supply rollers 31 and 32 along the longitudinal direction of the casing 2 allows for the use of rollers with a longer axial length than when arranged along the width direction of the casing 2. As a result, the sealing films 311 and 321 supported by the film supply rollers 31 and 32 can have a wider width (length along the axial direction (longitudinal direction of the casing 2)). Therefore, even if the width of the waste is close to the maximum longitudinal dimension of the lower end opening 22b of the input section 22, both sides of the waste can be sealed.

[0030] The two film supply rollers 31, 32 are provided with sealing films 311, 321 wound around their respective cores 31a, 32a, and are arranged in the roller arrangement section 30a. In the roller arrangement section 30a, bearing plates 30a3, 30a4 are arranged spaced apart along the longitudinal direction of the casing 2, and the respective ends of the cores 31a, 32a are supported by bearing portions 30a5, 30a6 of the bearing plates 30a3, 30a4, and are rotatably supported.

[0031] Here, the sealing films 311, 321 are not limited to any particular type or material as long as they can adhere to the waste and seal the waste to minimize leakage of odors to the outside. Preferably, the sealing films 311, 321 have an adhesive layer on their inner surfaces (the surfaces that face each other when pulled out and adhere to the waste). Preferably, the sealing films 311, 321 are made of a material that adheres firmly and does not peel off when the two come into direct contact with each other. The sealing films 311, 321 may be those disclosed in Patent Document 4.

[0032] The film pull-out rollers 33, 34 are disposed within the roller arrangement section 30a so as to be spaced apart from and generally parallel to the film supply rollers 31, 32 in the direction in which the sealing films 311, 321 are pulled out, i.e., generally parallel and diagonally downward toward the center between the film supply rollers 31, 32. In other words, the film pull-out rollers 33, 34 are disposed downstream in the transport direction of the waste sealed by the sealing films 311, 321. The film pull-out rollers 33, 34 are disposed such that their respective rotation shafts 331, 341 are supported below the bearing portions of the bearing plates 30a3, 30a4 that support the cores 31a, 32a of the film supply rollers 31, 32.

[0033] The film pull-out rollers 33, 34 sandwich the sealing films 311, 321 between them and rotate inward, i.e., as shown in Figure 5, one film pull-out roller 33 rotates clockwise and the other film pull-out roller 34 rotates counterclockwise, thereby pulling out the sealing films 311, 321 from the film supply rollers 31, 32 and bringing the sealing films 311, 321 into close contact with each other.

[0034] The film pull-out rollers 33, 34 sandwich waste material between the sealing films 311, 321, and are in direct contact with each other around the waste material. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, the two film pull-out rollers 33, 34 are arranged with their circumferential surfaces close to each other. However, they must accommodate the thickness of the waste material passing between them. Therefore, the film pull-out rollers 33, 34 of this embodiment have cylindrical elastic members 333, 343 attached to the rotation shafts 331, 341. The cylindrical elastic members 333, 343 are formed from, for example, reactive hardening foam resins such as urethane, polyester, cellulose, and melamine; general-purpose resins such as polyolefin; engineering plastics such as polyacetal; thermoplastic foam resins such as various vinyl resins and elastomer resins; and rubber foams such as nitrile rubber (NBR), ethylene propylene rubber (EPDM), chloropropylene rubber (CR), and natural rubber, and are capable of deforming to conform to the shape of the waste as it passes between the opposing cylindrical elastic members 333, 343 with the sealing films 311, 321 between them.

[0035] In this embodiment, gears 332, 342 are supported on each end of the rotation shafts 331, 341. The rotational force of the drive unit (motor) 35 disposed in the drive unit arrangement section 30b is transmitted to the gears 332, 342 via a transmission gear, a belt, or the like, causing the gears 332, 342 to rotate inward and pull out the sealing films 311, 321 from the film supply rollers 31, 32. The gears 332, 342 for rotating the rotation shafts 331, 341 may be made of either metal or synthetic resin. Furthermore, it is preferable that the teeth of the gears 332, 342 are not sharp but have an arc-shaped cross section so as not to damage the sealing films 311, 321 when they come into contact with each other due to unevenness. Furthermore, it is also possible to use gears without teeth that mesh with each other, as long as they are elastic and press against each other to rotate synchronously. For example, a material of the same quality as the cylindrical elastic members 333 and 343 but with a higher hardness than the cylindrical elastic members 333 and 343 may be used.

[0036] According to this embodiment, the casing 2 has a substantially rectangular shape in plan view, which makes it easy to install in a narrow space. For example, a space that is long in the depth direction in plan view is formed between a toilet bowl (particularly a Western-style toilet bowl) installed in a toilet stall and the side wall of the stall located to the side of the toilet bowl. In this case, if the casing 2 has a substantially rectangular shape, it can be easily installed in such a space. In this embodiment, the upper end opening 22a and the lower end opening 22b of the insertion portion 22 are long along the longitudinal direction of the casing 2, and the two film supply rollers 31, 32 and the two film pull-out rollers 33, 34 are each arranged so that their axial directions are aligned with the longitudinal direction of the casing 2. Therefore, sealing films 311, 321 with wider widths can be used to match the axial lengths of the rollers 31 to 34. Therefore, if waste is inserted with its width aligned along the longitudinal direction of the upper end opening 22a and the lower end opening 22b of the insertion section 22, wider waste can be sealed in compared to when the rollers 31-34 are provided along the width direction of the casing 2. Therefore, the waste storage device 1 of this embodiment has a compact overall shape, yet can seal not only sanitary napkins but also large items such as incontinence pads and disposable diapers that can absorb several hundred cc of urine, for example about 300 cc, and is therefore suitable for disposing of such large items.

[0037] In this embodiment, when waste is inserted through the upper opening 22a of the insertion unit 22, the insertion of the waste is detected by a sensor (not shown) located near the upper opening 22a. This activates the drive unit 35, causing the film pull-out rollers 33 and 34 to rotate. The waste falls onto the sealing films 311 and 321, which are pulled from the film supply rollers 31 and 32 by the rotation of the film pull-out rollers 33 and 34. As the film pull-out rollers 33 and 34 continue to rotate, the waste is pulled between the film pull-out rollers 33 and 34. The film pull-out rollers 33 and 34 are fitted with cylindrical elastic members 333 and 343, which deform to conform to the shape of the waste, causing the adhesive layers on the inner surfaces of the sealing films 311 and 321 to adhere closely to the outer surfaces of the waste. Outside the waste, the sealing films 311 and 321 adhere closely to each other, and the waste is sealed by the sealing films 311 and 321 as it passes between the film pull-out rollers 33 and 34. The waste that has passed between the film pull-out rollers 33, 34 is stored in the waste storage section 4 located below the casing 2. When the next waste is inserted through the upper end opening 22a of the insertion section 22, the same operation occurs, and the waste sealed with the sealing films 311, 321 is stored in the waste storage section 4 in a string-like pattern (see FIG. 5).

[0038] In this embodiment, the sealed waste is not cut one by one, but is instead stored in the waste storage unit 4 in a continuous state. Therefore, the rotational force of the film pull-out rollers 33, 34 exerts a downward force on the continuous waste, resulting in a larger number of waste pieces being stored in the waste storage unit 4 than in the case where the waste is cut one by one, which is more efficient. Furthermore, cutting the sealed waste one by one requires the installation of a cutter or an internal mechanism for thermal fusing. However, this eliminates the need for such a mechanism, simplifying the structure. Furthermore, if a cutter or other device is installed, safety measures are also required in case non-waste or items not intended as waste are introduced through the input port, which makes the structure more complex. In particular, when the device is installed in a cubicle of a restroom used by an unspecified number of people, such as a public restroom, a department store, an office building, or a train station, there is a risk that users may insert inappropriate items other than sanitary napkins, incontinence pads, or disposable diapers into the input port. Considering safety in such cases, it is appropriate to store the sealed waste in the waste storage unit 4 in a chain rather than cutting it one by one.

[0039] When collecting waste connected to the waste storage unit 4, an operator opens the opening / closing door 2B1 and manually cuts the sealing films 311, 321 sealing the waste at the portion closest to the film pull-out rollers 33, 34, and collects the multiple pieces sealed and connected together. Collection can be done periodically, such as once every few days, or by providing a sensor 26 that detects the amount of waste sealed and accumulated in the waste storage unit 4 (see FIG. 1(b)). When this sensor 26 detects that a predetermined amount of waste has been collected, the opening / closing door 2B1 can be opened and the waste collected. In this case, multiple LEDs 27 that light up in multiple stages according to the amount of waste stored can be provided, for example, at appropriate positions on the lower casing 2B (see FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b)). The amount of waste stored can be determined by the color and number of LEDs 27 that light up.

[0040] Furthermore, the bottom surface 30a1 of the mechanism housing section 30 forms the boundary with the waste housing section 4, and waste in the waste housing section 4 can be contained up to this bottom surface 30a1. However, if the film pull-out rollers 33, 34 were still able to rotate and seal the waste even when the bottom surface 30a1 was reached, the waste could be pushed too far into the waste housing section 4, which could cause a malfunction. Therefore, it is preferable to provide one or more limit switches on the bottom surface 30a1, and set the drive unit 35 to stop driving when waste comes into contact with at least one of these switches.

[0041] Furthermore, in environments such as public restroom stalls, which are used by an unspecified number of people and are not subject to public eye inspection, the insertion of inappropriate items as described above and mischief are possible. In such cases, if the rotation speed of the film-pulling rollers 33, 34 driven by the drive unit 35 is high, the speed at which inappropriate items are entangled after being inserted will also increase. Therefore, a high rotation speed of the drive unit 35 is not preferable. For example, the rotation speed of the drive unit 35 may be adjustable depending on the type of waste, such as when the device is installed in a women's restroom stall where sanitary napkins are mainly inserted, a men's restroom stall where incontinence pads are mainly inserted, or a location where disposable diapers are mainly disposed of. However, in any case, a rotation speed of approximately 5 to 30 mm / sec is preferable as the feed amount of the sealing films 311, 321.

[0042] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7(a) and 7(b), two guide members 36 and 37 are preferably provided in the vertical range from the height of the rotation centers 311c and 321c of the two film supply rollers 31 and 32 to the height of the tops 331a and 341a of the two film pull-out rollers 33 and 34. These guide members 36 and 37 are composed of rod-shaped members arranged parallel to the film pull-out rollers 33 and 34 along their axial direction. They are preferably rotatably arranged. The sealing films 311 and 321 pulled out from the two film supply rollers pass over these guide members 36 and 37 and are drawn between the two film pull-out rollers 33 and 34. Therefore, compared to the structure of FIG. 5, which does not include such guide members 36 and 37, the sealing films 311 and 321 pass over the guide members 36 and 37 and pass closer to the lower opening 22b of the feed section 22. Therefore, the distance over which the waste inserted from the insertion portion 22 comes into contact with the sealing films 311, 321 is shorter than in the case of Fig. 5. As a result, displacement of the waste relative to the sealing films 311, 321 is suppressed, and the sealing performance, particularly on both sides, is improved.

[0043] Furthermore, it is preferable to adjust the distance between the guide members 36, 37 depending on whether the waste to be sealed is wide, such as incontinence pads, or small, narrow waste, such as sanitary napkins. The wider the distance between the guide members 36, 37, the greater the degree of freedom in positioning the waste. Therefore, in the case of small, narrow waste, such as sanitary napkins, it is preferable to narrow the distance between the guide members 36, 37 as shown in Figures 7(c) and 7(d) and shorten the distance from the lower end opening 22b to any part of the sealing film 311, 321. In the case of wide, large waste, such as incontinence pads or disposable diapers, it is preferable to make the distance wider, as shown in Figures 6(a) and 6(b), than in Figures 6(c) and 6(d), so that the waste can pass between the guide members 36, 37. The distance between the guide members 36, 37 can be changed depending on the type of waste being handled, but in any case, by providing the guide members 36, 37, the distance to contact any part of the sealing film 311, 321 can be made shorter than when the guide members 36, 37 are not provided, thereby preventing misalignment.

[0044] 8 to 10 are diagrams illustrating another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, film supply rollers 31 and 32 are arranged in a parallel positional relationship with a gap between them in the diagonal vertical direction, with one (film supply roller 32 in this embodiment) on top and the other (film supply roller 31 in this embodiment) on the bottom. However, the two film pull-out rollers 33 and 34 are arranged substantially horizontally on the installation surface of the waste storage device 1, as in the above embodiment.

[0045] Casing 2 is positioned diagonally up and down, with film supply roller 32 on top and film supply roller 31 on the bottom, and therefore outer surface 21a of top panel 21 is inclined in the same direction so that insertion section 22 faces between the two film supply rollers 31, 32. Therefore, the axial distance A1 between film supply roller 31 located on the bottom and one film pull-out roller 33 is shorter than the axial distance A2 between film supply roller 32 located on the top and the other film pull-out roller 34 (see FIG. 9).

[0046] 10(b), if the pull-out angle of one sealing film 311 pulled out between the two film pull-out rollers 33 and 34 from the film supply roller 31 located below is set to be nearly horizontal, the angle difference with the pull-out angle θ2 (the angle in the transport direction when viewed from the side) of the other sealing film 321 pulled out between the two film pull-out rollers 33 and 34 from the film supply roller 32 located above will be large. As a result, the sealing films 311 and 321 that come into contact with the waste introduced from the upper end opening 22a of the insertion part 22 will not be uniform but will become more uneven, causing wrinkles when they come into contact with the waste, which will form small gaps through which odors may leak.

[0047] 9 and 10(a), in this embodiment, it is preferable to dispose a guide member 38, which is a rod-shaped member similar to the guide members 36 and 37 in the above embodiment, in a range from the height of the rotation center 311c of the lower film supply roller 31 to the height of the top 331a of the film pull-out roller 33 located on the lower film supply roller 31. By wrapping the sealing film 311 pulled out from the lower film supply roller 31 around this guide member 38, the pull-out angle θ1 of one sealing film 311 pulled between the two film pull-out rollers 33 and 34 approaches the pull-out angle θ2 of the other sealing film 321 pulled between the two film pull-out rollers 33 and 34 from the upper film supply roller 32. This reduces the distance between the two sealing films 311 and 321 and the waste material fed from the feed unit 22, thereby suppressing uneven distribution of the waste material and reducing the likelihood of wrinkles occurring when the sealing films 311 and 321 come into close contact with each other.

[0048] Furthermore, the input section 22 is preferably formed in a cylindrical shape such that the length B1 from the upper end opening 22a near the film supply roller 31 located below to the lower end opening 22b is approximately the same as the outer diameter of the film supply roller 31 before the sealing film 311 is pulled out, and the length B2 from the upper end opening 22a near the film supply roller 32 located above to the lower end opening 22b is longer than the outer diameter of the film supply roller 32 before the sealing film 321 is pulled out (see FIG. 9 ), so that the lower end opening 22b is located close to both the one sealing film 311 and the other sealing film 321. This allows the input section 22 to act as a guide, preventing the waste from being unevenly transported from the lower end opening 22b to the two sealing films 311 and 321. The preferred dimensional ratio between the upper end opening 22a and the lower end opening 22b is the same as that of the above embodiment.

[0049] According to this embodiment, when waste is inserted into the upper opening 22a of the insertion section 22, it passes through the lower opening 22b and falls onto the sealing films 311, 321, and as it passes between the two film pull-out rollers 33, 34, the sealing films 311, 321 adhere to the outer surface, sealing it, just like the above embodiment.

[0050] However, in this embodiment, as described above, the film supply rollers 32 and 31 are disposed in a diagonal vertical positional relationship such that the film supply roller 32 is on the top and the film supply roller 31 is on the bottom, and the top panel 21 also has an inclined surface. Therefore, larger waste can be inserted through the upper end opening 22a of the insertion portion 22 disposed between the two film supply rollers 31 and 32.

[0051] 11(a) and 11(b) are diagrams illustrating preferred embodiments of the film pull-out rollers 33 and 34 that can be used in the above-described embodiments. The film pull-out rollers 33 and 34 shown in FIGS. 11(a) and 11(b) are configured such that the cylindrical elastic members 333 and 343 attached to their respective rotation shafts 331 and 341 are each composed of a plurality of separated cylindrical sections 333A-333C, 343A-343C spaced apart in the axial direction and supported by the respective rotation shafts 331 and 341. If the cylindrical elastic members 333 and 343 were each composed of a single, unseparated cylindrical member, when waste material is fed between them, a wide range of deformation would occur in the axial direction of the cylindrical elastic member 333 and 343, centered on the position of the waste material. Therefore, gaps are likely to form between the sealing films 311 and 321 around the portions directly facing the waste material. Such gaps could also cause the closely-attached sealing films 311 and 321 to peel from each other.

[0052] 11(a) and 11(b), the film pull-out rollers 33 and 34 are configured with multiple separation tubular portions 333A-333C and 343A-343C. Therefore, even if the area through which the waste passes directly is, for example, between the separation tubular portions 333B and 343B, the remaining separation tubular portions 333A and 343A or 333C and 343C do not deform significantly. Therefore, the gaps around the waste are smaller than when the film is configured with a single tubular member. As a result, the area of ​​the sealing films 311 and 321 that are not in close contact with either the surface of the waste or the opposing film surface is reduced, effectively preventing the sealing films 311 and 321 from peeling off from each other once they have been in close contact.

[0053] The separation cylinders 333A-333C and 343A-343C are not limited to being completely separate and independent, but may also include cases where slits are formed in the rotational direction from the surface to a predetermined depth, and the sections separated by the slits form the separation cylinders. In the latter case, the slits serve as boundaries, making the separation cylinders less susceptible to deformation due to dust. However, separation cylinders made of completely independent members are less susceptible to deformation than separation cylinders made of slits.

[0054] Furthermore, when waste passes between the tubular elastic members 333, 334, as described above, it passes through the tubular elastic members 333, 343 by elastically deforming them. However, assuming that the tubular elastic members 333, 343 have a constant thickness (thickness from the inner surface to the outer surface of the tubular elastic members 333, 343), and comparing cases where the thickness or volume of the waste is less than a predetermined value with cases where it is greater than a predetermined value, if the spacing between the rotation axes 331, 341 of the film pull-out rollers 33, 34 is set so that waste can pass through smoothly when the thickness or volume of the waste is less than a predetermined value, there is a possibility that waste with a thickness or volume greater than a predetermined value will not be able to pass through. Conversely, if the spacing between the rotating shafts 331, 341 of the film pull-out rollers 33, 34 is set so that waste can pass through smoothly when the thickness or volume of the waste is greater than a certain value, when waste with a thickness or volume less than a certain value tries to pass through, the pressing force on the waste will be small, causing it to spin freely and not be able to be pushed in, or the sealing films 311, 321 may not adhere to the outer surface of the waste, or the sealing films 311, 321 may not adhere to each other around the waste.

[0055] For example, in the case of an incontinence pad, there is a relatively large difference in thickness and volume between when it is discarded after absorbing approximately 300cc of urine and when it is discarded after absorbing approximately 100cc of urine. This phenomenon does not occur often in waste storage devices primarily intended for sanitary napkins. Therefore, to ensure smooth transport and sealing even when the thickness and volume of an incontinence pad, such as an incontinence pad, differ greatly when discarded, the tubular elastic member 333, 343 is preferably composed of separate tubular portions 333A-333C and 343A-343C as described above. Of these, it is preferable that the separate tubular portions located near the axial center (the separate tubular portions 333B, 343B located in the center in FIG. 11(a)) be made of a material that is relatively softer and less rigid than the separate tubular portions 333A, 333C, 343A, 343C located toward the axial ends.

[0056] As a result, when thicker or more voluminous waste passes through, the centrally located separation cylindrical portions 333B, 343B are easily deformed and crushed, making it easier for thicker or more voluminous waste to pass through. On the other hand, when thinner or more voluminous waste passes through, even if the centrally located separation cylindrical portions 333B, 343B are easily deformed, the amount of deformation of the separation cylindrical portions 333A, 333C, 343A, 343C located near the axial ends is relatively small, so the pressing force on the waste does not decrease and free rotation does not occur. Furthermore, at least between the separation cylindrical portions 333A, 343A and 333C, 343C located near the axial ends, the sealing films 311, 321 can be tightly attached to the outer surface of the waste with a predetermined force, and around the waste, the opposing sealing films 311, 321 can be tightly attached to each other with a predetermined force.

[0057] Furthermore, it is also preferable to make the separation cylindrical portions 333B, 343B located in the center relatively softer and less rigid than the separation cylindrical portions 333A, 333C, 343A, 343C located closer to the axial ends, in that this prevents the waste from being biased in the direction between the left and right separation cylindrical portions 333A, 343A or between 333C, 343C.

[0058] In the embodiment shown in Figure 11(b), the diameter of the separation cylindrical portion located near the axial center (the central separation cylindrical portions 333B and 343B in Figure 11(b)) is relatively smaller than the diameter of the separation cylindrical portions 333A, 333C, 343A, and 343C located toward the axial ends. In this case, even if the hardness (softness) of the separation cylindrical portions 333A-333C and 343A-343C is the same, the central separation cylindrical portions 333B and 343B receive waste regardless of volume, preventing it from escaping toward the axial ends. This ensures that the sealing films 311 and 321 are tightly attached to the waste between the separation cylindrical portions 333A and 343A or 333C and 343C located toward the axial ends. This makes it suitable for use with incontinence pads that are likely to have different volumes. In addition, in this way, the diameter of the separation cylindrical portions 333B, 343B located in the center can be configured to be relatively smaller than the diameter of the separation cylindrical portions 333A, 333C, 343A, 343C located closer to the axial ends, and the hardness (softness) of the central separation cylindrical portions 333B, 343B can also be configured to be relatively low (soft).

[0059] 11(a) and 11(b), in which the separation cylindrical portions 333A to 333C and 343A to 343C are formed, the number of separation cylindrical portions is not limited, and four or more separation cylindrical portions may be formed. However, at least one separation cylindrical portion located near the axial center is made relatively softer and less rigid than the separation cylindrical portions located closer to the axial ends, or has a smaller diameter. Furthermore, if the separation cylindrical portion near the axial center is made softer or has a smaller diameter, the sealing films 311 and 321 tend to be biased toward the center. Therefore, as shown by imaginary lines in FIG. 11(c), it is preferable to provide baffles 333D (343D) and 333E (343E) that protrude slightly outward from the surface of each separation cylindrical portion between adjacent separation cylindrical portions 333A (343A) and 333B (343B) and between adjacent separation cylindrical portions 333B (343B) and 333C (343C).

[0060] As shown in FIG. 12 , the waste storage apparatus 1 of the present invention is also equipped with a detection device for detecting apparatus information, including the amount of waste stored in the waste storage unit 4, and a communication device for transmitting the apparatus information detected by the detection device to a terminal device of a maintenance company. Preferably, apparatus information, such as when the amount of waste stored in the waste storage unit 4 exceeds a predetermined amount or when some abnormality occurs, is detected by a detection device such as the sensor 26 described above and notified via the attached communication device to a terminal device of a maintenance company (including both a corporation and an individual employee of the corporation) that collects waste and manages the waste storage apparatus 1. In the above embodiment, a sensor 26 is provided in the waste storage unit 4 of the waste storage apparatus 1 to detect the amount of waste stored, and an LED 27 is illuminated accordingly, thereby notifying a worker of the amount of waste stored without opening or closing the opening / closing door 2B1. Therefore, if the information from the sensor 26 is transmitted to a terminal device of a maintenance company or the like via a communication line, the worker can know the amount of waste stored before checking the site, allowing necessary maintenance to be performed promptly.

[0061] The sensor 26 for detecting the amount of waste stored can be an ultrasonic sensor, a proximity sensor, a weight sensor, a camera, an image sensor, etc. Capturing image information can detect not only when the amount of waste stored exceeds a predetermined amount, but also when uneven accumulation of waste within the waste storage unit 4 or the presence of foreign matter, allowing the maintenance company to take appropriate action based on this information.

[0062] Furthermore, by analyzing the image information on a terminal device, it is possible to estimate the date and time for the next collection. The date and time can be estimated from the capacity of the waste storage unit 4, the current amount of accumulated waste, the uneven distribution, the amount of waste input per unit time, the average volume of waste, etc. Waste collection is usually carried out periodically by a maintenance company, but if the date and time for collection can be estimated, collection work can be avoided at unnecessary times and can be handled quickly when necessary.

[0063] Furthermore, the device information of the waste storage device 1 can include not only the amount of waste stored as described above, but also information regarding the amount of sealing film 311, 321 used and remaining, which can be determined from the rotation speed of the gears 332, 342 by providing a sensor as a detection device to detect the rotation speed of the gears 332, 342 connected to the drive unit 35. The remaining charge of the battery 39 can also be determined from the rotation speed of the gears 332, 342. The time to replace the battery 39 can be determined from the remaining voltage information on the control board. This device information can also be displayed by lighting an LED provided at an appropriate position on the casing 2 to notify an operator that it is time to replace the sealing film 311, 321 or the battery 39. This device information can also be transmitted to a terminal device via a communication line. It is also possible to provide an LED to indicate malfunctions such as a stopped gear 332, 342 or a film jam, and to transmit this information to a terminal device. [Explanation of symbols]

[0064] 1 Waste storage device 2 Casing 2A Upper casing 2B Lower casing 21 Top plate 22 Insertion section 22a Top opening 22b Bottom opening 3 Packaging mechanism department 31, 32 Film supply roller 311,321 Sealing film 33,34 Film pull-out roller 35 Drive unit 4 Waste collection section

Claims

1. A waste storage device including a packaging mechanism that packages waste by positioning it between two sealing films with their adhesive layers facing each other, and a waste storage unit that is provided below the packaging mechanism, The packaging mechanism unit a casing having a predetermined length and width and a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view, wherein the sealing films are wound around the casing so that the adhesive layers face each other when the casing is pulled out, and two film supply rollers are arranged in parallel at an interval in the width direction of the casing; two film pull-out rollers arranged in parallel at a distance in the width direction of the casing and downstream of the two film supply rollers in the direction of transport of the waste, which rotate to unwind and pull out the sealing film from each of the film supply rollers, contact each of the pulled-out sealing films, and have cylindrical elastic members arranged on their rotation shafts that deform along the outer diameter of the cylindrical elastic members when the waste passes through; a drive unit for rotating each of the film pull-out rollers; Equipped with The waste input portion provided in the casing is formed in a cylindrical shape having an upper end opening that opens along the outer surface of the casing and a lower end opening that is located between the two film supply rollers, and the lower end opening is provided at a position corresponding to a distance of at least 1 / 4 of the outer diameter of each of the sealing films wound around the two film supply rollers when the sealing films are unused, as a distance from the top of the sealing film toward the center of rotation in a cross section perpendicular to the axial direction of each of the sealing films in a wound state, The two film supply rollers are arranged in positions such that the innermost portions of the wound sealing films when unused are outside the lower end opening. Waste containment device.

2. The maximum dimension of the upper end opening and the lower end opening of the input portion along the longitudinal direction of the casing is 1.1 to 1.6 times the maximum dimension of the upper end opening and the lower end opening of the input portion along the width direction of the casing in a plan view.

2. The waste storage device of claim 1.

3. A guide member is provided in the vertical range from the height of the rotation center of each film supply roller to the height of the top of each film pull-out roller, and corresponds to each sealing film, and guide members are provided through which each sealing film passes before being pulled out from each film supply roller and drawn between each film pull-out roller.

2. The waste storage device of claim 1.

4. The two film supply rollers are arranged in a parallel positional relationship with one roller positioned above the other roller, with a gap between them in the diagonal vertical direction.

2. The waste storage device of claim 1.

5. The feeding section is provided at a position facing a space formed diagonally above and below by the two film supply rollers.

5. The waste storage device of claim 4.

6. The guide member is provided in the vertical range from the height of the center of rotation of the lower film supply roller of the two film supply rollers arranged diagonally above and below to the height of the top of the film pull-out roller located on the lower film supply roller side, and is provided on the lower film supply roller side, through which the sealing film passed before being pulled out from the lower film supply roller and drawn between the two film pull-out rollers.

5. The waste storage device of claim 4.

7. The cylindrical elastic member disposed on the two film pull-out rollers is configured to have a plurality of separated cylindrical portions separated in the axial direction, and among them, the separated cylindrical portion disposed near the center in the axial direction is relatively softer than the separated cylindrical portions disposed in the outer range.

2. The waste storage device of claim 1.

8. The cylindrical elastic member disposed on the two film pull-out rollers is configured to have a plurality of separated cylindrical portions separated in the axial direction, and among them, the separated cylindrical portion disposed near the center in the axial direction has a relatively smaller diameter than the separated cylindrical portions disposed in the outer range.

2. The waste storage device of claim 1.

9. Placed and used in toilet stalls 2. The waste storage device of claim 1.

10. The casing is disposed between a toilet bowl installed in a private room of the toilet and a side wall of the private room located to the side of the toilet bowl, with the longitudinal direction of the casing aligned with the depth direction of the side wall.

10. The waste storage device of claim 9.

11. Used when disposing of used incontinence pads as waste.

10. The waste storage device of claim 9.

12. The waste disposal system is provided with a detection device that detects device information including the amount of waste stored in the waste storage unit, and a communication device that transmits the device information detected by the detection device to a terminal device of a maintenance company.

2. The waste storage device of claim 1.

Images