System and method for automatically producing organic compost from waste

Abstract

Described herein are various embodiments of apparatuses that perform one or more methods for producing compost. The methods include receiving waste having a first moisture content into a composting apparatus, pre-treating the waste to produce pre-treated waste, storing the pre-treated waste in a storage chamber for a pre-treatment period to produce stored waste, and composting the stored waste in the compost chamber to produce a batch of output compost having a second moisture content, the second moisture content being less than the first moisture content.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] Various embodiments described herein generally relate to systems and methods for producing organic compost from waste materials such as, but not limited to, food waste, paper products, cardboard products, and some plastics. [Background technology]

[0002] The following paragraphs are provided as background to the present disclosure, but are not an admission that the material discussed herein is prior art or part of the knowledge of those skilled in the art.

[0003] Composting is a natural process that recycles organic matter, such as leaves and food scraps, into compost that can be used to enrich soil and plants. While all organic waste eventually decomposes, composting can be used to accelerate this process by providing an ideal environment for composting to occur. Simple composting systems maintain ideal humidity and temperature conditions to complete the composting process. More complex composting systems may use decomposing microorganisms (such as bacteria, fungi, earthworms, pill bugs, and / or nematodes) to compost the organic matter. Other composting systems may use chemicals to compost the organic matter.

[0004] Organic waste can be processed in industrial-scale composting facilities, small-scale community composting systems, anaerobic digesters, and home composters, among others.

[0005] A disadvantage of small-scale composting systems is that only small amounts of organic matter are produced in a given period of time, making it difficult to obtain substantial amounts of compost. For example, if a user deposits a small amount of organic matter into the composting device at one time, the amount of usable compost output may be only a fraction of the original amount deposited. In this example, the user may need to continually deposit small amounts of organic matter to produce a continuous amount of compost, hence the process is called continuous composting. Because most plants require large amounts of compost to grow, continuous composting may only produce a small amount of compost that may not be usable for plant growth.

[0006] To avoid producing small amounts of compost, users typically collect food scraps for an extended period of time before adding large amounts to the composting equipment. This process is therefore called batch composting. However, batch composting requires users to collect and store the decomposing organic matter before composting, which can lead to odors and other allergens such as mold and dust, creating discomfort in homes and outdoor spaces. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In one aspect, at least one embodiment described herein provides a method of producing compost, the method including: receiving waste having a first moisture content into a composting apparatus; pre-treating the waste to produce pre-treated waste; storing the pre-treated waste in a storage chamber for a pre-treatment period to produce stored waste; and composting the stored waste in the compost chamber to produce a batch of output compost having a second moisture content, wherein the second moisture content is less than the first moisture content.

[0008] In at least one embodiment, the stored waste may be composted to produce intermediate compost, which is collected to produce batches of output compost.

[0009] In at least one embodiment, the pretreatment step may include separating the waste into solid and liquid waste; reducing the volume of the solid waste; and drying the reduced volume of the solid waste.

[0010] In at least one embodiment, reducing the volume of solid waste may include crushing, grinding, grinding, or mulching the volume of solid waste to reduce the size of individual particles within the volume of solid waste.

[0011] In at least one embodiment, drying the volume of solid waste may include heating and / or aerating the volume of solid waste to reduce the moisture content.

[0012] In at least one embodiment, the liquid waste may be obtained by mechanically removing liquid from the waste via squeezing, tumbling, or centrifugation.

[0013] In at least one embodiment, waste reception can occur multiple times before output compost is produced.

[0014] In at least one embodiment, pre-treating the amount of waste may occur once during the pre-treatment period.

[0015] In at least one embodiment, composting the stored waste may include using naturally occurring microorganisms and / or introducing microorganisms into the compost chamber and creating one or more conditions that enhance the activity of the microorganisms to carry out an aerobic decomposition process on the waste in the compost chamber.

[0016] In at least one embodiment, the step of creating one or more conditions within the compost chamber can include (a) flowing air through the waste within the compost chamber to provide a desired amount of oxygen to the microorganisms for the aerobic decomposition process; (b) maintaining a desired moisture content by spraying or misting a liquid within the compost chamber; (c) maintaining a desired temperature within the compost chamber; (d) adding additional microorganisms in powder, capsule, or liquid form; or any operable combination of (a) through (d), wherein the desired amount of oxygen and the desired moisture content are determined by experimentation.

[0017] In at least one embodiment, the method may further include maintaining airflow through the waste in the compost chamber and mixing the waste in the compost chamber using a mixer.

[0018] In at least one embodiment, the method may further include post-processing the output compost by holding the output compost in a temperature and humidity controlled room with airflow, where the temperature in the room is above room temperature.

[0019] In at least one embodiment, the method can include removing the compost chamber to collect the output compost and reinserting the compost chamber for subsequent composting.

[0020] In at least one embodiment, the method can include performing a sterilization sequence.

[0021] In at least one embodiment, the method can include operating at least one first light source of the plurality of ultraviolet light sources at a wavelength between about 100 nm and about 240 nm to generate ozone for the decomposition of odors.

[0022] In at least one embodiment, the method can include operating at least a second light source of the plurality of ultraviolet light sources at a wavelength between about 240 nm and about 315 nm to inhibit unwanted biological growth and decompose ozone.

[0023] In at least one embodiment, the method can include using an activated carbon filter to filter volatile compounds and gases remaining from the decomposition of ozone.

[0024] In at least one embodiment, the method can include providing a positive airflow through the waste in the compost chamber to prevent odors from escaping outside the composting device.

[0025] In another aspect according to at least one embodiment described herein, there is provided a composting apparatus comprising: a main device body; control and power electronics including a processor and a memory; a compost chamber cavity disposed within the main device body; and a compost chamber for composting waste, the compost chamber being disposed within the compost chamber cavity, wherein the processor is configured to perform one of the methods described herein when software instructions stored in the memory are executed by the processor.

[0026] In at least one embodiment, the composting apparatus may further comprise a pre-treatment tank including at least one fan, at least one mixer, optionally at least one condenser, and optionally at least one heater.

[0027] In at least one embodiment, the compost chamber may further comprise at least one mixer.

[0028] In at least one embodiment, at least one mixer is a ribbon impeller having a first helical fin configuration and a second helical fin configuration, the first and second helical fin configurations being at opposite angular orientations to each other, and the first and second helical fin configurations being mirror images with respect to the central slicing plane.

[0029] In at least one embodiment, the first and second helical fins comprise a continuous helical structure.

[0030] In at least one embodiment, the first and second helical fins comprise discrete sections of a helical structure.

[0031] In at least one embodiment, the impeller can be configured to operate by counter-rotating the first and second spiral fin arrangements to produce a homogenous mixture of solid compost particles having a particle size range of between about 0.5 mm and about 20 mm.

[0032] In at least one embodiment, the composting apparatus can include a plurality of adapters disposed at one end of the compost chamber cavity, and the compost chamber includes a plurality of couplers for detachably inserting the compost chamber into the compost chamber cavity by detachably coupling the plurality of couplers with the plurality of adapters.

[0033] In at least one embodiment, the plurality of couplers includes mechanical couplers.

[0034] In at least one embodiment, the plurality of couplers further includes a fluid coupler and / or an electronic coupler.

[0035] In at least one embodiment, the composting apparatus can further include at least one sensor coupled to the compost chamber for obtaining sensor data related to another parameter within the compost chamber, the at least one sensor being communicatively coupled to the processor.

[0036] In at least one embodiment, the at least one sensor may comprise a temperature sensor, a moisture sensor, a relative humidity sensor, a gas sensor, a level sensor, a proximity sensor, a weight sensor, an image sensor, or any operable combination thereof.

[0037] In at least one embodiment, the composting apparatus can include multiple ultraviolet light sources for odor degradation and unwanted biocontrol.

[0038] In at least one embodiment, at least a first light source of the plurality of ultraviolet light sources is configured to operate at a wavelength between about 100 nm and about 240 nm to generate ozone for the decomposition of odors.

[0039] In at least one embodiment, at least a second of the plurality of ultraviolet light sources is configured to operate at a wavelength between about 240 nm and about 315 nm to inhibit unwanted biological growth and decompose ozone.

[0040] In at least one embodiment, the generated ozone is supplied to the compost chamber to reduce odors within the compost chamber by exposing the odors within the compost chamber to the generated ozone.

[0041] In at least one embodiment, generated ozone is supplied to the liquid chamber to reduce odors within the liquid chamber by exposing the odors within the liquid chamber to the generated ozone.

[0042] In at least one embodiment, the composting apparatus can further include an activated carbon filter to filter volatile compounds and gases remaining from the decomposition of the ozone.

[0043] In at least one embodiment, the composter can be further configured to provide a positive airflow through the waste in the compost chamber to prevent odors from escaping outside the composter.

[0044] In another aspect according to at least one embodiment described herein, there is provided a system for composting food waste, comprising a composting apparatus defined according to any of the embodiments described herein, wherein an existing external fluid coupling and / or external electrical connector in a food preparation environment, juice shop, or coffee shop is connected to the composting apparatus.

[0045] In at least one embodiment, the existing external fluid coupling may comprise a drain connector, a sink connector, a pulp waste output, a ground waste output, or a dishwashing connector.

[0046] In another aspect according to at least one embodiment described herein, there is provided a mixer for a compost chamber used in a composting apparatus, the mixer being a ribbon impeller, the ribbon impeller comprising a first helical fin configuration and a second helical fin configuration, the first and second helical fin configurations being in opposite angular orientations to each other, and the first and second helical fin configurations being mirror images with respect to a central slicing plane.

[0047] In another aspect according to at least one embodiment described herein, there is provided a composting apparatus comprising: a main device body; control and power electronics including a processor and a memory; a compost chamber cavity disposed within the main device body; a plurality of adapters disposed at one end of the compost chamber cavity; and a compost chamber for composting waste, the compost chamber being disposed within the compost chamber, the compost chamber including a plurality of couplers for detachably inserting the compost chamber into the compost chamber cavity by detachably coupling the plurality of couplers with the plurality of adapters.

[0048] In another aspect according to at least one embodiment described herein, a method of producing compost includes collecting a first portion of waste in a composting apparatus; processing the first portion of waste in the composting apparatus; transferring the first portion of waste to a first compost chamber disposed within the composting apparatus; pre-treating the first portion of waste to produce a first portion of pre-treated waste; composting the first portion of pre-treated waste in the first compost chamber to produce a first batch of output compost; a second compost chamber disposed within the composting apparatus; ...

[0049] In another aspect according to at least one embodiment described herein, a method of producing compost includes receiving a first amount of waste into a composting apparatus; pre-treating the first amount of waste to produce a first amount of pretreated waste; storing the first amount of pretreated waste in a first storage chamber for a pre-treatment period to produce a first amount of stored waste; composting the first amount of stored waste in the first composting chamber to produce a first batch of output compost; thereafter receiving a second amount of waste into the composting apparatus; pre-treating the second amount of waste to produce a first amount of pretreated waste. storing the second amount of pretreated waste in a second storage chamber for a pretreatment period to produce a second amount of stored waste; and composting the second amount of stored waste in a second compost chamber to produce a second batch of output compost, wherein the processor determines whether the first amount of pretreated waste should instead enter the second storage chamber if the first storage chamber meets specified criteria, and the processor determines whether the second amount of pretreated waste should instead enter the first storage chamber if the second storage chamber meets specified criteria.

[0050] In at least one embodiment, the specified criteria include a reservoir being full or is based on a countdown timer.

[0051] In at least one embodiment, the pretreatment step can include separating the waste into solid waste and liquid waste; reducing the volume of the solid waste; and drying the reduced volume of solid waste or performing a dewatering process on the volume of solid waste.

[0052] In at least one embodiment, reducing the volume of solid waste can include crushing, grinding, grinding, or mulching the volume of solid waste to reduce the size of individual particles within the volume of solid waste.

[0053] In at least one embodiment, drying the volume of solid waste can include heating and / or aerating the volume of solid waste to reduce the moisture content.

[0054] In at least one embodiment, the liquid waste can be obtained by dewatering, which involves mechanically removing liquid from the waste by squeezing, tumbling, or centrifugation.

[0055] In at least one embodiment, composting the stored waste can include using naturally occurring microorganisms and / or introducing microorganisms into the first and second compost chambers to create one or more conditions that enhance the activity of the microorganisms to perform an aerobic decomposition process on the waste in the first and second compost chambers.

[0056] In at least one embodiment, the method further includes maintaining adequate airflow through the waste in the first and second compost chambers and using a mixer to mix the waste in the first and second compost chambers.

[0057] In at least one embodiment, the method can include removing the first compost chamber to collect the output compost and reinserting the first compost chamber while the second compost chamber continues composting.

[0058] In another aspect according to at least one embodiment described herein, there is provided a composting apparatus comprising: a main device body; control and power electronics including a processor and a memory; a first compost chamber cavity disposed within the main device body; a first compost chamber for composting waste, the first compost chamber being disposed within the first compost chamber cavity; a second compost chamber cavity disposed within the main device body adjacent to the first compost chamber cavity; a second compost chamber for composting waste, the second compost chamber being disposed within the second compost chamber cavity; and a dam movable between a first position and a second position, the first position of the dam covering the second compost chamber and the second position of the dam covering the first compost chamber, wherein the processor is configured to perform a method for producing compost when software instructions stored in the memory are executed by the processor.

[0059] In at least one embodiment, the main device body can further include a collapsible mesh strainer configured to separate liquid waste from solid waste, the collapsible mesh strainer having perforations, the collapsible mesh strainer having an open state for receiving food waste and a closed state for collecting solid waste while liquid waste is discharged through the perforations.

[0060] In at least one embodiment, liquid waste discharged from the perforations collects in a liquid chamber for storage until disposal.

[0061] In at least one embodiment, the composting apparatus can include multiple ultraviolet light sources for odor degradation and unwanted biocontrol.

[0062] In at least one embodiment, at least a first of the plurality of ultraviolet light sources is configured to operate at a wavelength between about 100 nm and about 240 nm to generate ozone for the decomposition of odors.

[0063] In at least one embodiment, at least a second light source of the plurality of ultraviolet light sources is configured to operate at a wavelength between about 240 nm and about 315 nm to inhibit unwanted biological growth and decompose ozone.

[0064] In at least one embodiment, the generated ozone is supplied to the first and second compost chambers to reduce odors in the first and second compost chambers by exposing the odors in the first and second compost chambers to the generated ozone.

[0065] In at least one embodiment, the composter may further comprise an activated carbon filter to filter volatile compounds and gases remaining from the decomposition of the ozone.

[0066] In at least one embodiment, the composter can be further configured to provide a positive airflow through the waste in the compost chamber to prevent odors from escaping outside the composter.

[0067] In at least one embodiment, the compost chamber may be insertable and removable horizontally, vertically, or from the side of the composting apparatus.

[0068] In at least one embodiment, the composter may further comprise a liquid chamber that is insertable and removable horizontally, vertically, or from the side of the composter.

[0069] In another aspect according to at least one embodiment described herein, there is provided a composting apparatus comprising: a main device body; control and power electronics including a processor and a memory; a first compost chamber cavity disposed within the main device body; a first compost chamber for composting waste, the first compost chamber being disposed within the first compost chamber cavity; a second compost chamber cavity disposed within the main device body and adjacent to the first compost chamber cavity; a second compost chamber for composting waste, the second compost chamber being disposed in the second compost chamber cavity; and a solids diversion assembly for diverting solids between the first compost chamber and the second compost chamber, wherein the processor is configured to perform a method of producing compost when software instructions stored in the memory are executed by the processor.

[0070] In at least one embodiment, the composting apparatus can further include a shredding assembly comprising: a hopper having a first opening for receiving input organic waste and a second opening opposite the first opening for discharging output waste; a set of choppers disposed within the hopper for cutting the input organic waste into particles of reduced size; and a bottom plate disposed to seal the second opening of the hopper, leaving a gap that allows smaller particles smaller than the gap to be released while preventing larger particles larger than the gap from being released, thereby recirculating the larger particles into the hopper for further cutting and size reduction.

[0071] In at least one embodiment, the composter may further comprise a dewatering assembly comprising a filter mesh assembly and a mesh wiper assembly for reducing moisture in the particles.

[0072] In at least one embodiment, the filter mesh assembly can rotate at a first angular velocity and the mesh wiper assembly rotates at a second angular velocity.

[0073] In at least one embodiment, the first angular velocity is equal to the second angular velocity during the dewatering stage of composting.

[0074] In at least one embodiment, the first angular velocity is not equal to the second angular velocity during the cleaning phase of composting.

[0075] In at least one embodiment, the composting apparatus further comprises a liquid redirection assembly configured to collect liquid obtained during the dewatering stage of composting and redirect the liquid towards the liquid tank.

[0076] In at least one embodiment, the solid direction diverting assembly includes a dam movable between a first position and a second position, the first position of the dam covering the second compost chamber and the second position of the dam covering the first compost chamber.

[0077] In at least one embodiment, the composting apparatus may further comprise an air filtration assembly.

[0078] In at least one embodiment, the air filtration assembly can include multiple ultraviolet light sources for odor destruction and unwanted biological control.

[0079] In at least one embodiment, at least a first of the plurality of ultraviolet light sources is configured to operate at a wavelength between about 100 nm and about 240 nm to generate ozone for the decomposition of odors.

[0080] In at least one embodiment, at least a second of the plurality of ultraviolet light sources is configured to operate at a wavelength between about 240 nm and about 315 nm to decompose ozone.

[0081] In at least one embodiment, the generated ozone is supplied to the first and second compost chambers, thereby reducing odors in the first and second compost chambers by exposing the odors in the first and second compost chambers to the generated ozone.

[0082] In at least one embodiment, the generated ozone is supplied to the liquid chamber to reduce odors within the liquid chamber by exposing the odors within the liquid chamber to the generated ozone.

[0083] In at least one embodiment, the composting apparatus can further include an activated carbon filter to filter volatile compounds and gases remaining from the decomposition of the ozone.

[0084] In at least one embodiment, the composter may be further configured to provide a positive airflow through the waste within the compost chamber to prevent odors from escaping outside the composter.

[0085] Other features and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the following detailed description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the present application, are given by way of illustration only, and that changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the present application will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

[0086] For a better understanding of the various embodiments described herein, and to show more clearly how these may be put into practice, reference is made by way of example to the accompanying drawings, in which at least one exemplary embodiment is shown and which are described herein, and which are not intended to limit the scope of the teachings described herein. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0087] [Figure 1] 1 is a flowchart illustrating a method for producing compost in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 is a flowchart illustrating how by-products are transferred from a continuous process to a batch process to produce compost according to an exemplary embodiment. [Figure 3]1 is a flow chart illustrating how by-products are transferred from a continuous process to a batch process to produce compost according to another exemplary embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a composting apparatus in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. [Figure 5] 1 is a block diagram of a composting apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment, in which the compost chamber is separated from the main body of the composting apparatus. FIG. [Figure 6] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a compost chamber including an impeller according to an exemplary embodiment; [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a process flow diagram illustrating a method for producing compost in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. [Figure 8] 1 is a side cross-sectional view of a portion of a composting apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional end view of a composting apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 1 is a process flow diagram of a waste treatment process illustrating the interaction of various components of a composting apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a process flow diagram of a waste treatment process illustrating the interaction of various components of a composting apparatus according to another exemplary embodiment. [Figure 12A] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a composting apparatus in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. [Figure 12B] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a composting apparatus according to another exemplary embodiment. [Figure 12C] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a composting apparatus according to another exemplary embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating hardware components of a composting apparatus in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. [Figure 14A] FIG. 1 is a process flow diagram illustrating a method for producing compost in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. [Figure 14B] FIG. 1 is a process flow diagram illustrating a method for producing compost in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 1 is a process flow diagram illustrating a method for producing compost in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a top view of a block diagram of a composting apparatus according to another exemplary embodiment. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a front view of the block diagram of the composting apparatus of FIG. 16. [Figure 18] FIG. 17 is a side view of the block diagram of the composting apparatus of FIG. 16. [Figure 19A] FIG. 10 is a plan view of a block diagram of a composting apparatus according to another exemplary embodiment. [Figure 19B] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a hopper assembly in accordance with an exemplary embodiment; [Figure 20A] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a mesh strainer shown in an open position in accordance with an exemplary embodiment; [Figure 20B] FIG. 20B is a block diagram of the mesh strainer of FIG. 20A, shown in a closed position. [Figure 21] FIG. 10 is a side view of a block diagram of a composting apparatus according to another exemplary embodiment. [Figure 22] FIG. 10 is a rear view of a block diagram of a composting apparatus according to another exemplary embodiment. [Figure 23] FIG. 10 is a front view of a block diagram of a composting apparatus according to another embodiment. [Figure 24A] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an odor removal system according to an exemplary embodiment. [Figure 24B] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an odor removal system according to an exemplary embodiment. [Figure 25] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an odor removal system according to an exemplary embodiment. [Figures 26A-26D] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a composting apparatus in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. [Figure 27] 1 shows a schematic circuit diagram of a composting apparatus, according to one embodiment. [Figure 28] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a composting apparatus, according to one embodiment. [Figure 29] FIG. 29 is a top perspective view of the composting apparatus of FIG. 28 with the chamber door partially removed. [Figure 30]FIG. 29 is a perspective transparent view of the composting apparatus of FIG. 28 showing the internal systems. [Figure 31] FIG. 29 is an enlarged, front perspective, partially transparent view showing the internal systems of the upper rear portion of the composting apparatus of FIG. 28. [Figure 32] FIG. 29 is an enlarged rear perspective partially transparent view showing the internal systems of the front bottom of the composting apparatus of FIG. 28. [Figure 33] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a composting apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment. [Figure 34] FIG. 1 is a process flow diagram illustrating a method for producing compost according to an illustrative embodiment. [Figure 35] FIG. 10 is a plan view of a block diagram of a composting apparatus according to another exemplary embodiment. [Figure 36A] FIG. 36 is a front view of the block diagram of the composting apparatus of FIG. 35. [Figure 36B] FIG. 36 is a rear view of the block diagram of the composting apparatus of FIG. 35. [Figure 37] FIG. 36 is a plan view of the block diagram of the composting apparatus of FIG. 35. [Figure 38] 1 is a flowchart illustrating a method for pre-treatment of organic waste in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. [Figure 39] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a crushing assembly of a composter in accordance with an exemplary embodiment; [Figure 40] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a dewatering assembly of a composting apparatus in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. [Figure 41] FIG. 10 is a plan view of a crushing and dewatering assembly of a composting apparatus according to another exemplary embodiment. [Figure 42] FIG. 42 is a side view of the crushing and dewatering assembly of the composting apparatus of FIG. 41. [Figure 43] FIG. 1 is a process flow diagram of a method for removing a fracturing system and a dewatering system according to an exemplary embodiment. [Figure 44] FIG. 1 is a process flow diagram illustrating a method for installing a fracturing system and a dewatering system according to an exemplary embodiment. [Figure 45A]FIG. 1 is a process flow diagram illustrating how pre-treated food waste is diverted to the appropriate chambers of a composter. [Figure 45B] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a method for diverting pre-treated food waste to the appropriate chambers of a composting device. [Figure 46] FIG. 2 is a process flow diagram illustrating a method for pre-treatment of organic waste according to another exemplary embodiment. [Figure 47] 1 is a flowchart illustrating a method of diverting liquid from compost in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. [Figure 48] 1 is a rear perspective view of a composting apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment with the composting apparatus cover removed to illustrate airflow through the composting apparatus; FIG. [Figure 49] FIG. 49 is a front view of the composter of FIG. 48 with the composter cover removed to show the internal systems of the composter. [Figure 50] FIG. 49 is a side view of the composter of FIG. 48 with the composter cover removed to show the internal systems of the composter. [Figure 51] FIG. 49 is a rear view of the composter of FIG. 48 with the cover of the composter removed to show the dual chambers of the composter. [Figure 52] FIG. 49 is a side, partially transparent view of the crushing assembly of the composting apparatus of FIG. 48, showing the crushing mechanism therein. [Figure 53] FIG. 49 is a top perspective view of the crushing assembly of the composting apparatus of FIG. 48, shown in isolation. [Figure 54] FIG. 49 is a side cross-sectional view of the crushing assembly of the composting apparatus of FIG. 48 according to an exemplary embodiment. [Figure 55A] FIG. 49 is a front perspective view of the dewatering assembly of the composting apparatus of FIG. 48. [Figure 55B] FIG. 49 is a top view of the dewatering assembly of the composting apparatus of FIG. 48. [Figure 56A] FIG. 49 is a top view of the solids diversion assembly of the composting apparatus of FIG. 48. [Figure 56B] FIG. 49 is a front perspective view of a solid state redirection assembly of the composter of FIG. 48. [Figure 57]FIG. 49 is a rear perspective, partially transparent view of the composting chamber of FIG. 48, showing the internal systems of the compost chamber. [Figure 58] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a mixer assembly in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. [Figure 59A] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of two composting systems. [Figure 59B] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of three composting equipment systems. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0088] Additional aspects and features of the exemplary embodiments described herein will become apparent from the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0089] Various embodiments in accordance with the teachings herein are described below to provide an example of at least one embodiment of the claimed subject matter. The embodiments described herein do not limit any claimed subject matter. The claimed subject matter is not limited to devices, systems, or methods having all of the features of any one of the devices, systems, or methods described below, nor is it limited to features common to more than one or all of the devices, systems, or methods described herein. It is possible that there may be devices, systems, or methods described herein that are not embodiments of any of the claimed subject matter. Any subject matter described herein but not claimed in this document may be the subject of other means of protection, such as a continuing patent application, and the applicant, inventor, or owner does not intend to abandon, disclaim, or assign such subject matter to the public by disclosure in this document.

[0090] Furthermore, it will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of the drawings, where deemed appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. Additionally, numerous specific details have been set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the embodiments described herein may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the embodiments described herein. Additionally, this description is not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments described herein.

[0091] Furthermore, it should be noted that the terms "coupled" or "couple" as used herein can have several different meanings depending on the context in which the terms are used. For example, the terms "coupled" or "couple" can have mechanical, electrical, or fluid connotations. For example, as used herein, the terms "coupled" or "couple" can indicate that two elements or devices are directly connected to each other, or may be connected to each other via one or more intermediate elements or devices, via an electrical signal, an electrical connection, a fluid path, or a mechanical element, depending on the particular context.

[0092] Unless the context requires otherwise, throughout this specification and the following claims, the word "comprise" and variations thereof (such as "comprises" and "comprising") are to be interpreted in their open and inclusive sense, i.e., "including but not limited to."

[0093] Also, it should be noted that, as used herein, the term "and / or" is intended to represent an inclusive "or." That is, for example, "X and / or Y" is intended to mean X or Y or both. As a further example, "X, Y and / or Z" is intended to mean X or Y or Z or any operable combination thereof. Thus, the term "any combination thereof" is intended to cover any operable combination of the elements preceding the phrase. For example, the phrase "A, B, C, D, or any combination thereof" includes A; B; C; D; A and B; A and C; A and D; B and C; B and D; C and D; A, B and C; A, B and D; A, C and D; B, C and D; and A, B, C and D, provided that all combinations are operable (i.e., they can be used together in practice in a functioning embodiment).

[0094] It should be noted that, as used herein, terms of degree such as "substantially," "about," "approximately," and the like, refer to reasonable amounts of variation of the modified term that do not materially alter the end result. These terms of degree may also be construed to include, for example, a 1%, 2%, 5%, or 10% variation of the modified term, provided that such variation does not negate the meaning of the term it modifies.

[0095] Furthermore, when numerical ranges are recited herein by endpoints, they are intended to include all numbers and fractions subsumed within that range (e.g., 1 to 5 includes 1, 1.5, 2, 2.75, 3, 3.90, 4, and 5). All such numbers and fractions are also deemed to be modified by the term "about," which refers to a variation of the stated numerical value by a certain amount, but only if the end result does not change significantly, for example, by 1%, 2%, 5%, or 10%.

[0096] Throughout this specification, references to "one embodiment," "embodiment," "at least one embodiment," or "some embodiments" mean that one or more particular features, structures, or characteristics can be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments, unless otherwise specified as incombinable or alternative options.

[0097] As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. It should also be noted that the term "or" is generally used in its broadest sense, i.e., to mean "and / or," unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0098] Throughout this specification and the appended claims, infinitive verb forms are frequently used. Examples include, but are not limited to, "to detect," "to provide," "to transmit," "to communicate," "to process," "to route," etc. Unless the specific context dictates otherwise, such infinitive verb forms are used in an open and inclusive sense, i.e., "at least detect," "at least provide," "at least transmit," etc.

[0099] Some exemplary embodiments of the systems, devices, or methods described herein may be implemented as a combination of hardware or software. For example, some of the embodiments described herein may be implemented, at least in part, by using one or more computer programs running on one or more programmable devices that include at least one processing element and at least one data storage element (including volatile and non-volatile memory). Depending on the type of device, these devices may have at least one input device (e.g., a keyboard, a mouse, a touchscreen, other input element, or any operable combination thereof) and at least one output device (e.g., a display screen, a printer, a wireless radio, other output element, or any operable combination thereof).

[0100] It should also be noted that there may be some elements used to implement at least some of the embodiments described herein that may be implemented via software written in a high-level procedural language, such as object-oriented programming. The program code may be written in C, C++, or any other suitable programming language, and may include modules or classes known to those familiar with object-oriented programming. Alternatively, or in addition, some of these elements that are implemented via software may also be written in assembly language, machine language, or firmware, as appropriate.

[0101] At least a portion of the software program used to implement at least one of the embodiments described herein may be stored on a storage medium or device readable by a general-purpose or special-purpose programmable device, the software program code, when loaded by the programmable device, configuring the programmable device to operate in a new, specific and predefined manner to perform at least one of the methods described herein.

[0102] Furthermore, at least a portion of the programs associated with the systems and methods of the embodiments described herein may be distributable as a computer program product that includes a computer-readable medium storing computer-usable instructions (e.g., program code) for one or more processors. The program code may be pre-installed and embedded at the time of manufacture, or may be installed later as an update to an already deployed computer system. The medium may be provided in various forms, including non-transitory forms such as, but not limited to, one or more floppy disks, compact disks, tapes, chips, magnetic and electronic storage media, etc. In alternative embodiments, the medium may be transitory in nature, including, but not limited to, wireline transmissions, satellite transmissions, Internet transmissions (e.g., downloads), media, digital and analog signals, etc. The computer-usable instructions may exist in various forms, including compiled and non-compiled code.

[0103] Thus, any device described herein that executes software instructions may include or have access to computer-readable media, such as storage media, computer storage media, or data storage devices (removable and / or non-removable), e.g., magnetic disks, optical disks, or tape. Computer storage media may include volatile and non-volatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information, such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data. Examples of computer storage media include RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVDs) or other optical storage media, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to store the desired information and accessible by an application, module, or both. Such computer storage media may be part of the device or may be accessible or connectable to the device.

[0104] Various embodiments described herein generally relate to apparatus and methods for composting food waste, as well as paper products, cardboard products, and some plastics. Composting is a natural process that recycles organic matter, such as yard waste, workshop waste, and food scraps, into compost that can be used to enrich soil and plants. While all organic waste eventually decomposes, composting can be used to accelerate this process by providing an ideal environment for composting to occur.

[0105] On the other hand, users typically need to collect food scraps for a long period of time before inputting a larger volume of scraps into the composting device to produce larger batches of compost. This is known as batch composting. However, with batch composting, users must collect food scraps until they have a large volume of food scraps in the composting device. This can lead to odors and other allergens, such as mold and dust, which can cause discomfort in homes and outdoor spaces.

[0106] A composting device that allows users to continuously deposit small amounts of food waste and obtain large batches of compost is beneficial. A continuous batch process provides the flexibility to add waste at any time while producing a batched output of controlled quality. Food waste from meal preparation, meal leftovers, and snack leftovers can be added to the device immediately after generation and still produce a usable batch of output compost.

[0107] Referring to FIG. 1 , a flowchart of a method 100 for generating compost according to an exemplary embodiment is shown. At 102, a quantity of waste 101 is deposited into a composting apparatus. The quantity of input waste 101 can be any amount of food scraps, food, organic matter, biodegradable materials, paper products, cardboard products, some plastics, or other suitable waste. At 104, the quantity of waste 101 is pre-treated to generate a quantity of pre-treated waste. At 106, the quantity of pre-treated waste is stored in a storage chamber for a predetermined period of time (e.g., a pre-treatment storage time), to generate a quantity of stored waste. The pre-treatment storage time depends on the application of the composting apparatus. For example, for residential users, this period can typically be from a few days to up to two weeks. This is because the capacity of home composting apparatuses may not be very large. However, for larger-capacity commercial units, the pre-treatment storage time can vary from several weeks to several months, in some cases, as long as the pre-treated waste does not decay.

[0108] At 108, a quantity of stored waste can be composted to produce an output compost batch 110. The output compost batch 110 can be any volume of compost depending on the size of the composter, or the output compost can be considered intermediate composts that are collected together over successive composting cycles to form a batch of output compost that can be removed from the composter.

[0109] Moisture content refers to the amount of water present in the product. The input waste 101 may have a first moisture content level, and the output compost batch 110 may have a second moisture content level. In at least one embodiment, depending on the operating parameters of the composting apparatus, the components of the composting apparatus, and its method of operation, the second moisture content may be lower than the first moisture content, and thus the output compost batch 110 typically contains less moisture or typically has a lower moisture content level than a certain amount of input waste 101.

[0110] In another embodiment, depending on the operating parameters of the composting apparatus, the components of the composting apparatus, and its method of operation, the quantity of output compost 109 may have a third moisture content level. In this embodiment, the third moisture content level may be lower than the first moisture content level and / or the third moisture content level may be higher than the second moisture content level.

[0111] The pre-treatment step 104 may include separating the quantity of waste 101 into a volume of solid waste and a volume of liquid waste. Separating the quantity of waste into a volume of liquid waste may include mechanically removing liquid from the quantity of waste by any suitable method. For example, mechanical removal of liquid may be accomplished by applying mechanical pressure via, but not limited to, squeezing, tumbling, or centrifugation, as well as by a dewatering filter. In at least one embodiment, separation of solid waste and liquid waste may be optional.

[0112] In at least one embodiment, the pre-treatment step 104 may also include reducing the volume of the solid waste. Reducing the volume of the solid waste may include, but is not limited to, crushing, grinding, grinding, mulching, other suitable reduction methods, or any operable combination thereof. Reducing the volume of the solid waste may result in a reduction in the individual particle size of the volume of solid waste. Volume reduction may be optional, as for embodiments with physically larger tanks, there may be at least one implementation where the day's waste may simply fall into the tank 910.

[0113] The shredding sequence can also be used to reduce the volume of solid waste (e.g., by breaking down larger particles into smaller particles) to obtain smaller particle sizes in the pretreated waste, such as, but not limited to, about 1 mm to about 20 mm. In at least one embodiment, the shredding sequence can include turning on the shredding components for a predetermined period of time and then turning off the shredding components for another predetermined period of time. The shredding sequence can be repeated any number of cycles, such as once, twice, three times, or more, for a given volume of waste. Alternatively, shredding can be performed until all pretreated waste material has passed through the chamber. In another alternative, shredding can be performed for a longer period of time than usual, depending on the type of material being shredded. The predetermined period (e.g., the shredding period) can be any period of time, including, but not limited to, 5 seconds, 10 seconds, 15 seconds, 30 seconds, 45 seconds, 60 seconds, 90 seconds, or other suitable period of time.

[0114] In at least one embodiment, the pre-treatment step 104 can further include drying the volume of solid waste. Drying the volume of solid waste can include heating the volume of solid waste to reduce its moisture content. Drying can be performed by radiant heating, convective heating, conductive heating, solar heating, other suitable drying methods, or any operable combination thereof. It should be noted that the drying step can be optional if the dewatering step sufficiently reduces the moisture content (e.g., to a level of less than about 50%).

[0115] Drying a volume of solid waste can be accomplished by applying a drying sequence that involves turning on the drying components for a predetermined period of time and then turning the drying components off for another predetermined period of time. The drying sequence can be repeated one, two, three, or more times as many cycles as necessary. The predetermined period can be any period of time, including, but not limited to, 5 seconds, 10 seconds, 15 seconds, 30 seconds, 45 seconds, 60 seconds, 90 seconds, or any other period of time. The drying sequence can also be triggered by a threshold temperature using closed-loop temperature control logic to determine when to turn the drying heater on or off. For example, if the measured drying temperature is below a threshold temperature limit, the drying sequence can be turned on. Similarly, if the measured drying temperature is above a threshold temperature limit, the drying sequence can be turned off. The threshold temperature can be selected to provide temperature control that maintains healthy microbial growth without killing microorganisms and inhibits the growth of harmful microorganisms such as mold. Additionally, in at least one embodiment, ventilation (e.g., providing airflow from a fan) can be used to inhibit mold growth and maintain healthy microbial growth. The amount of airflow used can be determined empirically based on the type and amount of microorganisms used.

[0116] At 106, the pretreated waste is stored in the storage chamber of the composting device for a period of time (which may be referred to as the storage time). At this point, the pretreated waste is referred to as stored waste. At this point, heating may be employed so that the storage chamber also functions (optionally) as a drying chamber. In at least one embodiment, a mixer may be provided in the storage chamber to slowly rotate the waste (continuously or intermittently) to prevent small particles from clumping into larger clumps, which may affect the transfer of this material to the composting chamber after the storage time has expired. The storage time may vary depending on how frequently the user supplies input waste to the composting device and how full the storage chamber is. For example, a level sensor, such as, but not limited to, an ultrasonic sensor, may be used to monitor the fullness of the storage chamber and prevent the user from adding more when the storage chamber is full. Once the storage time has expired, the stored waste is fed to the composting chamber and moved to 108 in method 100.

[0117] Composting generally involves providing microorganisms in a compost chamber and creating one or more favorable conditions for the microorganisms in the compost chamber to aid in composting the stored waste. Creating one or more favorable conditions in the compost chamber may include flowing air through a volume of stored waste to ensure that the microorganisms receive an adequate oxygen concentration for undergoing an aerobic decomposition process (also referred to as an aerobic digestion process). This can be achieved, for example, using a fan. Another favorable condition is maintaining an appropriate moisture content level in the compost chamber by spraying or misting a liquid into the compost chamber. The compost chamber may be periodically misted, which may depend on moisture sensor readings. For example, if a humidity or moisture sensor in the compost chamber detects that the moisture level in the compost chamber is below a desired value, the microcontroller may send a control signal to one or more actuators to spray or mist a liquid into the compost chamber until the desired humidity level (e.g., moisture threshold) is reached. The air relative humidity in the compost chamber may be used to estimate the moisture content of the material in the compost chamber.

[0118] Creating one or more favorable conditions within the compost chamber may also include mixing the batch of compost to maintain adequate airflow through the batch of compost. In at least one embodiment, this may be accomplished using an impeller located within the compost chamber. In at least one embodiment, a combination of an impeller and a fan may be used to achieve both the desired mixing and airflow.

[0119] Creating one or more favorable conditions within the compost chamber may include maintaining a desired temperature within the compost chamber.

[0120] The step of creating one or more favorable conditions in the compost chamber may include adding additional microorganisms in powder, capsule, or liquid form.

[0121] In at least one embodiment, method 100 may further include, at 110, a step of post-processing the collected amount of compost. The post-processing, or maturation, step typically involves maintaining the compost in a room with controlled temperature and humidity and a constant level of airflow. This is similar to the composting process, but the temperature may be set much lower, but much higher than room temperature, such as about 18°C ​​to 30°C or higher. However, the temperature within this room is preferably less than about 40°C. In at least one embodiment, ventilation (e.g., airflow provided by a fan) may also be used during maturation to produce high-quality compost. The amount of airflow required to obtain the desired quality of compost can be determined empirically.

[0122] Referring to FIG. 2, a flowchart of a composting method 200 is shown, along with cycle times for transferring by-products to generate output compost, according to at least one embodiment. The cycle times may include an input storage cycle time, a pre-treatment processing cycle time, a post-treatment storage cycle time, a composting cycle time, a post-composting storage cycle time, or any operable combination thereof. For example, deposition of a certain amount of waste at 201 may occur multiple times per day. A user may deposit any amount of input waste at any time, up to a certain limit that depends on the capacity of the composting device. For example, a user may first deposit banana peels, then three hours later deposit rice, and two hours later deposit broccoli stalks. Thus, a user does not need to batch collect waste to create large deposits in the composting device. Rather, a user may deposit even small amounts of input waste if desired.

[0123] At 202, even though a user may deposit waste material into the composting apparatus multiple times during a given period, a quantity of waste can only be pretreated once during that given period. This given period may be referred to as a pretreatment processing cycle time. The pretreatment step may include the steps described at 104. In one embodiment, the pretreatment step 102 may begin immediately after the first input waste is deposited (in which case the input storage cycle time is zero) or when a triggering action occurs. The given period may be user-defined. The triggering action may include, but is not limited to, a lid opening or closing, a weight sensor sensing a quantity of waste 110 placed in the input compartment (e.g., hopper), a user operating a button, a countdown timer that triggers based on a user-defined time, any other suitable trigger, or combination thereof that may be used to initiate the pretreatment step 202.

[0124] The triggering action may also trigger the start of a real-time clock. The real-time clock may be used to measure cycle times. These cycle times may be adaptively changed depending on the various types of food waste input being composted and the different times that may be required for certain stages of the composting process depending on the type of food waste input. The real-time clock may feed time data to the processor to determine whether a waste transfer should occur or whether a cycle / sequence should be initiated. Examples of sequences that may be triggered by the real-time clock include, but are not limited to, a crushing sequence, a drying sequence, a mixing sequence, a cleaning sequence, and / or a composting sequence.

[0125] The pretreated waste may be converted to compost at 204 using the steps described at 108. The conversion of pretreated waste to compost may occur once per batch period. A batch period may be defined as the time it takes for the input waste to become compost 110. Thus, the conversion from pretreatment to compost may occur once per batch period. The conversion 108 may also occur at a faster or slower frequency. For example, the conversion from pretreatment to compost may occur twice per batch period or at some other frequency.

[0126] At 206, the composted material may be provided as a batch of output compost 110 using the steps described at 108 for each batch period. Alternatively, the composted material may be collected as intermediate composts that are pooled together after subsequent composting cycles to produce a batch of output compost that is provided once per batch period.

[0127] 3, a flowchart of a composting method 200, along with cycle times for transferring by-products to produce output compost, according to at least one embodiment is shown. The cycle may be similar to that described with respect to method 200. In this exemplary embodiment, deposition of a quantity of waste at 301 may occur multiple times per day, similar to 201 in method 200, and the pretreatment 302, composting 306, and waste output 308 steps are performed similarly to corresponding steps 202, 204, and 206, respectively, in method 200, with some differences. For example, at 306, conversion of stored pretreated waste to compost may occur multiple times per batch period.

[0128] 4 and 5, a block diagram of a composting apparatus 400 according to an exemplary embodiment is shown. The composting apparatus 400 may include a main device body 412 (e.g., housing), control and current electronics 415, a processor 416, memory 217, a compost chamber cavity 500 disposed within the main device body 412, a plurality of adapters 402 disposed at one end of the compost chamber cavity 500, a compost chamber 410, and at least one sensor 414 coupled to the compost chamber 410 for acquiring sensor data used to measure / monitor certain conditions within the compost chamber. The one or more sensors 414 are communicatively coupled to the processor 416 for transmitting the sensor data to the processor 416. The compost chamber 410 includes a plurality of couplers 404, 406, 408 for coupling various elements of the compost chamber 410 to the plurality of adapters 402. The compost chamber 410 may receive one or more of, but not limited to, fluids, liquids, mechanical agitation signals, and heat signals via a plurality of couplers 404, 406, and 408 coupled to the plurality of adapters 402. In at least one embodiment, the plurality of couplers may include, but are not limited to, a fluid coupler 404, a mechanical coupler 406, and / or an electronic coupler 408. It should be noted that in at least one embodiment, the fluid coupler 404 and / or the electronic coupler 408 may be optional.

[0129] In this exemplary embodiment, the compost chamber 410 is removable. In at least one alternative embodiment, the compost chamber may be fixed but may be provided with an inlet port that can be used to clean it, or may be provided with an output compost storage compartment in the form of a drawer that a user can pull out to remove the output compost and clean the compost chamber. A removable compost chamber 410 may be removed from the main device body 412, which may occur for cleaning and / or maintenance of the compost chamber 410. However, various couplers and adapters are implemented such that the coupler is removably engageable with the adapter in a controllable and predictable manner, thereby allowing the compost chamber 410 to be reinserted into the main device body 412 without affecting functionality. In other words, after the compost chamber 410 is reinserted into the main device body 412, the coupler engages with the adapter, thereby allowing functional components located within the compost chamber 410 to continue to function.

[0130] Functional components may include, but are not limited to, mechanical components, electrical and electronic components, fluidic components, or any operable combination thereof. Mechanical components include, but are not limited to, mixing components, motor shafts, transmission components, trap doors, windows, spring mechanisms, or any operable combination thereof. Electrical and electronic components include, but are not limited to, electric motors, heaters, fans, pumps, temperature sensors, moisture sensors, oxygen sensors, load sensors, position sensors, level sensors, image sensors, LEDs, or any operable combination thereof. Fluidic components include, but are not limited to, nozzles, tubing, fittings, sprayers, atomizers, filters, valves, aerators, reservoirs, or any operable combination thereof.

[0131] The removable compost chamber 410 remains composting for a predetermined batch period. Once the composting cycle is complete, the compost chamber 410 can be removed from the main device body 412 while still holding the compost inside. The compost can be transferred from the compost chamber 410 to an external area (typically a separate container). The compost chamber 410 can be returned to the main device body 412. The functional components within the compost chamber 410 can be reconnected to the adapter 402 on the main device body 412 for the next composting cycle.

[0132] The fluid coupler 404 can be coupled to a fluid adapter. The fluid coupler 404 and fluid adapter can be used to transfer fluids into and out of the compost chamber 410. Examples of fluids that can be transferred into the compost chamber 410 include, but are not limited to, water, oxygenated water, alcohol, oxygen gas, nitrogen gas, air, compressed air, ethylene, carbon dioxide, other fluids required during the composting process, or any operable combination thereof. Examples of fluids that can be transferred out of the compost chamber 410 include, but are not limited to, clean water, oxygenated water, graywater (also known as "juice"), alcohol, oxygen gas, nitrogen gas, air, compressed air, ethylene, carbon dioxide, other fluids discharged during the composting process, or any operable combination thereof. The term "juice" is used when the dewatering process is performed by mechanical means, resulting in particulate matter suspended in a fluid medium. This results in a "juicy" liquid. This juice is typically found at the bottom of a composting bucket in a composting system and contains a high concentration of nutrients. This juice may also sometimes be called an "infusion" or "compost tea."

[0133] The mechanical coupler 406 can be coupled to a corresponding mechanical adapter. For example, the mechanical coupler 406 and corresponding mechanical adapter can be used to transmit power from a motor to drive a shaft. The shaft can be connected to any driven mechanism, such as, but not limited to, an impeller, pedal, auger, piston, blade, juicer, or other crushing, grinding, mixing, conveying, or pulverizing mechanism. The motor is typically located outside the chamber that houses the moving element / driven mechanism driven by the motor. Such chambers can include a pre-treatment chamber, a storage chamber, and / or a compost chamber. In at least one embodiment, two or more motors can be used to drive corresponding shafts. In at least one embodiment, one motor can be used in conjunction with a belt and / or gear assembly / gearbox to drive multiple shafts.

[0134] The driven mechanism may be removably connected to the shaft so that it can be removed for cleaning and / or maintenance, or replaced with a different type of drive device. For example, an impeller may be used to crush pre-processed waste. However, a specialized crusher may be required to grind hard foods, such as bones or fruit pits. Therefore, the impeller may be replaced with a bladed crusher to crush the hard foods. For example, a user may change between different impeller attachments depending on the type of food. Or, different attachments coupled to the shaft may be used depending on the required functionality. For example, a brush attachment can be coupled to the shaft to clean the inside of the chamber, a blunt impact blade can be removably coupled to the shaft to provide a crushing function, a pedal blade can be removably coupled to the shaft to sweep material up and move it in another direction, an aeration blade can be removably coupled to the shaft to provide additional aeration through an injected air stream, an injection blade can be removably coupled to the shaft to inject water as it rotates, a heatable blade can be removably coupled to the shaft to provide conduction heating, or any operable combination thereof.

[0135] The electronic coupler 408 can be used to transmit signals between the compost chamber 410 and the processor 416. In one embodiment, the sensors 414 collect sensor data regarding the conditions of the compost chamber 410, which can be sent for storage in the memory 417 and / or sent to the processor 416 for processing. The sensor data can be sent as an electrical signal that can be transmitted via the electronic coupler 408 and the electronic adapter 402. In another embodiment, the signals collected from the sensors 414 can be sent directly to the processor 416 for processing. This can occur when the processor 416 has an analog input I / O pin that reads the voltage measured by a given sensor, uses an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) to convert the analog reading to a digital reading, and then uses an algorithm to process the digital reading into a corresponding physical reading. The physical reading can then be stored in memory. The one or more sensors 414 may include, but are not limited to, a temperature sensor, a moisture sensor, a relative humidity sensor, a gas sensor, a level sensor, a Hall effect sensor, a load cell (i.e., a sensor for measuring weight), an image sensor, or any operable combination thereof. In alternative embodiments, other weight sensors besides load cells may be used. In another alternative embodiment, a proximity sensor besides a Hall effect sensor may be used. In at least one embodiment, at least one level sensor may be used. Examples of other proximity and level sensors that may be used may include, but are not limited to, inductive, capacitive, ultrasonic, and / or infrared sensors. Examples of other weight sensors that may be used include, but are not limited to, pressure / strain sensors.

[0136] In at least one embodiment, the compost chamber 410 may further comprise a pre-treatment tank. The pre-treatment tank may include, but is not limited to, at least one condenser or dewatering mechanism, at least one fan, at least one crushing mechanism, or any operable combination thereof. In at least one embodiment, a heater may also be included in the pre-treatment tank.

[0137] 6, a cross-sectional view of a portion of a compost chamber 410 including an impeller 600 according to at least one exemplary embodiment is shown. Alternatively, in at least one embodiment, the compost chamber 410 can include multiple impellers arranged side-by-side (e.g., laterally offset from one another) and multiple shafts driving them, allowing for horizontal expansion without changing the height of the composting apparatus.

[0138] Referring again to FIG. 6 , impeller 600 is a type of ribbon impeller that includes a first spiral fin configuration 602 and a second spiral fin configuration 604. First spiral fin configuration 602 and second spiral fin configuration 604 typically operate at opposite angular orientations. For example, the inner spiral and outer spiral always rotate in opposite directions, resulting in opposite particle flows. In at least one embodiment, first spiral fin configuration 602 and second spiral fin configuration 604 may be concentrically arranged. Alternatively, in at least one embodiment, first spiral fin configuration 602 and second spiral fin configuration 604 may be arranged such that their longitudinal axes are perpendicular to each other. In at least one embodiment, first spiral fin configuration 602 and second spiral fin configuration 604 may have mirror image configurations with respect to central slicing plane 608. In at least one embodiment, the first and second helical fin configurations 602 and 604 may form a continuous helix. Alternatively, in at least one embodiment, the first and second helical fin configurations 602 and 604 may form discrete segments of a helix. In one embodiment, operating the impeller produces a uniform mixture of solid compost particles. The particle size can vary from 0.5 mm to 20 mm or more. A uniform mixture of different particle sizes can be beneficial for compost quality control.

[0139] The outer spiral of the impeller 600 mixes particles by continuously moving particles from the walls of the compost chamber 410 toward the center of the compost chamber 410, while the inner spiral moves particles from the center of the compost chamber 410 toward the walls of the compost chamber 410. When using a double spiral ribbon impeller, the particle flow can naturally assume a bilobal curved shape, which is particularly useful for uniformly mixing particles of different sizes. Alternatively, if the ribbon impeller is made from discrete segments of the spiral, these discrete segments act as paddles (the impeller operates like a paddle mixer) but still promote a bilobal curved particle flow.

[0140] The direction of rotation of the impeller 600 can be changed depending on the location where particles are to be moved out of the compost chamber 410. For example, if the compost chamber 410 has an exit door at one end, the direction of rotation of the impeller 600 can be periodically switched to move particles to the side of the compost chamber 410 and out of the compost chamber 410. In one embodiment, if the exit door is in the center of the compost chamber 410, the impeller 600 can be operated so that particles accumulate in the center of the compost chamber 410 where they are moved out of the compost chamber when the exit door is opened.

[0141] The particular configuration and size of impeller 600, including but not limited to the helix diameter, pitch, and number of cycles on each side from the center, can be selected depending on the application. For example, diameters can range from about 5 cm to about 100 cm for residential composting systems, and up to about 10 meters for commercial composting systems (e.g., those used in food production facilities). In at least one embodiment, the ribbon-type impeller operates horizontally relative to the central slicing plane 608.

[0142] Referring to FIG. 7, a block diagram illustrating a method 700 for generating compost according to an example embodiment is shown. At 701, food waste is generated. At 702, the food waste is collected. In one embodiment, the food waste is collected in a hopper (also referred to as an input compartment or input storage compartment). At 704, the collected food waste is broken down to form small pieces using appropriate breaking components, such as those described herein. In at least one embodiment, dewatering may also be performed at 704 by applying squeezing, centrifugation, and / or tumbling through a filter. At 706, the broken down pieces are continuously pre-treated in a pre-treatment chamber under controlled conditions (e.g., desired temperature, desired humidity, etc.) for a pre-treatment period during which dry food pieces are generated. Typically, closed-loop logic control based on temperature or relative humidity control may be used to determine the length of the pre-treatment period. For example, if conditions in the compost chamber are too dry during the composting stage, water may be injected into the compost chamber. The dry chips may accumulate in the pretreatment chamber for a predetermined period of time (ranging from at least one hour to one month or more). After the predetermined pretreatment period, the dry chips may be transferred from the pretreatment chamber to a compost chamber. In an alternative embodiment, at least a portion of the dry chips may be further dried by condensing the moist air surrounding the dry chips. From 706 and optionally 708, method 700 proceeds to 710, where the batch of dry chips may be composted in the compost chamber for another predetermined period of time (e.g., a composting period ranging from at least one hour to one month or more). In an alternative embodiment, the dry chips may be pretreated for a predetermined period of time that is shorter than the total batch period and transferred to a pretreatment storage compartment within the pretreatment chamber or to a separate compartment, such as chamber 806, chamber 916, and / or chamber 910. The dry chips may accumulate in this compartment or separate compartment through multiple transfer cycles, after which all material is transferred to the compost chamber once the batch period ends. For example, this transfer may occur every 24 hours based on a daily routine. This is because the composting device can be operated according to the user's daily cycle of activity and sleep.

[0143] Referring to FIG. 8, a cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a composting apparatus 808 is shown. The composting apparatus 808 includes a pretreatment tank 810 and a first motor 802 coupled to a shaft 813 of a dewatering mechanism 812. The dewatering mechanism 812 can be disposed within the pretreatment tank 810. The dewatering mechanism 812 includes a filter 815 (shown by the dashed line in FIG. 8) with increasing pressure from right to left in the figure. Liquid passes through the filter 815 and through a flow channel 816, while solids flow into a waste collection chamber (also referred to as a pretreatment storage chamber). The composting apparatus 808 further includes a composting chamber 814. The composting chamber 814 can include a second motor 804 coupled to a shaft 806. In at least one embodiment, a second motor 804 can be used to drive a shaft 806 having a mixing pedal and / or blades attached to rotate the pretreated particles during the composting stage to prevent clumping of the pretreated particles. The operation of motor 804 can be adjusted in a similar manner to motor 802, although a different OFF / ON sequence may be used. The composting apparatus 808 can include a removable compost chamber 410 and sensors, fluid couplings, adapters, and / or impeller 600 of the composting apparatus 400.

[0144] The shaft 806 may be connected to any one of, but not limited to, a mixer, piston, blades, juicer, or any other suitable crushing, grinding, or pulverizing mechanism. The crushing, grinding, or pulverizing mechanism may be removably connected to the shaft 806 so that the mechanism may be interchangeable. For example, an impeller may be used to crush pre-processed waste, but a specialized crusher may be required to crush hard foods such as bones or eggshells. Thus, the mixer may be replaced with a bladed crusher to crush hard foods. For example, a user may use different impeller attachments depending on the type of food. Alternatively, different attachments may be coupled to the shaft 806 so that they can be selectively used depending on the desired function. For example, a brush attachment may be coupled to the shaft 860 to clean the inside of the pre-processing chamber.

[0145] 9 is a block diagram of a composting apparatus according to another exemplary embodiment. In this embodiment, a composting apparatus 900 is shown. The composting apparatus 900 may include a water tank 902, a liquid tank 904, a compost tank 906, a condenser 908, a pretreatment tank 910, a heater and fan 912, a lid 914, a first motor 916, a second motor 918, and a door 920. The composting apparatus 900 may include the removable compost chamber 410, sensors, fluid couplings, adapters, impeller 600, and / or dewatering mechanism 812 of the composting apparatus 400. The condenser 908 may be a single unit having an annular shape. In at least one embodiment, the condenser 908 may be replaced with an air filter.

[0146] The pre-treatment tank 910 may have an upper chamber 924 and a lower chamber 926. The upper chamber may have a lid 914 coupled thereto, which may be opened to allow a user to deposit food waste. The upper chamber 924 may also include a first motor 918. The first motor 918 may be removably coupled to a pre-treatment device (not shown), which may be used for crushing, squeezing to reduce volume, centrifuging for dewatering, or any operable combination thereof during pre-treatment. The pre-treatment device may be removable for cleaning. For example, in at least one embodiment, the motor 918 may be coupled to a dewatering mechanism. Food waste deposited with the lid 914 open may be pre-treated by the pre-treatment device coupled to the motor 918. After pre-treatment, the pre-treated pieces may be transferred to the lower chamber. The lower chamber 926 may include a second motor 916 (e.g., the second motor 916 may be the same as motor 804 (e.g., the pre-treatment mixing motor)). The motor 916 may be coupled to an impeller or ribbon mixer 917. The impeller or ribbon mixer 917 may also be used as a transport mechanism to transport the compost through a door 920 located in the center of the bottom wall of the compost chamber 906. This may be achieved by the impeller or mixer continuously transporting all particles toward the center of the compost chamber. The composting apparatus 900 may optionally include a water tank 902 for storing clean water. In an alternative embodiment, the door 920 may be replaced by a filter, which has a screen that allows only particles of a certain size to pass through.

[0147] In at least one embodiment, the composting apparatus 900 may optionally include a liquid tank 904 for storing liquid or graywater. For example, in embodiments in which dewatering is performed, as the shredded food waste is dewatered, liquid flows out and into the liquid tank 904. This liquid is not a clear, pure liquid like the condensed water in the water tank 902. Rather, this liquid is sometimes referred to as liquid compost (also called compost tea). This liquid may be stored in the liquid tank 904 to be converted into liquid compost or compost tea, or may be periodically discarded by the user.

[0148] In at least one embodiment, the composting apparatus 900 may optionally include a condenser 908, with or without the liquid tank 904. The condenser 908 may use a fan alone, or a fan and a Peltier element having a hot side and a cold side, the hot side of which may be cooled by the fan. In such an embodiment, as moist warm air moves from the bottom to the condenser 908, the cooler surface of the condenser 908 cools the air, causing moisture to condense and flow into the water tank 904. A fan may also be used to create a temperature differential between the condensing block and the ambient air. The air condenses against the condensing block (typically in the form of a heat sink).

[0149] In at least one embodiment, a sterilization sequence may be included to destroy pathogens. For example, UV light may be included for disinfection / sanitization. UV sterilization may be performed using UV light in the condenser or, in embodiments without a condenser, using UV light in an air filter that may be positioned where the condenser would normally be located. In at least one embodiment, UV light may be installed above the liquid tank to prevent odor and mold growth. The use of UV LEDs may extend its lifespan. The UV light may preferably be sealed to prevent user access, which could damage the UV light. In at least one embodiment, additional sterilization may be performed at the end of the composting cycle, which may be achieved by irradiating the compost with UV light from a UV LED or by exposing the compost to elevated temperatures of approximately 80-90°C. However, this may not be necessary if the pathogen levels in the material being composted are low.

[0150] 10 and 11 provide a process flow diagram of a waste treatment process illustrating the interaction of the various components of a composting apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment. According to the process flow diagram, food waste is pre-treated and composted in a two-stage process including a pre-treatment stage and a composting stage.

[0151] For high-quality composting, the input to the composting stage may be approximately 3 mm to 5 mm in size and approximately 50% moisture content. If the input waste already meets these conditions (e.g., the input waste is coffee grounds from an espresso machine or carrot cakes from a juice machine), the input waste has already been pre-processed in another device. In such cases, such input waste can be directly fed into the composting device to produce output compost. For example, the input (e.g., hopper) of the composting device can be connected to the ground waste output of a coffee machine or the pulp waste output of a juicer, allowing the coffee grounds and pulp to automatically fall into the composting device input. However, in the case of other input food waste that has not been shredded and / or dewatered, effective aerobic composting may be difficult to achieve during the composting stage unless such input food waste undergoes a pre-processing step.

[0152] The pretreatment stages can be performed in sequential or simultaneous flow, where new input waste is continuously mixed with pretreated waste. In at least one embodiment, the pretreatment steps can be performed sequentially.

[0153] During pre-processing, the input food waste undergoes a volume reduction step in which a crushing, or grinding, or grinding, or mulching process is performed using the grinding assembly 1004 and grinding motor 1002. For example, as the food waste passes through the chamber where it is crushed, it is then crushed, cut, and then ground. The volume reduction step ensures an overall volume reduction, an increase in bulk density, and a reduction in individual particle size.

[0154] In at least one embodiment, an optional dewatering step can be performed, in which liquid molecules surrounding the food waste particles are mechanically removed by squeezing, tumbling, or centrifugation, thereby reducing the bulk moisture content. The removed liquid flows into the liquid tank assembly 1008 along with the juice flow. Optionally, a dewatering treatment can be applied during the grinding step, in which the ground food waste particles are squeezed as they are ground and crushed. Optionally, the greywater output from the dewatering step can be passed through a filter, such as a metal mesh. The filtered water flows into the liquid tank assembly 1008 for storage. The liquid tank assembly 1008 can include a combination of a water tank and a liquid tank.

[0155] Concurrently with or instead of dehydrating, the food waste particles can be dried using a drying assembly 1006 powered by a heater (optional) and a fan 1009a. The drying step involves convectively removing moisture from the food waste particles by using (hot) air to flow around the surfaces of the food waste particles, evaporating the moisture into water vapor. This step further reduces the bulk moisture content of the food waste particles, resulting in drier food waste particles.

[0156] During this convective drying stage, a mixing process using mixing motor 1007a may take place, where the food waste particles are constantly homogenized, thereby ensuring a uniform reduction in moisture content throughout the batch.

[0157] In at least one embodiment, the pretreatment step can occur simultaneously as new food waste input is added to the composter and passes through the various elements of the pretreatment stage. In at least one embodiment, a condenser assembly 1010 can be used to provide airflow to the drying assembly. The dried pieces can then be transported to the compost chamber 1012. The compost chamber 1012 can include a mixing motor 1007b and / or a heater and fan 1009b.

[0158] During the composting stage, suitable conditions are created for the microorganisms in the compost chamber 1012 to consume the dried food waste particles. Natural microorganisms, such as, but not limited to, microbial groups from the Bacillaceae, Enterobacteriaceae, and Oxalobacteriaceae families, may be used. For example, during this stage, hot air may be blown through the dried particles to ensure sufficient oxygen for the aerobic decomposition process, while a desired moisture content level is maintained through sporadic injection of water spray or mist onto the dried waste particles, forming a thin water film that envelops the waste particles and creates a desirable local environment for microbial species to colonize and grow. In some cases, the microorganisms are provided by user-provided input waste. To maintain sufficient airflow throughout the batch, continuous mixing may be used to break down agglomerated particles of different particle sizes into smaller particles, create pathways for air flow, remove water vapor, and provide fresh, oxygen-containing air. The operating parameters used to provide favorable conditions for the microorganisms can be determined experimentally and may vary depending on the type of food waste deposited in the composting device.

[0159] The clean water in the liquid tank assembly 1008 can be used for the composting stage in the compost chamber 1012. The clean water is sprayed or misted onto the previously dried particles as they are agitated by a mixer or impeller powered by a mixing motor 1007b. A heater and fan 1009b can provide hot air that constantly flows through the compost chamber 1012 to remove excess water vapor and provide oxygen to the microorganisms present in the water film on the surface of the dried particles. Alternatively, in at least one embodiment, the fan is operated continuously, and the heater is activated only when the temperature drops below the compost temperature threshold to produce high-quality compost. However, the air may not always need to be hot.

[0160] Figure 11 shows the functional mechanical and electrical blocks of the three phases of food waste processing, along with flow direction, according to an exemplary embodiment. A grinding electric motor can be used to generate torque for the volume reduction operation. Upon completion, the ground solids are transferred to the drying assembly, where convective drying occurs under constant mixing. Therefore, during the mixing cycle during the convective drying step, the mixing motor can be operated intermittently to prevent the dehydrated food from clumping or sticking together. However, in some cases, the drying cycle can be optional and independent of the mixing cycle. A heater and fan can be used to generate a hot air flow to warm the particles to a wetting temperature and evaporate surface water into water vapor. This air flow flows through a pre-treatment chamber and into a condenser assembly, where a temperature gradient causes the water vapor to condense into liquid water. This water then flows into the liquid tank assembly. The relative humidity in the hot air decreases during the condensation step. The output air can be returned to the drying assembly for recirculation.

[0161] In at least one embodiment, the mixing motor 1007, heater and / or fan 1009 may be used for both the drying assembly and the compost chamber 1012, as shown in Figure 11. In other words, one set of motor, heater and / or fan may be used for both the pre-treatment chamber and the compost chamber.

[0162] FIG. 12A provides a block diagram of a composting apparatus 1202 according to an exemplary embodiment. The relative locations of the functional chambers or tanks are shown in FIG. 12A. Food waste input 101 is added to the apparatus 1202 when the top lid 914 is open. When the lid 914 is closed, a grinding motor 918 activates, moving the food waste input 101 toward the crushing blades (not shown). As the food waste 101 passes through the crushing blades, it is broken down into smaller-sized particles and, optionally, dewatered due to the increased pressure as it passes through the crushing blades and is squeezed together. The dried particles fall into the drying assembly 916, and the juice flows into the liquid tank 904. The dried particles are subjected to convection drying using a heater and fan 912 to reach a desired moisture content level within a predetermined time. This process can be repeated any frequency, such as multiple times per day, multiple times per week, or as desired by the user.

[0163] 12B is a block diagram of a composting apparatus 1203 according to another exemplary embodiment, where the composting apparatus 1203 can include a radiator 1202, a motor 1204, and a filter 918. The motor 1204 is connected to a shaft 806, which is coupled to a piston 911. The head of the piston 911 is labeled "Piston" and has a vertical shaft 911s. The shaft 911s is a screw-like shaft to which the piston 911 is attached, and the piston 911 can move up and down depending on the direction of rotation of the shaft 911s. The food waste input 101 is added into the composting apparatus 1203 when the lid 914 is opened. When the lid 914 is closed, the motor 1204 activates the piston 911 to apply mechanical pressure, simultaneously moving the food waste input 101 toward the grinding blade 913. As the food waste 101 passes through the grinding blades 913, the food waste input 101 is broken down into smaller sized particles to form pre-processed pieces. Dewatering is achieved by mechanical pressure generated by the piston 911. Thus, as the piston 911 moves upward while also applying dewatering pressure, the new input food waste is crushed by the grinding blades 913, which direct the pre-processed pieces towards the trapdoor and out the trapdoor into the compost chamber. Alternatively, or in addition, the piston 911 can assist in moving the pre-processed pieces into the compost chamber. Then, as the piston 911 moves downward, more new input food waste is received, and the cycle repeats as the piston 911 moves upward again. In some cases, the top of the pre-treatment chamber 910 may be sloped to allow the liquid to pass through after crushing and dewatering and flow into the liquid tank 904 via a filter 918; this sloped orientation also allows the pre-treated solids to be transferred through a trap door (not shown) on the side of the pre-treatment chamber 910 to the composting chamber (not shown).

[0164] 12C is a block diagram of a composting apparatus 1206 according to yet another embodiment. Food waste input 101 is added into the composting apparatus when the top lid 914 is open. When the lid 914 is closed, a motor M activates a grinding device, which may be a mixer (not shown). As the food waste 101 passes through the mixer, the food waste input 101 is ground into smaller sized particles, forming pre-processed pieces. Dewatering can also be achieved by adding dry material, such as soil, paper products, bran, or a previous batch of pre-processed pieces, to the pre-processing tank 910.

[0165] The pre-treated dry chips can be stored in a pre-treatment tank 910 for transfer to the compost chamber 906. Once the water vapor condenses in the condenser after they leave the bottom of the drying assembly, the water may flow into the water tank 902 and be stored for the composting stage. The condenser can be implemented in a manner similar to condenser 908 of Figure 12A.

[0166] After a predetermined period of time, or when the last batch of pre-treatment is complete, the pre-treated particles may be transferred to the compost chamber 906. In one embodiment, a door 920 may be used and the pre-treated particles may be transferred using the mixing mechanism previously described. Optionally, a ribbon impeller mixer may be used to mix the pre-treated particles and transfer them to the compost chamber 906.

[0167] The composting stage takes place within the compost chamber 906. It may take a number of days for the pre-treated particles to become mature compost and ready for output. Once the composting stage is complete, the compost chamber 906 can be removed from the main device body, and the compost can be transported as the output of the composting apparatus. An exemplary embodiment of a removable compost chamber is shown in FIG. 6. In one embodiment, the liquid tank 904 and water tank 902 are also removable from the main device body, perhaps for cleaning and / or maintenance, and then reattachable. In at least one embodiment, the liquid tank 904 can be used to store wastewater from the cleaning cycle. In another example, a condensed water reservoir can be provided into which condensed water flows. The condensed water reservoir can have an opening to accept water or a check valve to establish flow when inserted into the composting apparatus. In either case, the condensed water reservoir can be manually pulled out horizontally. Once emptied of water, the user can push the condensed water reservoir back into the main device body.

[0168] 13, a block diagram of a hardware architecture 1300 of a composting apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment is shown. The hardware architecture 1300 generally includes control and current electronics 1011, actuators 1322, sensors 1304, and bio-interface circuitry 1306.

[0169] The control and current electronics circuitry 1011 provides power to the composting apparatus and controls the operation of its various components. Power is supplied from an AC power source 1320 to an AC adapter and fuse 1316. An AC-DC converter 1314 is used to convert the AC voltage to a DC voltage. This DC voltage is regulated by a voltage regulator 1312 and powers various electronics, such as the microcontroller 1310 (which may be the same as processor 416 in FIG. 4) and the bio-interface circuit 1306. Alternatively, in at least one embodiment, a battery pack can be used instead to provide power. Alternatively, a battery pack can be included to provide backup power. An AC & DC relay 1318 can be used to control actuators 1322 within the composting apparatus. The sensors 1304 are communicatively coupled to the microcontroller 1310 and transmit detected data for processing and / or storage. Memory 417 can be used to store real-time operating systems and programs for controlling and / or analyzing specific aspects of the pretreatment and / or composting process.

[0170] The composting apparatus can also communicate with external devices via a radio frequency transceiver 1308 and antenna 1302. In another embodiment, the composting apparatus can include additional networking hardware for communication with devices connected to a wired network. In another embodiment, the composting apparatus can include both wireless and networking hardware.

[0171] Actuators 1322 in the composting apparatus may include, but are not limited to, the heater and fan 1009, the mixing motor 1007, the grinding motor 1002, and the pump 1324. The operation of these actuators 1322 is provided in the description of the various embodiments of the composting apparatus and composting process described herein.

[0172] The sensors 1304 in the composting device include, but are not limited to, a temperature sensor 1326, a moisture sensor 1328, a relative humidity sensor 1330, a gas sensor 1332, a Hall-effect sensor 1334, a load cell 1336, and an image sensor 1338. In at least one embodiment, multiple gas sensors 1332, multiple Hall-effect sensors 1334, multiple load cells 1336, and multiple image sensors 1338 may be provided, and the Hall-effect sensor 1334 is a magnetic detector that recognizes the presence of a magnet and generates a binary or linear output based on distance. The Hall-effect sensor 1334 may be used to determine whether the device is in place. The load cell 1336 converts the mechanical load signal into an analog signal (typically a voltage level), which can be read by the microcontroller 1310 to measure the weight of the item. For example, the amount of food waste input in the hopper, pre-treatment chamber, and / or compost chamber may be weighed. In at least one embodiment, image data can be acquired to record videos and image sequences to allow a user or other individual to observe a time lapse of the composting process. The operation of the sensor 1304 is provided in the description of various embodiments of the composting apparatus and composting process described herein.

[0173] The bio-interface circuit 1306 includes, but is not limited to, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) 1340, buttons 1342, a speaker 1344, and a microphone 1346. The bio-interface circuit 1306 can be used to communicate with a user of the composting apparatus. For example, the LEDs 1340 can be used to visually communicate with the user, such as visually indicating status and / or operational errors. Similarly, the speaker 1344 can be used to provide audible messages to the user regarding status and / or operation. The user can use the buttons 1342 and microphone 1346 to provide input or control commands to the composting apparatus.

[0174] The microprocessor 1310 may be a dual-core microprocessor, and the memory 417 stores software instructions for implementing a real-time operating system (RTOS) framework. This allows for the asynchronous execution of independent sequences (which implement tasks in RTOS terms). That is, sequences can be started, executed, and terminated through logic checks specific to the task at hand and the incorporation of timing components such as elapsed time. This allows, for example, each process (i.e., asynchronous computer program sequence) to have a time limit and a timer countdown that runs to determine when the sequence should terminate. For example, the pretreatment process might have a time limit of approximately 24 hours, the composting process might have a time limit of approximately 7 days, and the shredding sequence might have a time limit of approximately 5 minutes. However, other time limits may also be used in some cases. Some sequences may be timed to track each other, while some sequences may run in parallel as described above. The microprocessor 1310 may provide the clock used to measure time for the timing of the various sequences. Alternatively, real-time counters may be used to measure time.

[0175] The RTOS implementation takes into account the hardware implementation. For example, if the total number of actuators and sensors used in the composting device is reduced, it may be possible to implement simpler built-in sequences for pretreatment and composting. However, there may be embodiments in which more advanced sensors that can sense multiple conditions (e.g., temperature, RH) and / or detect specific items (e.g., gases) may be used, which may require more advanced RTOS sequences and require more processing power.

[0176] Additionally, loop sequences may be executed simultaneously to implement closed-loop control logic, including, but not limited to, a temperature control logic loop for use during the pretreatment and composting sequences. The temperature control logic loop may use different timing for the pretreatment and composting sequences. In such loop sequences, sensor input data (e.g., sensor readings) acquired by specific sensors may be used to switch switches (e.g., MOSFETs) coupled to the actuators to turn the actuators on or off according to the closed-loop control logic. Some sensor input data may also be used to control the on or off duration of these actuators. For example, sensor data may be obtained using a load cell to measure the weight of input waste. The weight of the input waste may be used to determine the moisture content of the input waste. The moisture content of the input waste may be used to determine the amount of water that may be injected by a spray device during the pretreatment stage.

[0177] Additionally, when a user interacts with the bio-interface circuit 1306, user inputs may be provided, which may be used to start or stop one or more of the asynchronous sequences. For example, a user may press a button on the main device housing that provides user input to execute a shredding sequence. Or, the user may press another button that closes the lid, which in turn triggers a Hall Effect sensor 1334 to automatically initiate a shredding sequence. For example, a magnet may be attached to the lid, and when the lid is closed, the magnet approaches a Hall Effect sensor, which triggers a signal to the processor. A similar operation may occur during the composting process, such as, but not limited to, a situation where the compost chamber is pushed back into the main device body, which may be sensed by another Hall Effect sensor 1334, which then automatically initiates a computer program sequence that allows processed particles to be transferred to the compost chamber, thereby starting the next composting cycle.

[0178] The bio-interface circuit 1306 may also provide status signals to certain components located outside the main device housing, such as an LED 1340 and / or a speaker 1344, to notify the user of status identifiers indicative of the operational status of the composting device. For example, status identifiers may be used to indicate when a particular tank, such as a water tank or liquid tank, is full, when a composting cycle has completed, when a pretreatment cycle has completed, when a clog has occurred, whether the composting device is connected to a Wi-Fi, smartphone, or LTE network, and when other error modes, such as when undesirable composting conditions are detected.

[0179] 14A and 14B, a process flow diagram illustrating a method 1400A for producing compost according to an exemplary embodiment is shown. Use of method 1400 depends on the configuration of the composting apparatus. In this embodiment, multiple compost chambers can be arranged within the composting apparatus. At 1401, waste is input into the composting apparatus. At 1402, a volume of solid waste can be crushed, ground, or pulverized to reduce the size of individual particles within the volume of solid waste. At 1403, the crushed waste can be dewatered.

[0180] In at least one embodiment, a dewatering step 1403 can optionally be performed, in which liquid molecules surrounding the food waste particles are mechanically removed by squeezing, tumbling, or centrifuging, thereby reducing the bulk moisture content. Optionally, dewatering can be applied during the grinding step, in which the ground food waste particles are squeezed as they are ground and crushed. Optionally, the greywater output from the dewatering step 1403 can be passed through a filter, such as a perforated metal mesh. The water removed by the filter can flow into and be stored in a liquid tank assembly. The liquid tank assembly can include a combination of a water tank and a liquid tank.

[0181] At 1404, the ground waste can enter the appropriate composting chamber. In at least one embodiment, a processor can be used to determine which of the multiple chambers is most suitable for the input waste. Alternatively, a user can select a chamber by directly moving an object, such as a dam, or by using a control element to move the dam, and then direct the compost to the chamber selected by the user. For example, in one example, a user inputs waste into the composting device, and once the input waste is ground up, the processor determines and routes the waste to the first chamber for composting. If the user subsequently inputs waste into the composting device again, the processor determines and routes the waste to the second chamber. The processor's selection criteria can be based on reasons including, but not limited to, at least one of the multiple chambers being full, at least one of the multiple chambers being unable to accept additional waste, at least one of the multiple chambers being in an inoperable state, at least one of the multiple chambers being currently in use, at least one of the multiple chambers being in the middle of a composting sequence, and any other reason that may improve the efficiency of the composting device. For example, in one embodiment, the multiple chambers can operate in an offset cycle. Thus, when the first chamber begins the composting stage, the processor may determine to begin collecting input waste for the next composting chamber. In one embodiment, there can be one chamber for each stage of the composting process, including but not limited to pre-composting 1405, composting 1406, and waste output 1407.

[0182] Referring to Figure 14B, a process flow diagram illustrating method 1400B of producing compost according to another exemplary embodiment is shown. The use of method 1500 depends on the configuration of the composting apparatus. In method 1500, waste may be introduced into the first chamber at 1404A or into the second chamber at 1404B for one of the reasons described above. Subsequent steps of method 1500 may be performed independently in each chamber. In 1405A and 1405B, input waste may be pretreated. In 1407A and 1407B, output compost is produced. The steps of method 1500 may be performed as described herein.

[0183] The cycle times for each of the multiple chambers may be offset to improve efficiency. In at least one embodiment, the cycle times may include an input storage cycle time, a pre-treatment processing cycle time, a post-treatment storage cycle time, a composting cycle time, and a post-composting storage cycle time, with these cycle times occurring in a given order. In some cases, one of these cycles may be optional. For example, depositing a certain amount of waste at 1401 may occur multiple times per day. Depending on the capacity of a given chamber of the composting device, a user can deposit any amount of input waste at any time, up to a certain limit. For example, a user may deposit banana peels first, followed three hours later by rice, and then two hours later by broccoli stalks. Thus, a user does not need to batch collect waste to create large deposits in the composting device. Rather, a user can deposit even small amounts of input waste if desired.

[0184] The pretreated waste may be converted to compost at 1406A and 1407B. At 1407A and 1407B, the composted material may be provided as a batch of output compost for each chamber. Alternatively, composted material from multiple chambers may be collected as intermediate compost, which is then collected through successive composting cycles to produce batches of output compost that are provided once per batch period.

[0185] Referring to FIG. 15, a process flow diagram illustrating a method 1500 for generating compost according to an exemplary embodiment is shown. At 1501, a user may generate a quantity of food waste. For example, the user may generate food scraps during meal preparation, meal leftovers, beverage leftovers, gardening, or other forms of organic matter. The user may collect the scraps in a collection container. At 1502, the user may transfer the collected quantity of food waste to a hopper of a composting device. Alternatively, the user may directly dump the scraps into the hopper of the composting device. At 1503, the device may process and transfer the food waste in the hopper. A processor or user may determine which of multiple chambers the food waste should go into based on given criteria, as described above. At 1504, the device transfers the processed food waste to one of multiple composting chambers and begins composting. Meanwhile, the user may collect more food waste and transfer it to the hopper. The processor may determine which of multiple chambers a second quantity of food waste should go into. For example, if the first chamber is full, the composting apparatus may push the food waste into the next chamber at 1506. The various composting cycles described above are performed in the various chambers. Once the composting cycle in a given chamber is complete, the user may retrieve the output compost from that given chamber.

[0186] Referring to FIG. 16, a plan view of a block diagram of a composting apparatus 1600 according to another exemplary embodiment is shown. In this embodiment, the composting apparatus 1600 comprises a main device body 1606. The composting apparatus 1600 further comprises a first compost chamber cavity disposed within the main device body 1606; a first compost chamber 1610A for composting waste (the first compost chamber is disposed within the first compost chamber cavity); a second compost chamber cavity disposed within the main device body adjacent to the first compost chamber cavity; and a second compost chamber 1610B for composting waste (the second compost chamber is disposed within the second compost chamber cavity). The composting apparatus 1600 further comprises a grinding assembly 1604. For example, as food waste passes through the grinding assembly 1604, the food waste is crushed, pulverized, cut, and ground. The volume reduction step ensures an overall reduction in volume, an increase in bulk density, and a reduction in individual particle size.

[0187] Referring to FIG. 17, a front view of a block diagram of a composting apparatus 1600 is shown. In this embodiment, the composting apparatus includes a dam assembly having a dam 1702 (see FIG. 18) that is movable between a first position 1702A and a second position 1702B. The first position 1702A of the dam 1702 covers the first compost chamber 1610A, and the second position 1702B of the dam 1702 covers the second compost chamber 1610B. A processor is communicatively coupled to an actuator connected to the dam 1702 and can actuate the dam 1702 between the first position 1702A and the second position 1702B. Alternatively, a user can manually move the dam 1702 between these positions or can interact with a control element, such as a switch, that activates the actuator to move the dam 1702.

[0188] The processor can be used to determine which of the multiple chambers is best suited for the input waste and to operate the dam 1702 between the first and second positions accordingly. For example, in one example, a user may input waste into the composting apparatus 1600, and once the input waste is ground, the processor may determine and send the waste to the first composting chamber 1610A for composting. In this case, the processor can control an actuator (not shown) to operate the dam 1702 to move to the second position 1702B, preventing the compost from entering the second chamber 1610B. If the user subsequently inputs waste into the composting apparatus 1600 again, the waste will be directed to the second chamber 1610B due to the position of the dam 1702. In this case, the processor can control the actuator to operate the dam 1702 to move to the first position 1702A, preventing the compost from entering the first chamber 1610A. The processor's selection criteria may be based on reasons including, but not limited to, the following: At least one of the plurality of chambers is full, at least one of the plurality of chambers is in a state where it cannot accept further waste, at least one of the plurality of chambers is in an inoperable state, at least one of the plurality of chambers is currently in use, at least one of the plurality of chambers is in the middle of a composting sequence, and any other reason that may improve the efficiency of the composting device.

[0189] In one example, one of chambers 1610A and 1610B is in a pre-composting cycle and available to collect new food waste, while the other of chambers 1610A and 1610B is in a composting cycle, composting previously collected food waste, and is unable to accept additional waste. Once the chamber with the composted food waste is removed and emptied, roles can be swapped between multiple compost chambers. This process can be repeated as long as there is waste requiring composting. One chamber can be used to collect new food waste, while the second chamber processes previously collected food waste. The roles can be reversed once the second chamber has emptied its collected compost and is ready to accept new food waste.

[0190] Food waste can be added at any time and collected in a chamber with access opened for collection by dam 1702. Composting of previously collected food waste can occur in a chamber blocked by dam 1702. Dam 1702 can divert flow directly to a second chamber instead of passing through the first, allowing multiple compost chambers to alternately function as both pre-treatment and compost chambers depending on a given chamber's position in the composting cycle.

[0191] The dam assembly 1702 may include a rigid sheet sized to fit over the input inlet of each of the multiple compost chambers and configured to block the inlet of the compost chamber when it is moved by an actuator controlled by the processor. The sheet may be made of plastic or other suitable material.

[0192] In at least one embodiment, the dam 1702 can be activated by an actuator controlled by a user-operable switch, allowing the user to select which compartment the food waste enters and shut off the remaining compost compartments.

[0193] In another embodiment, the dam 1702 can be biased always closed and can be opened under the control of a processor or user switch. In such an embodiment, the first and second compost chambers 1610A and 1610B are covered by individually controllable elements of the dam assembly. For example, the dam assembly can include a gate for each compost chamber 1610A and 1610B that is movable between an open position and a closed position. The open position of the gate can expose an entrance to one of the multiple compost chambers. The closed position of the gate can cover an entrance to one of the multiple compost chambers. The processor is communicatively coupled to an actuator connected to the gate and can actuate the gate between the open and closed positions.

[0194] The composting apparatus 1600 may further include a liquid chamber or liquid tank assembly 1710 for collecting liquid. In at least one embodiment, a dewatering step can be optionally performed, in which liquid molecules surrounding the food waste particles are mechanically removed by squeezing, tumbling, or centrifugation, thereby reducing the bulk moisture content. The removed liquid (e.g., graywater) follows a flow path to the liquid tank assembly 1710. Optionally, a dewatering treatment can be applied during the grinding step, in which the ground food waste particles are squeezed as they are ground and crushed. Optionally, the graywater discharged from the dewatering step can be passed through a filter, such as a metal mesh. The filtered graywater can flow into the liquid tank assembly 1710 for storage. The liquid tank assembly 1710 can include a combination of a water tank for storing clean water and a liquid tank for storing graywater.

[0195] Referring to FIG. 18, there is shown a side view of a block diagram of a composting apparatus 1600 including the previously described elements of FIGS. 16-17 as well as a first motor 1704 and a second motor 1706.

[0196] The first motor 1704 can be removably coupled to a pre-treatment device (not shown) and can be used to crush, squeeze to reduce volume, centrifuge for dewatering, or any operable combination thereof during pre-treatment. The pre-treatment device can be removed for cleaning. For example, in at least one embodiment, the pre-treatment device can be the grinding assembly 1604 or the dewatering mechanism, and the motor 1704 is coupled to the grinding assembly 1604 or the dewatering mechanism. The accumulated food waste can be pre-treated by the grinding assembly 1604 through operation of the motor 1704, generating pre-treated particles. After pre-treatment, the pre-treated particles can be moved to one of the multiple compost chambers 1610 using a dam assembly and a movable dam 1702. The multiple compost chambers 1610 can be coupled to a second motor 1706. In at least one embodiment, the motor 1706 can be coupled to an impeller or ribbon mixer within the compost chamber, as described in one or more previous embodiments described herein. For example, the drive shaft may be configured to connect a single motor shaft with multiple impellers.

[0197] In at least one embodiment, the composting apparatus 1600 may optionally include a liquid tank assembly 1710 for storing liquid or graywater. For example, in embodiments in which dewatering is performed, as the shredded food waste is dewatered, liquid is produced during dewatering and flows into the liquid tank assembly 1710. This liquid may be referred to as liquid compost (also called compost tea). This liquid may be stored in the liquid tank assembly 1710 to be converted into liquid compost or compost tea, or may be periodically discarded by the user.

[0198] Referring to FIG. 19A, a plan view of a block diagram of a composting apparatus according to another exemplary embodiment is shown. From the plan view, a removable lid 1902 covers at least a portion of a hopper assembly 1906, which includes at least one hopper 1908. The hopper assembly 1906 and / or the hopper 1908 may be removable. In such an embodiment, food waste may be collected in the hopper (which may also be referred to as an input compartment or input storage compartment). A human-machine interface (HMI) 1904 may be user-accessible from the top of the composting apparatus. In another embodiment, the HMI 1904 may be accessible on a side panel of the compost chamber and / or via an external mobile device.

[0199] Referring to FIG. 19B, a block diagram of a hopper assembly 1906 is shown according to an exemplary embodiment. The hopper assembly 1906 includes a hopper 1908 that receives organic waste at a first end and a shredding assembly 1910 at a second end opposite the first end. As food waste collects in the hopper 1908, it reaches the shredding assembly 1910, where the food waste is shredded into smaller particle sizes. In at least one embodiment, the shredding assembly 1910 may include rotating blades, a grinder, a masher, a crusher, or any other suitable means for reducing the particle size and volume of the food waste. Reducing the volume of the food waste may include crushing, grinding, grinding, or mulching the volume of solid waste to reduce the size of individual particles within the volume of solid waste. After the food waste undergoes particle size reduction by the shredding assembly 1910, the processed food waste can flow into a dewatering assembly. In at least one embodiment, the dewatering assembly may include a perforated metal mesh. In at least one embodiment, a dewatering step may optionally be performed, in which liquid molecules surrounding the food waste particles are mechanically removed by squeezing, tumbling, or centrifugation, thereby reducing the bulk moisture content. Optionally, a dewatering step may be applied during the grinding step, in which the ground food waste particles are squeezed to lock out liquid as they are ground and crushed. Optionally, graywater output from the dewatering step via the dewatering assembly 1912 flows through a filter, such as a perforated metal mesh. The filtered water may flow into a liquid tank assembly 1914 for storage. The liquid tank assembly 1710 may include a combination of a water tank 1916 for storing clean water and a liquid tank 1914 for storing graywater.

[0200] The hopper assembly 1906 may further comprise a solids drop zone 1918. Once the liquid molecules around the food waste particles are mechanically removed, the solid particles fall into the solids drop zone 1918. The solids drop zone 1918 may optionally be connected to the dam assembly 1702 to prevent the solids from entering a particular compost chamber prematurely, as previously described.

[0201] 20A and 20B, a block diagram 2000 of a mesh strainer 2002 according to an exemplary embodiment is shown in an open state in FIG. 20A , and a block diagram 2000B of the mesh strainer 2002 in a closed state is shown in FIG. 20B . The mesh strainer 2002 (also called a mesh filter) can be a strainer used to separate liquids and solids. For example, the mesh filter 2002 can be made from stainless steel or non-stick perforated plastic. In either case, solids cannot pass through the mesh filter 2002, but liquids can pass through due to centrifugal force at high rpm. Dewatering, unlike drying using heat, occurs when solids and liquids separate. This can occur in a dewatering zone 2004, such as that shown in FIGS. 20A and 20B . Therefore, dewatering with the mesh strainer 2002 can be more energy efficient. The mesh strainer 2002 is sometimes referred to as a foldable mesh strainer because it has two states: it can be folded into a closed state (FIG. 20B) and deployed into an open state (FIG. 20A). This allows the mesh strainer 2002 to avoid clogging issues with solid waste. During operation, the mesh strainer 2002 is rotated by a motor (not shown) coupled to the shaft 2006 and the mesh frame 2008, allowing it to fold and deploy. In the operating state, the mesh strainer 2002 is in an open state, collecting solids on its inner surface. When food waste processing is complete, rotation stops, the mesh strainer 2002 closes, and the solids fall into one of the lower chambers not currently blocked by a dam (not shown). The dam can direct the solids to one of the composting chambers (not shown) for collection of new food waste, as described above. Other chambers where composting is in progress can be blocked from receiving new food waste solids by a dam. The liquid from the separation stage can be directed to a liquid chamber (not shown) where it is stored until disposed of by the user.

[0202] 21 , a side view of a block diagram of a composting apparatus 2100 according to another exemplary embodiment is shown. The composting apparatus 2100 may include a hopper assembly 2116, a dam assembly 2118, a lid 2122, and a liquid tank 2124 (also referred to as a liquid chamber or liquid container), as previously described. The composting apparatus 2100 may further include at least one air inlet 2102 with a first electronic assembly 1 2104A and a second electronic assembly 2 2104B. The second electronic assembly 2 2104B may be optional, as it may include components used to provide additional heating to the compost chamber 2106, which may not be necessary in some cases. The electronic assembly 2104 includes electrical and electronic components, including, but not limited to, electric motors, heaters, fans, pumps, sensors, LEDs and / or lamps, or any operable combination thereof. The sensors may include at least one temperature sensor, at least one moisture sensor, at least one oxygen sensor, at least one load sensor, at least one position sensor, at least one level sensor, at least one image sensor, or any operable combination thereof. The fluid components include, but are not limited to, at least one nozzle, tubing, fittings, at least one spray, at least one atomizer, filter, valve, at least one aerator, at least one reservoir, or any operable combination thereof.

[0203] Air flow from the air inlet 2102 enters the main device body and multiple compost chambers 2106. The air inlet 2102 allows for a constant airflow to properly ventilate the compost in a given compost chamber 2106, keeping the temperature and humidity controlled. In at least one embodiment, the use of ventilation (e.g., airflow provided by a fan) during maturation can produce higher quality compost.

[0204] The composting apparatus 2100 includes at least one air outlet, which may include an exhaust fan 2112. Airflow from the air outlet allows air to flow from the multiple compost chambers 2106 out of the main device body. An air outlet (not shown) allows stagnant air to exit the compost chambers 2106. Air exiting the compost chamber 2106 may first pass through an air filter assembly 2110, which may reduce odors in the air exiting the compost chamber 2106, thereby ensuring that this air remains as odor-free as possible. In at least one embodiment, the exit airflow may be provided by a fan 2112.

[0205] In various embodiments described herein, providing a continuous positive airflow has multiple purposes depending on the particular embodiment of the composting apparatus 2100 described herein, including but not limited to: 1) supplying oxygen for aerobic composting, 2) removing excess water from dewatered pieces, 3) removing odors and transporting odorous particles through the air filtration process, and / or 4) transporting generated ozone for odor reduction and compost maturation. The velocity of the airflow may depend on the internal structure of the airflow path.

[0206] Referring now to Figure 22, a rear view of the block diagram 2100 of the composting apparatus 2100 of Figure 21 is shown, which includes the previously described elements of Figure 21 as well as an air outlet 2114. Figure 22 shows the air inlet 2102 and air outlet 2114 for the composting device body. As shown, the air inlet 2102 is located generally at the top of the composting apparatus 2100, and the air outlet 2104 is positioned below the air inlet 2101. The air outlet 2104 is positioned generally at the bottom of the composting apparatus 2100.

[0207] Referring now to FIG. 23, a front view of the block diagram 2100 of the composting apparatus 2100 of FIG. 21 is shown, including the previously described elements of FIGS. 21 and 22 as well as an HMI 2120. In this embodiment, the composting apparatus 2100 includes a main device body. A hopper assembly 2116, which may be removable, includes a hopper for receiving food waste. The hopper assembly 2116 may be coupled to a dam assembly 2118 such that as processed food particles are discharged from the hopper assembly 2116, the food particles may be fed to the dam assembly 2118. The dam assembly 2118 includes a movable dam that is movable between multiple positions to prevent solid particles from prematurely entering one or more of the compost chambers 2106. The dam assembly 2118 may be implemented as described for the composting apparatus 2100.

[0208] The composting apparatus 2100 further includes first and second compost chamber cavities (not shown) and first and second compost chambers 2106A, 2106B, as described with respect to the composting apparatus 2100. However, in this embodiment, the multiple compost chambers 2106 may be removable for emptying them after compost has been generated and for cleaning them as needed. The composting apparatus 2100 may further include a human-machine interface 2120 (HMI), such as a user-accessible HMI. In such an embodiment, the HMI 2120 is accessible on an exterior panel (not shown) of the composting apparatus 2100 or on an interior panel (not shown) adjacent the lid 2122 of the composting apparatus 2100. Optionally, or in addition, the HMI 2120 may be accessible via an external mobile device (not shown).

[0209] In another aspect, in at least one embodiment, a method and apparatus are provided for removing odors from the compost chamber and liquid chamber 2106, 2124 in accordance with the teachings herein. Typically, filters may be used to remove odors, but the filters can become saturated over time and require frequent replacement, which can be time-consuming and costly. Therefore, an odor removal method is provided that does not require frequent filter replacement.

[0210] Referring now to FIG. 24A, a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of an odor removal system 2400A is shown, which is applicable to at least one of the composting apparatus embodiments described herein and includes, in addition to the elements previously described in FIGS. 21 through 23, an ozone removal zone 2402, an air filtration zone 2404, an ozone generation zone 2406, an ozone lamp 2408, a filter 2414, an air filter inlet 2410, and an ultraviolet lamp 2412. The lamps may be any suitable light source capable of generating light of the desired wavelengths described below. Air enters the odor removal system 2400 via an air inlet 2102. The air is then redirected into a hopper assembly 2116 and directed toward multiple composting chambers 2106 and a liquid tank 2124, each containing odor-causing solids and liquids. Thus, the air coming from the multiple composting chambers and the liquid tank 2124 may contain odors that need to be removed or significantly reduced. As such, odor-laden air travels along the airflow path to odor removal system 2400. Odor removal system 2400 may include an ozone generation zone 2402, an air filtration zone 2404, and an ozone removal zone 2406.

[0211] Ozone can be used to remove odors from the air. In this embodiment, ozone can be generated using an ozone lamp 2408. The ozone is generated from the ozone lamp 2408, which emits UV light with a wavelength of about 100 nm to about 240 nm. However, for more efficient ozone generation, it may be preferable to use UV-C light with a wavelength of about 185 nm. The power level of the emitted UV light can be about 0.1 W to about 10 W, depending on the application of the composting apparatus (e.g., residential or commercial). Ozone can also be used to decompose greenhouse gases, such as methane, that may be present in the air from the compost chamber. When air from the air filter inlet 2410 enters the ozone generation zone 2402, where the ozone concentration is high, odors from the air can be reduced. In at least one embodiment, the compost chamber 2106 is not directly exposed to UV light from the UV light source 2412, but rather is exposed to ozone mixed with the air.

[0212] Once the ozone-laden air leaves the ozone generation zone 2402, it reaches the air filtration zone 2404, which consists of a filter 2414. Types of filters that can be used include carbon filters. Carbon filters are filters containing granular activated carbon (GAC) that can be used to remove certain chemicals, particularly organic chemicals, from water. GAC filters can also be used to remove chemicals that give water an unpleasant odor or taste, such as hydrogen sulfide (the rotten egg smell) and chlorine gas. Carbon air filters can be effective at filtering out volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the air. These are gaseous substances that may not be effectively removed by most other mechanical filters, such as HEPA filters.

[0213] Finally, as the air still containing ozone exits the air filtration zone 2404, it is allowed to enter the ozone removal zone 2406. In the ozone removal zone 2406, the ozone generated in the air in the ozone generation zone 2402 is removed, as ozone can be harmful to humans and pets. Any excess ozone that may escape from the air filtration zone 2404 can be removed within the ozone removal zone 2406. In one embodiment, the ozone removal zone 2406 includes one or more ultraviolet C (UVC) lamps 2412 that emit UV light at a different wavelength compared to the wavelength used to generate ozone. Typically, UV light with a wavelength of approximately 254 nm can be effective at breaking down ozone. This 254 nm wavelength is typically produced by UV lamps 2412 because LEDs operate at a longer wavelength. This wavelength is also used for ozone destruction because it is more effective than UVC LEDs 2412. However, ozone is decomposed by UV light wavelengths between about 240 nm and about 315 nm, so a UV lamp or UVC LED 2412 can be used for ozone decomposition depending on the requirements of the composting apparatus 2100. The power level of the emitted UV light can be between about 0.1 W and about 20 W depending on the application of the composting apparatus 2100 (e.g., residential or commercial).

[0214] In at least one embodiment, the ozone removal zone 2402 may include a sterilization zone (not shown) for killing pathogens. For example, UV light may be incorporated to provide disinfection / sanitization. UV sterilization may be accomplished using UV light in a condenser (not shown) or, in embodiments without a condenser, using UV light in an air filter that may be positioned where a condenser would normally be located. In at least one embodiment, the UV light may also be located above the liquid tank 2124 to prevent odors and mold growth. UV LEDs may be used to extend lifespan. The UV light may preferably be sealed to prevent user access, which could damage the UV light. It is understood that various wavelengths of light may be used to achieve various functions. In one embodiment, other wavelengths of light may also be used. For example, a 275 nm wavelength may be used in the liquid chamber 2124 to prevent parasitic growth. UV light generates ozone, which can be used outside of the compost chamber 2106 to prevent pathogen growth. Tests can be performed to determine the required output power level of the emitted UV light, such as from about 0.1 W to about 20 W, depending on the application of the composting system (e.g., residential or commercial).

[0215] In at least one embodiment, an additional sterilization treatment may be performed at the end of the composting cycle, which may be accomplished by irradiating the compost with UV light from a UV LED or by exposing the compost to elevated temperatures of about 80-90° C. However, this treatment may not be necessary if pathogen levels in the composted material are low.

[0216] Typically, UV light at a wavelength of 254 nm is effective at destroying pathogens and other living organisms at a molecular level. This can be useful for preventing mold and other pathogens from forming in certain parts of the device. Because ozone at certain levels is harmful to pets and humans, the ozone removal zone 2402 can include multiple UV lamps 2412 to destroy excess ozone.

[0217] Thus, in such an embodiment, air from the air filter inlet 2410 passes through an ozone generation zone 2402 to remove odors, through an air filtration zone 2404 to further remove odors, and then through an ozone removal zone 2406 that removes ozone carried over from the ozone generation zone 2402. In at least one embodiment, the ozone removal zone 2406 may further comprise a sterilization zone that can kill pathogenic bacteria. Finally, the purified air is allowed to exit the system via an air outlet or exhaust fan.

[0218] Referring now to FIG. 24B, a block diagram of an odor removal system 2400B according to an exemplary embodiment is shown, which is applicable to at least one of the composting apparatus embodiments described herein and includes at least some of the aforementioned elements of FIGS. 21 through 23. Ambient air enters the main body through inlet fans 2102 located on both sides of the device body and flows directly into the composting chamber(s) 2106 (in the case of single and multiple compost chamber designs). The main exhaust fan 2112 can be turned on by a processor (not shown) to generate a positive outward airflow from within the device body to the surrounding environment when sensors (not shown) detect that certain conditions have been met. For example, at least one of the sensors described with reference to FIG. 13 can be used as an individual sensor or as a sensor module to simultaneously detect one or more conditions. These sensors may typically be located between the odor source and the odor removal zone (e.g., ozone generation zone and / or air filtration zone), and the monitored conditions may be based on physical conditions, such as, but not limited to, temperature, humidity, moisture content, gas pressure, gas resistivity, solids volume, solids weight, or any combination thereof, and / or chemical conditions, such as, but not limited to, gas composition and / or gas concentration. All exhaust airflow first passes through the air filtration zone 2404 before entering the exhaust fan module 2112 and exiting the device body of the system 2400B. The hopper assembly 2116 serves as an internal air circulation source. When the motor in the hopper assembly 2116 is turned on by the processor, airflow is generated toward both the compost chamber 2106 and the liquid chamber 2124. Ozone lamps 2408 are located within the ozone generation ozone 2402 at various locations in the system 2400B. The ozone lamp (2408) is turned on by the processor when the above-mentioned sensors detect that one or more conditions are met (e.g., one or more particular conditions occur) by comparing the measured values ​​with thresholds associated with those conditions (thresholds are empirically determined). Ozone flows into the compost and liquid chambers by gravity or air current. The ozone reacts with odors generated in the compost chamber 2106 and liquid chamber 2124.If excess ozone is generated (eg, ozone that does not completely react with odors), it reacts with the activated carbon 2414 in the air filtration zone 2410 and is consumed.

[0219] Referring now to Figure 25, a block diagram of an odor removal system 2500 according to another exemplary embodiment is shown, which includes at least some of the elements described above in Figures 21 through 24. In this embodiment, ozone is generated near the inlet of the airflow system. Thus, the generated ozone flows through various physical components starting with the hopper assembly 2116, through multiple compost chambers 2106, through the liquid tank 2124, where it is broken down into oxygen before exiting the air. In this embodiment, the ozone is beneficial to the composting process and also beneficial in reducing pathogen levels.

[0220] Air enters the system through air inlet 2102. The air is then exposed to ozone generation zone 2402. Ozone generation zone 2402 can include ozone lamps 2408 that generate ozone. As previously mentioned, UV-C light with a wavelength of approximately 185 nm can be used for more efficient ozone generation. In at least one embodiment, multiple light sources can be used to generate ozone. In at least one embodiment, ozone is generated outside of compost chamber 2106 and supplied to compost chamber 2106.

[0221] The ozone-laden air is directed into the hopper assembly 2116 and toward the odor-producing multiple compost chambers 2106 and liquid tank 2124. The air output from the multiple compost chambers 2106 and liquid tank 2124 may contain odors that need to be removed. Therefore, the odorous air is exposed to the ozone-laden air to reduce or remove the odor from the air. When the ozone-laden air from the ozone generation zone 2402 enters the composting chamber 2106 and liquid chamber 2124, odors from the composting chamber 2106 may be reduced or removed.

[0222] Finally, as the air exits the air filtration zone 2404, it follows a flow path and enters the ozone removal zone 2402. The ozone removal zone 2402 can be implemented as previously described. In at least one embodiment, the ozone removal zone 2402 can be located after the air inlet 2102 and before the exhaust fan 2112. This prevents unwanted ozone from escaping through the inlet 2104 or the exhaust fan 2112. The ozone removal zone 2402 includes multiple UV lamps 2412 to destroy excess ozone, as ozone at certain levels can be harmful to pets and humans. In one embodiment, other wavelengths of light can be used, for example, 275 nm can be used in the liquid chamber 2124 to prevent parasitic growth.

[0223] In at least one embodiment, the ozone removal zone 2402 can include a sterilization zone to destroy pathogens. For example, UV light can be included to provide disinfection / sanitization. UV sterilization can be performed using UV light in the condenser, or in embodiments without a condenser, using UV light in an air filter that can be positioned where the condenser would normally be located. In at least one embodiment, UV lights can be installed on top of the liquid tank to prevent odor and mold growth. The use of UV LEDs can extend their lifespan. It may be preferable to seal the UV lights to prevent user access, which could damage them. In at least one embodiment, additional sterilization can be performed at the end of the composting cycle, which can be achieved by irradiating the compost with UV light from a UV LED or by exposing the compost to elevated temperatures of approximately 80-90°C. UV light, typically at a wavelength of 254 nm, is effective at destroying pathogens and other life forms at the molecular level. This can be useful for preventing mold and other pathogens from forming in certain areas of the device. However, this may not be necessary if pathogen levels in the composted material are low.

[0224] Thus, in an embodiment similar to that shown in Figure 25, air entering through the air filter inlet 2410 passes through an ozone generation zone 2402 to be ozonated, through a composting assembly to remove odors, through an air filtration zone 2404 to further remove odors, and then through an ozone removal zone 2402 which removes the ozone carried by the ozone generation zone. The ozone removal zone 2402 may further comprise a sterilization zone capable of killing pathogenic bacteria. Finally, the purified air is allowed to exit the system via an air outlet (not shown) or exhaust fan 2112).

[0225] 26A-26D, a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a composting apparatus 2600 is shown, which has certain components / features applicable to at least one of the composting apparatus embodiments described herein (e.g., single and multiple compost chamber designs), including some of the elements previously described in FIGS. 21-25 , as well as an upper compartment 2602, a lower compartment 2604, a compost controller 2606, a chamber motor 2608, a heat blower 2610, a heating pad 2612, a waste processing unit 2614, and a state-of-health sensor 2616 (SOH). For example, the SOH sensor can be implemented using a sensor module with one or more sensors that can detect up to four different attributes (physical and chemical) of the air exiting the compost chamber to determine the health of the composting process. The SOH sensor can also be trained using a classification algorithm to determine gas composition and gas concentrations from native data readouts to assess the health of the composting process.

[0226] In this embodiment, the composting apparatus 2600 may be comprised of two compartments. The top compartment 2602 may be removable by the user and may be attached to the bottom compartment 2604. The top compartment 2602 contains a waste processing unit 2614 that shreds the food waste into small chunks and separates liquids and solids to prepare the food waste for further processing in the compost chamber 2106. When the top compartment 2602 is removed from the bottom compartment 2604, the user has access to the compost chamber 2106 and the liquid tank 2124 in the bottom compartment 2604.

[0227] The bottom compartment 2604 may include a composting device controller 2606 and a chamber motor 2608. The composting device controller 2606 contains electrical circuitry, such as a processor, and controls the operation of various elements within the composting device 2600. The chamber motor may include a food shredding motor (not shown) and two composting motors (not shown). The food shredding motor may, for example, rotate at a speed of about 3000 to about 4000 revolutions per minute (RPM) at full load (e.g., about 300 to about 500 watts (W)). The food shredding motor provides rotational power to certain processing components (e.g., blades) within the waste processing unit 2614, ensuring that food is properly ground for processing in the composting device 2600. Meanwhile, the composting motor may operate at a speed of, for example, about 1 to about 2.5 RPM. This ensures that the food in the composting chamber 2106 does not settle by mixing and aerating the stored food. The composting motor may be, for example, a Longway Motor (Part Number: 60KTYZ-038). The bottom compartment 2604 may be permanently attached to an electrical outlet via an AC cable and internal power unit (not shown) to provide electrical protection and power that allows the composting apparatus 2600 to operate in normal operating mode. Food processed by the food processing unit 2614 is directed into the composting chamber 2106 via a dam 2118.

[0228] The composting apparatus 2600 may further include two UV lamps 2412, as described above. The UV lamps 2412 may operate at wavelengths of, for example, approximately 254 nm and approximately 185 nm to prevent unwanted pathogen growth and reduce odors. The UV lamps 2412 maintain or restore the internal health of the composting apparatus 2600 by applying UV light at various locations within the liquid container and within the internal airflow path before the air reaches the internal air filter. In some embodiments, ozone is also applied to the air flowing through the internal airflow path. For example, internal health may be defined as reflecting the desired progression of the composting process by the microbial species within the system. For example, a typical desired progression is aerobic decomposition conditions with sufficient oxygen supply and controlled moisture levels. Gas emissions (including composition and concentration) are also indicators of internal health; anaerobic conditions result in high levels of methane and odorous gases, while high-temperature conditions (e.g., above 100°C) result in the production of volatile organic compounds. An overly humid system also produces acidic evaporants. These are examples of undesirable conditions that do not reflect a healthy composting process. Values ​​for determining whether these conditions exist may be empirically determined. The UV lamp 2412 can be activated by the composting controller 2606 if the internal health of the composting apparatus 2600 deteriorates, or generally periodically to maintain the health of the composting apparatus 2600. The health of the composting apparatus 2600 can be measured by the internal SOH 2616, as described above. To avoid unhealthy conditions, it is desirable to maintain certain operating / environmental conditions so that certain microbial species thrive to provide a healthy composting process. Certain operating parameters of the composting apparatus can be controlled to help maintain healthy conditions. For example, a UV lamp can be used to induce the system to operate back to a healthy state, or in some cases, it may be possible to completely sterilize the system and return it to a healthy state.

[0229] The SOH 2616 samples the internal air, which is directed to an internal air filter (not shown). The SOH 2616 monitors the internal health of the composting apparatus 2600, periodically measuring humidity, temperature, and gases generated during the decomposition of food waste. Using these measurements, the internal health of the composting apparatus 2616 can be determined by the composting controller 2606. For example, as previously described, both physical and chemical properties, such as air temperature, humidity, gas pressure, gas resistivity, gas composition, and gas concentration, can indicate a healthy state and distinguish it from an unhealthy state. For example, an unhealthy state occurs when the concentration of methane and / or acetic acid reaches a threshold value.

[0230] The composting controller 2606 is connected to sensors (not shown) located in the compost chamber 2106 and the liquid tank 2124 to determine the current fill rate. The fill rate is typically determined using weight or level sensors to avoid an overflow condition where the chamber is full but further input is added. In at least one embodiment, ultrasonic sensors can be used to measure both solid and liquid levels. These sensors measure the level, and a processor can determine the fill rate to determine when the compost chamber 2106 or liquid tank 2124 is nearly full, thereby notifying the user to stop adding more food waste and preventing overflow. The sensors can be, for example, TDK CH-101 sensors, although other sensors providing the same functionality and sensitivity can be used.

[0231] The composting apparatus 2600 may further include a hot air blower 2610 that blows hot air into the compost chamber(s) (e.g., in the case of a single or multiple compost chamber design) to remove excess moisture in the processed food and eliminate excess VOC production. For example, the hot air can prevent the hatching of flies and the development of other animals or fungi. In some embodiments, the hot air blower 2610 also promotes composting by supplying oxygen to the compost chamber 2106 (e.g., an inlet fan can be used to supply oxygen into the system from the ambient environment). The hot air blower 2610 is controlled by the composting controller 2606.

[0232] The composting apparatus 2600 further includes a heating pad 2612 below the compost chamber 2106 to increase the temperature within the compost chamber 2106. The increased temperature within the compost chamber 2106 promotes composting and prevents unwanted growth. In some embodiments, the heating pad 2162 may be fabricated using silicon. The heating pad 2612 is also controlled by the composting controller 2606.

[0233] Figure 26B shows the air and odor paths through the composter 2600. Each composting chamber 2106 is equipped with a hot air blower 2610 positioned near a portion (e.g., the front) of the composter 2600 to draw in outside air. The hot air blower 2610 blows hot air into the composting chamber 2106, which is directed through an air filter 2414, as indicated by the arrowed line. The air then passes through an exhaust fan and exits the composter 2600. The air filter 2414 processes and removes odors generated by the composted food waste.

[0234] In general, the odor control system of the composting apparatus 2600 includes dehydrating food waste to reduce moisture content at food intake; applying hot air to remove moisture in the pre-composting chamber; transferring heat throughout the composting chamber 2106, such as via a hot air blower 2610 and / or heating pad 2612; applying UV light via a UV lamp 2414 to liquid collected in the liquid container 2414 and outward air exiting the composting chamber 2106; and applying ozone throughout the process to maintain the internal health of the composting apparatus 2600. One or both of the hot air blower 2610 and heating pad 2612 may be optional in certain cases.

[0235] A simplified configuration of a composting apparatus 2600c according to an exemplary embodiment is shown in Figure 26C. The composting apparatus 2600c can handle food waste that is already in small chunks, such as used coffee grounds.

[0236] In this embodiment, the composting apparatus 2600c may not include the waste processing unit 2614, the liquid container 2114, the UV lamp 2412, the liquid and solid level sensors (not shown), or the dam 2118.

[0237] 26D shows a further simplified configuration of a composting apparatus 26007d according to an exemplary embodiment. In this embodiment, the composting apparatus may combine a top compartment 2602 and a bottom compartment 2604 into a single compartment, as shown. Because the top and bottom compartments are integrated, users do not need to remove the top to access the compost chamber. Instead, the compost chamber can be pulled out from the front or side of the system.

[0238] 27 is a composting apparatus schematic circuit diagram 2700 according to one embodiment, which may be applied to at least one of the composting apparatus embodiments described herein, and which includes at least some of the aforementioned elements of FIGS. 21-26, and further includes a safety disconnect 2702, a motor safety disconnect 2704, and an AC plug 2706. Schematic diagram 2700 illustrates generally how compost controller 2606 is generally connected to various electrical components within composting apparatus 2600.

[0239] For example, the compost controller 2606 may control the hot air blower 2610, the heating pad 2612, the UV lamps 2414, and the chamber motor 2608, as described above. The compost controller 2606 may be implemented based at least in part on the main electronic control system 1011 shown in Figure 13. The compost controller 2606 is configured to process multi-channel sensor data, schedule events based on RTOS sequences, and modulate actuator voltages in real time.

[0240] Referring now to FIG. 28, a top perspective view of a composting apparatus 2800 according to an exemplary embodiment is shown. The composting apparatus 2800 includes a lid 2802 and a hopper assembly 2804. A user can open the lid 2802 by using a switch (neither shown) connected to an actuator for moving the lid between an open and closed position. Thus, when the lid 2802 is open, the hopper assembly 2804 is exposed, allowing a user to insert food waste. The composting apparatus 2800 may further include a chamber door 2806 that provides access to the composting chambers 2808A and 2808B (see FIG. 29). This dual-chamber embodiment can be seen in FIG. 29, which provides a top perspective view of the composting apparatus 2800 with a portion of the door 2806 removed to reveal a portion of the interior of the apparatus 2800.

[0241] 30 and 31, a rear perspective view and a top front perspective view, respectively, of the composting apparatus 2800 are shown, illustrating the internal systems. The hopper assembly 2804 includes a hopper at a first end for receiving food waste and a shredding assembly 2812 at a second end opposite the first end. As food waste collects in the hopper, it reaches the shredding assembly 2812, where it is shredded, i.e., reduced in particle size. In at least one embodiment, the shredding assembly 2812 may include rotating blades, a grinder, a masher, a crusher, or any other suitable means for reducing the particle size and volume of the food waste. Once the food waste has been reduced in particle size by the shredding assembly 2812, the processed food waste can enter the dewatering assembly. In at least one embodiment, the dewatering assembly may include a perforated mesh strainer 2810.

[0242] The composting apparatus 2800 further includes a dam 2814 movable between multiple positions, such as a first position and a second position. The first position of the dam 2814 covers the first compost chamber 2808A, and the second position of the dam 2814 covers the second compost chamber 2808B. The processor is communicatively coupled to the actuator and is capable of actuating / moving the dam 2814 between the first and second positions. The dam 2814 can direct flow directly to the second compost chamber 2808B instead of having to pass through the first compost chamber 2808A, as multiple compost chambers can alternately function as pre-treatment chambers as well as compost chambers, as described with respect to previous embodiments.

[0243] Referring now to FIG. 32 , an enlarged rear perspective view of the bottom of the rear of the composting apparatus 2800 is shown, revealing the internal systems. The composting apparatus 2800 can optionally include an air outlet downstream of the exhaust fan 2818 at the bottom of the composting apparatus 2800. In at least one embodiment, the outlet airflow is provided by the fan 2818. The airflow from the air outlet directs air from the multiple composting chambers 2808A and 2808B out of the main device body. The air outlet allows stagnant air to exit the composting chambers 2808A and 2808B. The air exiting the composting chambers 2808A and 2808B can first be passed through an air filter assembly, as described with respect to previous embodiments, to ensure that the air exiting the composting chambers is as odor-free as possible. Alternatively, the composting apparatus 2800 can include one of the ozone-based odor removal systems described above.

[0244] Referring now to FIG. 33, a vertically stacked configuration of composting apparatus 3300 is shown, including a vertical composting chamber 3302. In this embodiment, the composting chamber 3302 can be inserted or removed vertically when the top of the apparatus 3300 is removed. This is in contrast to composting apparatus 2800, in which composting chambers 2808A and 2808B can be inserted or removed horizontally. The top 3301 can be removed, and multiple compost chambers 3302 and liquid chambers can then be inserted or removed vertically. This is because it may be easier for a user to remove compost chambers vertically when they become full and need to be emptied, rather than having to remove them horizontally. Like the composting apparatus 3200, the composting apparatus 3300 can include many additional components, such as, but not limited to, one of an odor removal system.

[0245] Referring now to Figure 34, a process flow diagram illustrating a method 3400 for producing compost according to an exemplary embodiment is shown. Use of method 3400 depends on the configuration of the composting apparatus. In this embodiment, method 3400 is applicable when multiple compost chambers are arranged within the composting apparatus. At 3401, waste is input into the composting apparatus. At 3402, a volume of solid input waste can be crushed to reduce the size of individual particles or pieces within the volume of solid waste. At 3403, the crushed waste can be dewatered.

[0246] In at least one embodiment, a dewatering step 3403 can optionally be performed, in which liquid molecules surrounding the food waste particles are mechanically removed by squeezing, tumbling, or centrifugation, thereby reducing the bulk moisture content. Optionally, dewatering can be applied during the grinding step, in which the ground food waste particles are squeezed as they are ground and crushed. Optionally, the greywater output from the dewatering step 3403 can be passed through a filter, such as a perforated metal mesh. The filtered water can flow into a liquid tank assembly and be stored. The liquid tank assembly can include a combination of a water tank and a liquid tank.

[0247] At 3404, the ground waste can enter the appropriate composting chamber. In at least one embodiment, the processor can be configured to determine which of multiple composting chambers is most suitable for the input waste. Alternatively, the user can select a chamber by directly moving an object, such as a dam, or by using a control element to move a dam to direct the compost to the chamber selected by the user. For example, in one example, a user can input waste into a composting device, and once the input waste is ground, the processor can determine and control one or more components of the composting device to send the waste to the first chamber for composting. If the user subsequently inputs waste into the composting device again, the processor can determine and send the waste to enter the second chamber. The processor's selection criteria can be based on one or more conditions, including, but not limited to, the following: The composting status may include at least one of the chambers being full, at least one of the chambers being unable to accept additional waste, at least one of the chambers being in an inoperable state, at least one of the chambers being currently in use, at least one of the chambers being in the middle of a composting sequence, and any other condition that may improve the efficiency of the composting apparatus. For example, in one embodiment, the chambers are operable in an offset composting cycle. Thus, when a first chamber begins a composting stage, the processor may determine to begin collecting input waste for the next composting chamber. In one embodiment, there may be one chamber for each stage of the composting process, including, but not limited to, pre-composting 3405, composting 3406, and waste output 3407. Once in the appropriate chamber at 3405, the waste is pre-composted in a controlled environment. Once pre-composting 3405 is complete, the waste may be composted in a controlled environment. At 3407, output composted waste may be generated.

[0248] Referring now to Figure 35, there is shown a plan view of a block diagram of a composting apparatus 3500 according to another exemplary embodiment. Figure 35 shows multiple composting chambers 3502 for storing pre-composted pieces and completing the composting process, and a liquid tank 3510 for storing liquid produced during dewatering. In this embodiment, the composting apparatus 3500 includes a main device body 3506. The composting apparatus 3500 further comprises a first compost chamber cavity disposed within the main device body 3506, a first compost chamber 3502A for composting waste (the first compost chamber 3502A is disposed within the first compost chamber cavity), a second compost chamber cavity disposed within the main device body 3506 adjacent to the first compost chamber cavity, and a second compost chamber 3502B for composting waste (the second compost chamber 3502B is disposed within the second compost chamber cavity). The composting apparatus 3600 may further comprise a shredding and dewatering assembly 3504. For example, as food waste passes through the shredding and dewatering assembly 3504, it is shredded, crushed, cut, or ground by the shredding assembly and dewatered by the dewatering assembly. The shredding step ensures a reduction in overall volume, an increase in bulk density, and a reduction in the size of individual particles.

[0249] In at least one embodiment, the composting apparatus 3500 can optionally include a liquid tank assembly 3510 for storing liquid or graywater. For example, in embodiments in which dewatering is performed, as the shredded food waste is dewatered, liquid is produced during the dewatering process and flows into the liquid tank assembly 3510. This liquid may be referred to as liquid compost (also known as compost tea). This liquid may be stored in the liquid tank assembly 3510 for conversion into liquid compost or compost tea, or may be periodically discarded by the user.

[0250] Referring now to Figure 36A, there is shown a front view of the block diagram of the composting apparatus of Figure 35. In this embodiment, the composting apparatus 3500 further comprises a liquid diversion assembly 3708. In one embodiment, the liquid diversion assembly 3708 can be positioned above the liquid tank 3510. Once the liquid from the input waste has been dewatered by the shredding and dewatering assembly 3504, the liquid diversion assembly can divert the liquid into the liquid tank 3510. For example, the liquid diversion assembly can be a dam assembly or can have a flushing mechanism similar to, for example, a toilet.

[0251] Figure 36B shows a rear view of the block diagram of the composting apparatus of Figure 35. The composting apparatus 3500 includes multiple compost chambers 3510. In this embodiment, the composting apparatus 3500 includes a solid-state redirection assembly 3706. The solid-state redirection assembly 3706 includes a dam assembly having a dam 1702 (see Figure 18) that is movable between a first position 3702A and a second position 3702B. The first position 3702A of the dam covers the first compost chamber 3510A, and the second position 3702B of the dam covers the second compost chamber 3510B. A processor may be communicatively coupled to an actuator connected to the solid-state redirection assembly 3706 to actuate the dam between the first position 3702A and the second position 3702B. Alternatively, a user may manually move the dam between these positions or may interact with a control element, such as a switch, to activate the actuator to move the dam.

[0252] Referring now to FIG. 37, a side view of the block diagram of the composting apparatus 3500 of FIG. 35 is shown, illustrating the first motor 3708, second motor 3714, and air filter assembly 3702 included in the composting apparatus 3500, in addition to the previously described elements of FIGS. 35, 36A, and 36B.

[0253] The first motor 3708 can be removably coupled to a pre-treatment device (not shown) and can be used for pre-treatment, such as crushing, squeezing for volume reduction, centrifuging for dewatering, or any operable combination thereof. The pre-treatment device can be removed for cleaning. For example, in at least one embodiment, the pre-treatment device can be the crushing and dewatering assembly 3504, and the motor 3708 is coupled to the crushing and dewatering assembly 3504. The accumulated food waste is pre-treated by the crushing and dewatering assembly 3504 through actuation by the motor 3708, producing pre-treated particles. After pre-treatment, the pre-treated particles can be transferred to one of multiple compost chambers 3710 using a solid direction diverter assembly and a movable dam. The multiple compost chambers 3710 can be coupled to a second motor 3714. In at least one embodiment, the motor 3714 can be coupled to an impeller or ribbon mixer within the compost chamber. For example, the drive shaft can be configured to connect multiple impellers with a single motor shaft. The air filter assembly 3702 may include an air filter that filters the air within the compost chamber 3710. In at least one embodiment, the motor (and other components such as pad heaters, PTC heaters, sensors, etc.) may be located within the compost chamber and connected to the main device (e.g., the device housing and non-removable components) via an electrical coupler.

[0254] Referring now to FIG. 38, a process flow diagram illustrating a method for pre-treating food waste according to an exemplary embodiment is shown. After food waste is pre-treated, it is diverted to a composting chamber for pre-composting. The purpose of pre-treatment is to control the size and moisture content of the food waste to improve the efficiency and quality of pre-composting and composting. In a first step 3801, food and organic waste is input into the system. At this stage, the input waste is untreated, and therefore its moisture content and size may be unpredictable and uncontrollable. Once the untreated waste is input into the composting device, a shredding assembly breaks down the input waste by cutting or shredding in step 3802. In one example, the input waste can be shredded multiple times within a short period of time by a set of choppers (e.g., a chopper assembly) described below. Smaller-sized organic waste particles can be forced out of the shredding assembly and automatically fed to a dewatering assembly, while larger-sized organic waste particles can be recirculated within the shredding system until no large pieces remain in the shredding assembly. For example, this may be achieved by performing a cutting action in a vortex particle stream at RPMs such as about 500 to about 1000. In the next stage, step 3803, the size-reduced organic waste particles enter a dewatering assembly, where the moisture content of the organic waste particles is reduced and controlled within a specified range. The sediment collected during the dewatering step is filtered in step 3804. The filtered liquid can optionally be diverted by a liquid redirection assembly to a liquid tank in step 3806. After the dewatering and liquid redirection steps, the pretreatment stage is complete, and the food waste is considered pretreated waste in step 3805. The pretreated waste may meet any pretreatment requirements and may be suitable for pre-composting.

[0255] Referring now to FIG. 39 , a block diagram of a shredding assembly 3900 according to an exemplary embodiment is shown. In this embodiment, the shredding assembly 3900 includes a lid 3904, a hopper 3906, a set of choppers 3908, and a bottom plate 3910. The hopper 3906 can be a container having at least one opening (e.g., a first opening) on ​​the top side for receiving input waste and at least one opening (e.g., a second opening) on ​​the bottom side for outputting shredded waste particles. Because the intended use of the hopper 3906 is to contain food waste, the hopper has a sufficient capacity to accommodate a specified amount of organic waste and is designed to allow circulation of the organic waste (see arrow 3908) during shredding. The top opening of the hopper 3906 is sealed by a removable lid 3904, which can be controlled to allow access to the hopper 3906. Lid 3904 can be opened manually or automatically (e.g., by activating a motion sensor or a switch) to input food waste into hopper 3906. During the chopping stage, lid 3904 closes manually or automatically to seal the top opening of hopper 3906 and prevent organic waste from being released (e.g., exiting / discharged) through the top opening of hopper 3906. Base plate 3910 can be positioned on the main shaft to prevent particles from getting stuck between base plate 3910 and chopper 3908, but is not necessarily fixed to the main shaft. In one exemplary embodiment, base plate 3910 can rotate by friction at a speed between about 0 rpm and about the blade rpm.

[0256] The shredding assembly 3900 may further include a chopper set (hereinafter also referred to as a "chopper set") disposed within the hopper 3906. The chopper set may include one or more cutters, rotating blades, cutting disks, or combinations thereof. The chopper may be configured to shred, cut, crush, or grind the organic waste and divide it into multiple pieces or small pieces. The chopper may also be configured to reduce the particle size of the pieces or small pieces. In one embodiment, the chopper set 3908 may be disposed at the bottom of the hopper 3906. In another embodiment, the chopper set may be disposed at the top or sidewall of the hopper 3906. In an embodiment, the shredding assembly 3900 may include multiple chopper sets 3908. In this embodiment, each of the chopper sets may be disposed at a different position within the hopper 3906 to achieve uniform circulation 3908 and faster shredding.

[0257] The shredding assembly 3900 may further include a bottom plate 3910 positioned inside the hopper 3906. The bottom opening of the hopper 3906 is sealed by the bottom plate 3910, which may be structured and / or controlled to prevent small pieces of organic waste from falling out of the shredding assembly before shredding is complete. The bottom plate 3910 may be designed to seal the bottom opening of the hopper 3906. In combination with the lid 3904 and bottom plate 3910, the hopper 3906 forms a semi-enclosed environment with the only exit being the gap between the bottom opening and the bottom of the hopper. The bottom gap may have a radial opening angle of about 1 degree to about 360 degrees. Multiple openings may be provided to direct the flow of particles discharged from the hopper 3906. The bottom plate may further comprise a mesh grid with a plurality of openings sized to allow small organic waste particles to fall through and block larger sized particles 3908 that are recirculated in the hopper 3906. The grid may optionally be interchangeable to allow or block different particle sizes.

[0258] Referring now to FIG. 40 , a block diagram of a dehydration assembly 4000 is shown in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. The dehydration assembly 4000 includes two subsystems, including a filter mesh assembly 4004 and a mesh wiper assembly 4002. The filter mesh assembly 4004 can be a cylindrical drum with through-holes or perforations disposed on a curved surface of the cylindrical drum. The mesh can be provided with perforations or holes ranging in size from about 0.5 mm to about 20 mm. The mesh wiper assembly 4002 can include at least one wiper 4002, or optionally, multiple wipers 4002A-4002D disposed near or in contact with the mesh assembly 4004. In at least one embodiment, the wiper assembly 4002 can include a set of rubber or silicone tips on 4002A, 4002B, 4002C, and 4002D to reliably push out any broken food particles adhering to the inner wall of the filter mesh. The filter mesh assembly 4004 may further include a plate 4008, which may be a flat disk placed in the bottom opening of the cylindrical drum. The plate 4008 may have a plurality of small openings or holes. The plate may be a rasp plate or a grinding plate. The plate 4008 may be used to chop the food waste into smaller pieces and to push the food waste out and feed it into the dehydration system.

[0259] The filter mesh assembly 4004 and the mesh wiper assembly 4002 can be coupled to a motor 4006 that can be configured to rotate the assemblies. In at least one embodiment, the filter mesh assembly 4004 and the mesh wiper assembly 4002 can be rotatable independently of one another, and their axes of rotation can be concentrically arranged.

[0260] During the dewatering step, the shredded waste particles enter the dewatering system 4000. During the dewatering stage, the mesh filter 4004 and the wiper assembly 4002 can rotate, for example, at the same angular velocity as each other. As a result, the shredded waste particles are captured on the inner walls of the mesh filter 4004, and the input moisture passes through the holes in the mesh filter 4004 and exits the dewatering system 4000. The longer the assembly rotates with the shredded waste particles, the more liquid is filtered out, and the moisture of the waste particles decreases over time. The dewatering step can sufficiently reduce the moisture, for example, to a level less than about 50%. The shredded particles after the dewatering step are sometimes referred to as pretreated compost.

[0261] In at least one embodiment, the dewatering assembly 4000 may have a self-cleaning function or phase. During the cleaning phase (also referred to as the cleaning stage), the filter mesh assembly 4004 and the wiper assembly 4002 rotate at different angular velocities, creating relative motion between the two subsystems. As a result, any remaining crushed particles on the inner walls of the filter mesh may be wiped away. Pretreated compost waste may be discharged from the dewatering system through designated channels and automatically fed to the next set of assemblies. Meanwhile, the filter mesh is cleaned and ready for dewatering the next batch of crushed particles. Figures 41 and 42 show top and side schematic views of the crushing assembly 3900 and dewatering assembly 4000 of the composting apparatus, including the elements described above in Figures 39, 40, and 41, as well as a shaft 4202 connectable to a motor 4006.

[0262] 43, a process flow diagram illustrating a method 4300 of separating the crushing assembly and the dewatering assembly according to an illustrative embodiment is provided. In some cases, it may be advantageous to remove and separate the crushing assembly and the dewatering assembly, for example, for cleaning, storage, or maintenance. The crushing and dewatering assembly can be separated from the composter by opening the lid in step 4301, removing the hopper assembly in step 4302, unlocking the rotating shaft in step 4303, pulling the crushing and dewatering assembly up in step 4304, and separating the crushing and dewatering assembly from the composter body in step 4405.

[0263] 44 provides a process flow diagram illustrating a method 4400 of installing a crushing and dewatering system according to an exemplary embodiment. For example, it may be advantageous or necessary to install the crushing and dewatering assembly after removing it for cleaning, storage, or maintenance. The crushing and dewatering assembly may be installed in the composter by opening the lid in step 4401, replacing the hopper in step 4302, sliding the crushing and dewatering assembly down the shaft in step 4403, securing the crushing and dewatering assembly to the rotating shaft in step 4304, and thus installing the crushing and dewatering assembly in the composter body in step 4405.

[0264] 45A provides a process flow diagram illustrating a method 4500a for pre-treating organic waste according to another exemplary embodiment. Method 4500a may include the following steps: in step 4501, inputting waste into a composting apparatus; in step 4502, shredding or cutting the input waste to reduce the size of individual particles or pieces within the volume of solid waste; smaller-sized organic waste particles may be pushed out of the shredding assembly while larger-sized organic waste particles may be recirculated within the shredding system until the large particle size is reduced relative to the remaining pieces; and in step 4503, receiving the pre-treated pieces.

[0265] FIG. 45B provides a block diagram 4500b illustrating a method for diverting preprocessed food waste to the appropriate chamber of a composting device. When organic waste is received, a compost chamber is selected via a processor, and the composted waste is directed to the appropriate chamber by sending control signals from the processor to a solid-state diverting assembly. The solid-state diverting assembly is moved to provide an opening to at least one appropriate chamber while closing off at least one other chamber, thereby automatically directing the particles to the appropriate chamber for composting. In at least one embodiment, the processor can be used to determine which of multiple chambers is best suited for the input waste. The processor can then activate a dam to block the opening of the inappropriate chamber and open the opening of the selected chamber, directing the compost to the selected chamber.

[0266] 46 provides a process flow diagram illustrating a method 4600 for pre-treating organic waste according to another exemplary embodiment. Method 4600 may include: at 4601, inputting waste into a composting apparatus; at 4602, shredding or cutting the input waste to reduce the size of individual particles or pieces within a volume of solid waste; extruding smaller organic waste particles from a shredding assembly while larger sized organic waste particles may be recirculated within the shredding system until the larger particle size particles are reduced in size to smaller residual pieces; and at 4603, receiving the pre-treated pieces.

[0267] Figure 47 is a flow chart illustrating a method 4700 of diverting liquid from compost according to an exemplary embodiment. In this embodiment, the method 4700 of diverting liquid from compost can include: collecting liquid at 4701; redirecting the collected liquid to an appropriate location at 4702; and draining the liquid to a liquid storage compartment or liquid tank at 4703. In one embodiment, as shown in Figure 36A, the liquid redirection assembly 3708 can be positioned above the liquid tank 3510. This allows the liquid redirection assembly to utilize gravity to redirect the liquid into the liquid tank 3510 once the liquid from the input waste has been dewatered by the shredding and dewatering assembly 3504. Alternatively and / or in combination, airflow generated by the dewatering assembly can be used to redirect the liquid into the liquid tank.

[0268] Referring now to FIG. 48, a rear perspective view of a composting apparatus 4800 according to an exemplary embodiment is provided. In this view, the chamber cover has been removed to illustrate the airflow through the composting apparatus 4800 during operation. The composting apparatus 4800 includes a lid 4802 that provides access to a hopper 4806 that receives input organic waste. The input organic waste is processed according to any of the previously described methods of pretreatment. After the pretreatment stage, preliminary compost is received by at least one of the multiple compost chambers 4810A, 4810B. The compost chambers 4810A, 4810B further include a motor 4814 configured to be coupled to one or more impellers or mixers disposed within the compost chambers 4810A, 4810B to mix the compost as described in any of the previously described embodiments and methods of mixing compost.

[0269] The composting apparatus 4800 further includes a hot air blower positioned upstream of the air outlet 4804. Airflow originates from the hot air blower 4812, passes through the compost chamber 4810, passes through an air filter 4808, and exits through the air outlet 4804. In at least one embodiment, the airflow through the air outlet may be provided by an exhaust fan 4804. The airflow from the air outlet carries air out of the multiple compost chambers 4810A and 4810B and out of the main device body. The air outlet exhausts stagnant air from the compost chambers 4810A and 4810B. Air exiting the compost chambers 4810A and 4810B may first pass through / be treated by an air filter assembly 4808, as described with respect to the previous embodiment, to ensure that the air exiting the interior of the compost chambers 4810A and 4810B is as odor-free as possible. Alternatively, the composting apparatus 4800 may include one of the ozone-based or UV-based odor removal systems described above. The composting chambers 4810A and 4810B may include an external heating element 4816, such as a heating pad 4816, that provides heat to the composting chamber 4810. FIG. 49 provides a front view of the composting apparatus 4800 with the chamber cover removed, revealing some of the internal systems of the composting apparatus 4800. As shown in its front view, the composting apparatus 4800 includes the components described above in FIG. 48, and additionally includes a liquid tank 4818. The liquid tank 4818 stores liquid produced from the hopper 4806 during dewatering by the dewatering assembly 4000.

[0270] Figure 50 is a side view of the composting apparatus 4800 of Figure 48 with the composter cover removed to reveal some of the internal systems of the composting apparatus 4800. In addition to the elements previously described in Figure 48, the composting apparatus 4800 includes a waste pre-treatment assembly including a first UV lamp 4822A, a second UV lamp 4822B, a solids diversion assembly 4824, and a hopper 4806 for producing pre-treated compost.

[0271] In at least one embodiment, UV lamps or lights 4822 can be included to provide disinfection / sterilization as described above. UV sterilization can be performed using at least one UV light 4822B coupled to the air filter 4808 or at least one UV light 4822A coupled to or located above the liquid tank 4818 to prevent odors and mold growth within the liquid tank. In at least one embodiment, the UV light can also be located near the condenser in embodiments that include a condenser.

[0272] The solid direction diversion assembly 4824 comprises a dam device having a dam movable between multiple positions, such as a first position and a second position. The first position of the dam can cover the first compost chamber 4810A, and the second position of the dam can cover the second compost chamber 4810B. Figure 51 provides a rear view of the composting apparatus of Figure 48 with the composting apparatus cover removed to reveal the dual chambers of the composting apparatus. From this view, the dual chambers 4810A and 4810B and the solid direction diversion assembly 4824 can be seen. The dam of the solid direction diversion assembly 4824 can cover the openings of the compost chambers 4810A and 4810B. When the pretreated compost delivered from the hopper 4806 reaches a certain particle size, the particles can fall through the dam into the appropriate chamber.

[0273] Referring now to FIG. 52, a partially transparent side view of the shredding assembly 5200 of the composting apparatus 4800 of FIG. 48 is provided. Food and organic waste can be input into the shredding assembly 5200 at 5204. Once raw waste is input into the composting apparatus 4800, the shredding assembly 5200 shreds the input waste by cutting or shredding it using choppers 5208. In one embodiment, the set of choppers 5208 allows the input waste to be shredded multiple times within a short period of time. Smaller sized organic waste particles can be pushed out of the shredding assembly 5200 through a base plate 5210 and automatically fed to a dewatering assembly, while larger sized organic waste particles can be recirculated within the shredding assembly 5200 until no large pieces remain within the shredding assembly 5200. A shaft 5212 can be used to position the shredding assembly 5200 in the main device body as well as to power the motor that operates the choppers 5208. The fracturing assembly 5200 can also be removed as described in method 4300 of Figure 43. The fracturing assembly 5200 can also be reinstalled in the main device body as described in method 4400 of Figure 44.

[0274] In Figure 52, the shredding assembly 5200 is shown alone, without the lid or the rest of the composting apparatus body. The shredding assembly 5200 can include a hopper 5206, a set of choppers 5208 disposed within the hopper 5206, and a bottom plate 5210. The hopper 5206 can be a container with at least one opening on the top side for receiving input waste and at least one opening on the bottom side for outputting shredded waste particles.

[0275] The chopper set can include one or more cutters, rotating blades, and cutting disks, or any combination thereof, as shown in FIG. 52. The chopper can be configured to shred, cut, crush, or grind the organic waste and divide it into pieces or small pieces. The chopper can also be configured to reduce the particle size of the pieces or small pieces. The chopper set 3908, in at least one embodiment, can be located at the bottom of the hopper 5206, as shown in FIG. 52.

[0276] The crushing assembly 5200 may further include a bottom plate 5210 positioned below the hopper 5206. The bottom opening of the hopper 5206 is sealed by the bottom plate 5210, which, as previously described, is controllable to prevent small pieces of organic waste from falling out of the crushing assembly before crushing is complete. The bottom plate 5210 may be designed to seal the bottom opening of the hopper. Figure 53 provides a top perspective view of the crushing assembly 5200 of the composting apparatus 4800 of Figure 48 in isolation. The crushing assembly 5200 includes the elements previously described in Figure 52, as well as an inner wall of the crushing assembly 5214.

[0277] Figure 54 shows a side cross-sectional view of a crushing assembly 5400 of the composting apparatus of Figure 48, according to an exemplary embodiment. Crushing assembly 5400 includes crushing assembly 5200 and the previously described elements of Figures 52 and 53. Crushing assembly 5400 may further include a bottom plate 5210 positioned below and sealing the bottom opening of hopper 5206. Bottom plate 5210 may further include a mesh grate having a plurality of openings sized to allow small organic waste particles to fall through and block larger sized particles 5216 that are recirculated within hopper 5206.

[0278] The bottom plate 5210 may be designed to seal the bottom opening of the hopper. A gap 5218 may be formed between the bottom opening of the hopper 5206 and the bottom plate 5210. This allows the only exit from the hopper 5206 to be formed by the gap 5218 between the bottom opening of the hopper 5206 and the bottom plate 5210. The gap 5218 allows small particles to escape while preventing larger particles from escaping, allowing the large particles to be recirculated within the hopper 5206, as shown by arrow 5216, for example. Small particles escaping through the gap between the bottom opening of the hopper and the bottom plate may be automatically fed to the dewatering assembly.

[0279] Turning now to Figures 55A and 55B, which respectively show a front perspective view of the dewatering system 5500 of the composter of Figure 48 and a top view of the dewatering system 5500 of the composter of Figure 48. In this embodiment, the dewatering assembly 5500 is comprised of two subsystems including a filter mesh assembly 5504 and a mesh wiping assembly 5502. The filter mesh assembly 5504 can be a cylindrical drum with through holes 5508 disposed on a curved surface of the cylindrical drum. The mesh wiper assembly 5502 can include at least one wiper 5502, or optionally, can include multiple wipers 5502A-5502D disposed near or in contact with the mesh assembly 5504. In this embodiment, the wiper assembly 5502 can include a set of wipers 4002A, 4002B, 4002C, and 4002D that are sized to fit within the cylindrical drum and have a height corresponding to the height of the cylindrical drum, ensuring that any small pieces of broken-up food adhering to the inner walls of the filter mesh are pushed out.

[0280] The filter mesh assembly 5504 and the mesh wiping assembly 5502 can be coupled to a motor configurable to rotate the assemblies. The filter mesh assembly 5504 and the mesh wiping assembly 5502 can rotate independently of each other, and their rotation axes can be concentrically arranged as shown in FIG. 55. The filter mesh assembly 5504 can have a first angular velocity R1, and the mesh wiping assembly 5502 can have a second angular velocity R2. During the dewatering phase, the mesh filter 5504 and the wiper assembly 5502 can rotate at the same angular velocity as each other, for example. During the dewatering phase, R1 = R2. As a result, the shredded waste particles adhere to the inner walls of the filter mesh assembly 5504, and the input moisture passes through the holes in the filter mesh assembly 5504 and is discharged from the dewatering system 5500. The longer the assembly rotates with the shredded waste particles, the more liquid is filtered out, and the moisture in the waste particles decreases over time.

[0281] During the cleaning phase, the filter mesh assembly 5504 and the wiper assembly 5502 can have different angular velocities, resulting in relative motion between the two subsystems. During the cleaning stage, R1 ≠ R2. As a result, any remaining crushed particles on the inner wall of the filter mesh assembly 5504 can be wiped away near 5508. The pre-treated compost waste is discharged from the dewatering system through a designated channel and automatically fed to the next set of assemblies. Meanwhile, the filter mesh assembly 5504 is cleaned and prepared for dewatering the next batch of crushed particles.

[0282] Referring now to Figures 56A and 56B, a plan view of a solids diversion system 5600 of the composting apparatus of Figure 48 and a front perspective view of a dam of the composting apparatus of Figure 48 are provided, respectively. The solids diversion system 5600 includes a dam 5602 that is movable (e.g., rotatable) between multiple positions, or at least between a first position and a second position. The dam 5602 may include an open portion, i.e., opening 5604, and a shielded portion, i.e., shielding portion 5606. In the first position of the dam 5602, the shielding portion 5606 covers the first compost chamber 4810A, and the opening 5604 is positioned above the second compost chamber 4810B. The opening 5604 defines a path traveled by the pretreated compost. The dam 5602 may be movable, for example, by rotation between the first and second positions. In the second position (not shown), the shield 5606 covers the second compost chamber 4810B, and the opening 5604 is positioned above the first compost chamber 4810A. This allows compost to flow into the chamber below the opening 5604, blocking compost from entering the other chambers. The processor is communicatively coupled to an actuator 5608, which can actuate the dam 5602 between multiple positions. The dam 5602 can divert flow directly to the second compost chamber 4810B without passing through the first compost chamber 4810A, or vice versa, since multiple compost chambers function not only as pre-treatment chambers but also as compost chambers, as described in the previous embodiment. The solid-state redirection assembly 5600 can further include a dam wiper 5610. The dam wiper 5610 can be used to automatically direct food waste to a designated compost chamber. As waste is discharged from a previous system (such as a dewatering system), food waste falls onto the dam and a dam wiper can be used to push all food waste into the opening leading to the compost chamber. Dam wiper 5610 can ensure complete transfer of all solids from dam 5602 to opening 5604.

[0283] Referring now to Figure 57, a rear perspective, partially see-through view of the composting chamber 4810 of Figure 48 is provided, illustrating some of the internal systems of the composting chamber of the composting apparatus 4800. The composting chamber 4810 may include an optional handle 5702 for easily removing and holding the composting chamber body 5710, an opening 5706 for accessing the composting chamber body 5710, a divider 5704 for guiding an airflow path, an air channel 5712 for introducing air into the composting chamber body 5710, a gear assembly 5714, and a coupler 5716 for mechanically coupling a first portion of the gear assembly 5714 to a motor. The gear assembly 5714 has a second portion coupled to a mixer shaft within the composting chamber 4810. The other end of the mixer shaft is rotatably supported in a wall of the chamber body 5710.

[0284] 58, a top perspective view of a mixer assembly 5800 is shown in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. The mixer assembly 5800 includes a mixer 5708, a mixer shaft 5804, and a gear assembly 5714, as well as a coupler 5716 that mechanically couples the gear assembly 5714 to a motor. The gear assembly 5714 is coupled to the mixer shaft 5804 via a gear interface. For example, the coupler 5716 is a mechanical coupler that includes a mechanical adapter having meshing tooth surfaces with the gear assembly, and is used to transfer power from the motor to the gear assembly 5714, which in turn drives the mixer shaft 5804. The mixer shaft 5804 can be connected to any driven mixer mechanism, such as, but not limited to, an impeller, a pedal, an auger, a piston, a blade, a juicer, or other crushing, grinding, mixing, transferring, or pulverizing mechanism. In one embodiment, as shown in Figures 57 and 58, the mixer mechanism can include multiple paddles 5806A-5806F for mixing the compost.

[0285] It should be understood that in the various embodiments described herein, the removable chamber, which may be a liquid chamber or a compost chamber, is removable and insertable from the front, side, or top of the composting apparatus.

[0286] Referring now to Figures 59A and 59B, block diagrams of multi-composter systems / networks including two and three composters, respectively, are provided. However, embodiments may exist in which more composters are linked together. In such embodiments, multiple composters are coupled or otherwise connected to process larger volumes of compost. In at least one embodiment, as shown in Figure 59A, two composters 5900A and 5900B are coupled together. In at least one embodiment, as shown in Figure 59B, three composters 5900A, 5900B, and 5900C are coupled together. In at least one embodiment, the coupling is physical, with the compost chambers physically connected during operation to allow compost to pass between them using screens, doors, and / or conduits (e.g., the door 920 in Figures 9 and 12). In this manner, larger-capacity composters can receive compost material from other composters, allowing for more optimal distribution of workload among the networked composters. However, in another embodiment, the coupling of the composting devices is via a communications link, allowing the devices to be networked and monitored, thereby tracking the different stages of composting in different devices, determining which devices have the capacity to accept new waste, and which devices are nearing the end of their composting process, allowing for the removal of mature compost from these devices and the addition of new waste, again allowing for a more optimal distribution of waste material among the network of composting devices and more efficient composting.

[0287] In at least one embodiment, the described composting apparatus can be implemented in a variety of configurations to accommodate different user needs. For example, the composting apparatus can be a stand-alone unit that can be installed in a pull-out cabinet, under a sink, on a countertop, or on the floor. In under-sink embodiments, the composting apparatus may optionally be connected directly to a sink or to a drain in a sink cabinet. Thus, in at least one embodiment, the adapter 402 can include, but is not limited to, a drain connector, a sink connector, and / or a dishwasher connector, and the adapter 402 can include an electrical connector (e.g., wires) for connecting to a dishwasher power source.

[0288] In another aspect, the composting apparatus and methods described in accordance with the teachings herein can be used in food preparation environments, such as coffee shops and / or juice shops. In such cases, some pretreatment steps have typically already been performed before waste (e.g., coffee grounds) is fed into the composting apparatus. In such cases, such waste can be fed directly into the composting chamber, as described above. In this case, the input chamber of the composting apparatus can be connected to the waste output of a commercial coffee machine or juicer via an existing external fluid connection (e.g., the coffee grounds output of a coffee machine or the pulp waste output of a juicer), or the composting apparatus can include a user-accessible hopper that can transfer coffee grounds from the coffee machine or waste from the juicer into the composting apparatus. In either case, since the input waste is already pretreated, the pretreatment process can be omitted, and the composting process can begin with aeration, mixing, and optional heating and water spraying. To collect the output compost, in some embodiments, a user can scoop the output compost from the composter, remove the compost chamber like a drawer, or pull out the compost chamber if the compost has been transferred to a removable compost bin. In such cases, the composter can be coupled to an existing external electrical connector in the food preparation environment.

[0289] While the applicant's teachings described herein are described in conjunction with various embodiments for purposes of illustration, the applicant's teachings are not limited to such embodiments, and the embodiments described herein are intended to be examples. Rather, the applicant's teachings as described and illustrated herein encompass various alternatives, modifications, and equivalents without departing from the embodiments described herein, the general scope of which is defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method for producing compost, wherein the method is The first part of the waste is collected in a composting device, and the composting device is The main device itself, Control and power electronic equipment circuits including a processor and memory, A first compost chamber cavity is located inside the main device body, A first compost chamber for composting waste, wherein the first compost chamber is located within the first compost chamber cavity, A second compost chamber cavity is located within the main device body and is adjacent to the first compost chamber cavity. A second compost chamber for composting waste, wherein the second compost chamber is located within the second compost chamber cavity, To be equipped with, Processing the first portion of the waste within the composting apparatus, The first portion of the waste is transferred to a first compost chamber located within the composting apparatus. The first portion of the waste is pre-treated to produce the first portion of the pre-treated waste. The first portion of the pre-treated waste is composted in the first compost chamber to produce a first batch of output compost, The second portion of the waste is collected in the composting apparatus, Processing the second portion of the waste within the composting apparatus, The second portion of the waste is transferred to a second compost chamber located within the composting apparatus. The second portion of the aforementioned waste is pre-treated to produce a second portion of pre-treated waste, The second portion of the pre-treated waste is composted in the second compost chamber to produce a second batch of output compost, Includes, A method wherein the collection of the second portion of the waste in the composting apparatus is carried out after the first compost chamber is full or has been carried out according to the offset cycle.

2. A method for producing compost, wherein the method is The composting device accepts a first amount of waste, and the composting device is The main device itself, Control and power electronic equipment circuits including a processor and memory, A first compost chamber cavity is located inside the main device body, A first compost chamber for composting waste, wherein the first compost chamber is located within the first compost chamber cavity, A second compost chamber cavity is located within the main device body and is adjacent to the first compost chamber cavity. A second compost chamber for composting waste, wherein the second compost chamber is located within the second compost chamber cavity, To be equipped with, The first amount of the aforementioned waste is pre-treated to produce a first amount of pre-treated waste, The first amount of the pre-treated waste is stored in the first storage room for a pre-treatment period to generate the first amount of stored waste. The first amount of the stored waste is composted in the first composting chamber to produce the first batch of output compost, Subsequently, the composting apparatus accepts a second amount of waste, The second amount of the aforementioned waste is pre-treated to produce a second amount of pre-treated waste, The second amount of the pre-treated waste is stored in the second storage room for a pre-treatment period to generate the second amount of stored waste. The second amount of the stored waste is composted in a second compost chamber to produce a second batch of output compost, Includes, The processor determines whether the first amount of pre-treated waste should instead enter the second storage chamber if the first storage chamber meets the specified criteria. A method for determining whether a second amount of pre-treated waste should instead enter the first storage chamber if the second storage chamber meets specified criteria.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the specified criterion includes the storage chamber being full or is based on a countdown timer.

4. Pre-treatment of the aforementioned waste is Separating waste into solid waste and liquid waste, To reduce the volume of the solid waste, and / or Dry the reduced volume of the solid waste, or perform a dewatering treatment on the volume of the solid waste. The method according to claim 2, including the method described in claim 2.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein reducing the volume of the solid waste includes crushing, pulverizing, grinding, or mulching the volume of the solid waste to reduce the size of individual particles within the volume of the solid waste.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein drying the volume of the solid waste includes heating and / or aerating the volume of the solid waste to reduce its moisture content.

7. The method according to claim 4, wherein the liquid waste is obtained by dehydrating, which includes mechanically removing the liquid from the waste by compression, tumbling, or centrifugal separation.

8. The method according to claim 2, wherein composting the stored waste comprises using naturally occurring microorganisms and / or introducing microorganisms into the first compost chamber and the second compost chamber and generating one or more conditions that enhance the activity of the microorganisms in order to carry out an aerobic decomposition process on the waste in the first compost chamber and the second compost chamber.

9. The method according to claim 2, further comprising maintaining an adequate airflow through the waste in the first compost chamber and the second compost chamber, and using a mixer to mix the waste in the first compost chamber and the second compost chamber.

10. The method according to claim 2, wherein the method includes removing the first compost chamber and reinserting the first compost chamber in order to collect the output compost while the second compost chamber is continuing composting.

11. It is a composting device, The main device itself, Control and power electronic equipment circuits including a processor and memory, A first compost chamber cavity is located inside the main device body, A first compost chamber for composting waste, wherein the first compost chamber is located within the first compost chamber cavity, A second compost chamber cavity is located within the main device body and is adjacent to the first compost chamber cavity. A second compost chamber for composting waste, wherein the second compost chamber is located within the second compost chamber cavity, A composting device equipped with the following features.

12. The composting apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a dam movable between a first position and a second position, wherein when the dam is in the first position, the dam covers only one of the first compost chamber and the second compost chamber, and when the dam is in the second position, the dam covers only the other of the first compost chamber and the second compost chamber.

13. The composting apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the processor is configured to carry out a method for producing compost when a software instruction stored in the memory is executed by the processor, and one of the first composting chamber and the second composting chamber is adapted to provide composting at the same offset.

14. The main device body further includes a foldable mesh strainer configured to separate liquid waste from solid waste, the foldable strainer having perforations, The composting apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the foldable mesh strainer has an open state for receiving food waste and a closed state for collecting solid waste while the liquid waste is discharged through the perforations.

15. The composting apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the liquid waste discharged from the aforementioned punctures is collected in a liquid storage chamber until disposal.

16. The composting apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the composting apparatus comprises a plurality of ultraviolet light sources for decomposing odors and controlling undesirable organisms.

17. The composting apparatus according to claim 16, wherein at least one of the plurality of ultraviolet light sources is configured to operate at wavelengths between approximately 100 nm and approximately 240 nm in order to generate ozone for the decomposition of odors.

18. The composting apparatus according to claim 16, wherein at least a second light source among the plurality of ultraviolet light sources is configured to operate at wavelengths between approximately 240 nm and approximately 315 nm in order to suppress the growth of undesirable organisms and decompose ozone.

19. The composting apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the generated ozone is supplied to the first composting chamber and the second composting chamber in order to reduce the odors in the first composting chamber and the second composting chamber by exposing the odors in the first composting chamber and the second composting chamber to the generated ozone.

20. The composting apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising an activated carbon filter for filtering out volatile compounds and gases remaining from the decomposition of ozone.

21. The composting apparatus according to claim 11, further configured to supply a positive airflow through the waste in the composting chamber in order to prevent odors from leaking out of the composting apparatus.

22. The composting apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the first compost chamber and the second compost chamber are insertable and removable horizontally, vertically, or from the side of the composting apparatus.

23. The composting apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a liquid chamber that can be inserted and removed horizontally, vertically, or from the side of the composting apparatus.

24. The composting apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a temperature sensor and a temperature control loop used during composting to maintain a desired temperature in the first composting chamber and the second composting chamber in order to improve the quality of the compost.

25. The composting apparatus according to claim 11, wherein a given compost chamber contains microorganisms, the given compost chamber is adapted to receive hot air to provide oxygen for an aerobic decomposition process of waste in the given compost chamber, and the given compost chamber is adapted to maintain a desired moisture content of the waste.

26. The composting apparatus according to claim 11, wherein a given compost chamber includes a mixer configured to improve composting by mixing the waste within the chamber and improving the airflow through the waste.

27. ​​The composting apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the composting apparatus includes an inlet fan for receiving ambient air into the composting apparatus, an exhaust fan for generating a positive airflow from the composting apparatus to the surrounding environment, and at least one sensor, and the processor activates the exhaust fan when physical conditions are detected using the at least one sensor.

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