Container Processing Equipment

Abstract

Dirty paper cups require high cleaning costs when recycling, and crushing paper cups also creates problems such as paper waste flying around or overflowing during transportation and recycling, making them difficult to dispose of. [Solution] This container processing apparatus washes containers C such as paper cups in a cleaning section 20, drops them into a container processing apparatus 1 from a drop port 30, compresses and reduces the volume in a volume reduction section 40 while making cuts, and stores them in a storage box 50.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a disposal device for disposing of disposable containers, and more particularly to a container disposal device for cleaning and compressing paper or plastic cups and the like within a store to reduce their volume. [Background technology]

[0002] In restaurants and other establishments, drinks and other items are served in disposable paper or plastic cups. After use, these are collected in collection boxes set up inside the store. When the collection bag in the collection box is full, the store staff collects it and sets a new collection bag. The collected disposable cups are either discarded or recycled.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a cup crushing and recovery device equipped with a pair of cup crushing belt mechanisms arranged in a V shape, the pair of cup crushing belt mechanisms consisting of a pair of upper rollers driven by a motor at a fixed position, a pair of rotatable lower rollers, and a pair of belts stretched between the pair of upper and lower rollers, the pair of lower rollers are each attached to a rotating support member that can rotate in a vertical plane centered on a fixed point, the pair of rotating support members are normally biased by a pair of springs in a direction that presses the pair of lower rollers against each other via the pair of belts, and when a cup to be crushed passes between the pair of lower rollers via the pair of belts, the pair of lower rollers rotate upward in a direction away from each other against the pair of springs.

[0004] Patent Document 2 describes a used disposable container processing device that is installed in stores such as drink shops and fast food shops and that collects disposable containers such as used glasses, cups, or plates, and includes a processing device body having a leftover drink collection port for collecting leftover drinks and ice, and a container insertion port for inserting used containers adjacent to the leftover drink collection port at the top, the height of which is 90 to 110 cm so that the leftover drink collection port and container insertion port can be reached by a person who wants to throw away a container, a leftover drink collection tank for temporarily storing leftover drinks, and a first rotating blade shaft with rotating blades with notches formed therein that crush containers into small pieces of a predetermined size, arranged in the axial direction, and a second rotating blade shaft with notches of a similar shape, arranged so that the rotating blades of the first rotating blade shaft and the second rotating blade shaft are arranged so as to mesh with each other, and rotate in opposite directions. The present invention describes a used disposable container treatment device comprising: a crushing device, which washes the small pieces of containers crushed in the crushing device with water and removes moisture adhering to the small pieces with compressed air; a screw conveyor which rotates inside a cylindrical body and washes with cleaning water and detergent is provided in the axial direction; the cylindrical body has a drain outlet for draining the cleaning water after washing and a small piece outlet for discharging the small pieces at the bottom, and a small piece inlet for feeding the small pieces at the top, and the cylindrical body has an injection port for injecting compressed air from a compressor between the drain outlet and the small piece inlet; and a small piece recovery box which stores the small pieces of containers that have been washed and dehydrated in the washing / dehydration / compression device; and the leftover container tank, crushing device, washing / dehydration / compression device, compressor and small piece recovery box are all stored within the treatment device main body, and the containers are crushed, washed and compressed within the treatment device main body to reduce their volume.

[0005] Patent document 3 describes a container processing device comprising a drop port for dropping a container, a cleaning stand on which the container dropped from the drop port is placed with its opening facing downwards, an injection port for spraying cleaning water into the inside of the container placed on the cleaning stand, a suction device for sucking up the sprayed cleaning water, a first transfer means having a wall surface and a horizontal surface integrated together, and a volume reduction device for clamping the container to compress and reduce its volume, wherein the first transfer means begins to move when the container is placed on the cleaning stand, and as the first transfer means moves, the wall surface pushes the container to transport it to a cleaning location, and after the first transfer means has moved, the drop port is blocked by the horizontal surface. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] JP 2001-105190 A [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 7051158 [Patent Document 3] Patent No. 7229613 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] The recovery device in Patent Document 1 does not clean the containers, so dirt remains and the load on the device during recycling is large. Also, because the device only crushes the containers, the containers may open up inside the recovery bag, which can make the device bulky. The processing device of Patent Document 2 crushes paper cups into pieces that are too small, and the crushed pieces fly or overflow during transportation and processing, making recycling difficult. The container treatment device of Patent Document 3 compresses and reduces the volume of the container by clamping it, so that the compressed container may open up and become bulky.

[0008] The present invention has been devised to solve such problems, by providing a device for washing paper cups and the like in a store and reducing the volume of the cups without crushing them and without spreading them out after compression. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The present invention relates to a container processing apparatus that crushes a container dropped from above into an overlapping portion where a part of a left gear and a part of a right gear adjacent to each other overlap in a side view. Grab it and push it down , Rotation direction Front side only A first induction roll (41) having a first induction gear (45) on a shaft, the first induction roll (41) having a plurality of arc-shaped teeth pointed toward the container Grab it and push it down , smaller than the teeth of the first induction gear and does not overlap with the first induction gear in side view, rotation direction Front side only Against Pointed, arc-shaped The container processing device is equipped with a second induction roll (42) having a plurality of second induction gears (46) each having a plurality of teeth on a shaft, the first induction roll and the second induction roll being arranged opposite each other, the first induction roll rotating clockwise and the second induction roll rotating counterclockwise.

[0010] It is preferable that the first induction gear and the second induction gear have teeth of different sizes.

[0011] Multiple spaces are provided left The left compression roll (43) has a gear fixed to a shaft, and multiple right The right compression roll (44) has a gear fixed to a shaft. The left compression roll and the right compression roll are disposed opposite each other. The left compression roll rotates clockwise and the right compression roll rotates counterclockwise. The right compression roll is inserted into the gap of the left compression roll. compression A part of the roll is inserted and the left roll fits into the gap between the right compression roll. compression It is preferable that a portion of the roll is inserted.

[0012] It is preferable that the washing machine further comprises a washing section (20) having a rotating nozzle for spraying washing water onto the inside of the container, a drop opening (30) for dropping the container, and a push switch (24, 25, 26) for spraying the washing water when pressed. Effect of the Invention

[0013] The container treatment device of the present invention can wash used disposable containers and reduce their volume by cutting them without crushing them, preventing the containers from opening and becoming bulky. As a result, used disposable containers can be recycled more easily than with conventional techniques. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] FIG. [Diagram 2] FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 4 is a detailed right side view of the container treatment device during cleaning. [Figure 4] FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. [Figure 14] A photo of the compressed, reduced volume container. [Figure 15] Flow diagram showing the cleaning and compression process. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] An embodiment of the container treatment device of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0016] <Overview> FIG. 1 is an explanatory front view of the container processing apparatus. The container processing device 1 is mainly composed of a housing 10, a cleaning section 20, a drop inlet 30, a volume reduction section 40, and a storage box 50. Containers C such as paper cups are washed in the cleaning section 20, dropped into the container processing device 1 from the drop inlet 30, compressed and reduced in volume in the volume reduction section 40, and stored in the storage box 50.

[0017] <Case> The housing 10 is a box that houses each of the machines that make up the cleaning unit 20, the volume reduction unit 40, etc. In the embodiment, it is constructed by assembling a frame using aluminum square timber and attaching panels between the frames as an exterior. Of course, it is not limited to aluminum, and other metals or wood may also be used. Also, it may have a monocoque structure without a frame or framework.

[0018] <Cleaning section> FIG. 2 is an explanatory right side view of the container processing apparatus. When cleaning using the container processing device 1 of the present invention, first, wastewater such as leftover drinks and ice in the container C is dumped into the wastewater receiver 21. The wastewater receiver 21 is cylindrical with an inner diameter sufficiently larger than the outer diameter of the container C. A drain pipe 22 is connected to the lower part of the drain receiver 21. The drain pipe 22 is a pipe for smoothly draining the discarded wastewater. A flexible pipe such as a hose or a PVC pipe is used as the drain pipe 22. Leftovers discarded in the drain receiver 21 flow down the drain pipe 22 by gravity and are collected in a drain tank 23 installed at the lower end of the drain pipe 22. The drain tank 23 is a waterproof open-top box like a bucket. It is preferable that the capacity of the drain tank 23 is larger than the capacity of the water supply tank 27 described later. This is because both the used cleaning solution and leftovers can be collected. The drain tank 23 is preferably provided with casters on the bottom, is independently grounded on the floor, and has a structure that can be pulled out from the housing 10, making it easy to take it in and out. It is also possible to not provide the drain tank 23 and to connect the drain pipe 22 to a sewer pipe at the installation site of the container processing device 1.

[0019] FIG. 3 is an explanatory right side view of the container treating apparatus during cleaning. After discarding leftover drink from container C into drain receiver 21, the opening of container C (edge ​​of the cup) is pressed against pressing portion 24. When pressing portion 24 is pressed, the entire nozzle 25 slides and moves, and switch 26 is pressed. When switch 26 is pressed, a valve opens and cleaning water is sprayed from the tip of nozzle 25. When the cleaning water is sprayed, the tip of nozzle 25 rotates due to the force of the spray, and the cleaning water is sprayed 360°. It is preferable that the cleaning water be sprayed for a fixed period of time (for example, 2 or 3 seconds). Alternatively, the water may continue to be sprayed while pressing portion 24 is being pressed.

[0020] The cleaning water may be tap water or a cleaning solution containing detergent. The cleaning water is stored in a water supply tank 27 and sent to the nozzle 25 through a water supply pipe 29 by a pump 28. It is also possible to connect the water supply pipe 29 to a water supply pipe at the installation site without providing the water supply tank 27. In that case, the water may be boosted by the pump 28 within the container treatment device 1 and sprayed, or the water may be sprayed by the water pressure of the water supply without providing the pump 28.

[0021] <Drop-in port> FIG. 4 is an explanatory detailed front view of the container processing apparatus showing a state in which the drop spout is open, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory left side view of the container processing apparatus when a container is dropped. As described above, when the switch 26 is pressed, the spray of cleaning water starts and at the same time the drop port 33 in the drop port 30 opens. The drop port 33 may open at the same time the switch 26 is pressed, or may open after a certain period of time (for example, 1 or 2 seconds). In the embodiment, the drop port 33 opens by rotating with a rotating shaft 34 (such as a motor), but the present invention is not limited to this and may open by sliding.

[0022] The drop inlet 30 is composed of a first drop inlet 31 and a second drop inlet 32. The first drop inlet 31 is a slightly smaller diameter than the second drop inlet 32 ​​and is cylindrical with a bent middle. The second drop inlet 32 ​​is inclined at an angle nearly vertical or close to vertical so as to guide the container C placed in the container processing device 1 by the user to the volume reduction section 40. The inlet surface of the drop opening is inclined (60° from the horizontal in the embodiment) so that the user can easily drop the container C, but it may be vertical or horizontal. The angle of bending of the first drop opening 31 is determined by the angle of inclination of the inlet surface and the angle of inclination of the second drop opening 32. Of course, it may be a straight cylindrical shape that does not bend midway.

[0023] A part of the lower part of the first drop opening 31 is elongated and is arranged so as to enter the second drop opening 32. The part that is not elongated does not enter the second drop opening 32 and is arranged so as to create a gap between the first drop opening 31 and the second drop opening 32. This gap is provided so that the drop opening lid 33 can pass outside the drop opening 30 when it is opened or closed.

[0024] A drop detection sensor (not shown) is provided below the drop port lid 33 inside the drop port 30. When the drop detection sensor detects a dropped container C, the drop port lid 33 is closed and the volume reducer is activated. This is because if the volume reducer is activated with the drop port lid 33 open, there is a risk of a hand or other object getting caught. It is also possible to have the drop port lid 33 close after a certain period of time has passed without providing a drop detection sensor.

[0025] <Volume reduction section> FIG. 6 is an explanatory cross-sectional view of the volume reducing section. The container C dropped into the container processing device 1 falls into the volume reducing section 40. The volume reduction section 40 is made up of two sets of rolls arranged above and below. The guide rolls 41 and 42 arranged at the top guide the dropped container C to the bottom by rotating guide gears 45 and 46. The compression rolls 43 and 44 arranged at the bottom clamp the guided container C with a rotating compression gear 47 to compress and reduce the volume.

[0026] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the guide roll. The guide rolls 41, 42 rotate in opposite directions at the same speed (in the figure, the first guide roll 41 rotates right and the second guide roll 42 rotates left), and guide the dropped container C downward during that time. If the container C is small, it will pass downward without being pushed by the guide rolls, and if the container C is large, it will be pinched between the guide gears 45, 46 and pushed downward while deforming. It is preferable to connect a motor to the first guide roll 41 and transmit the rotational force to the second guide roll 42 via a synchronous gear or belt. Of course, the opposite is also possible.

[0027] The first guide roll 41 and the second guide roll 42 are provided with guide gears 45, 46 of different sizes. The guide gears 45, 46 each have three teeth, which are used to catch and push the container C downward. The first guide roll 41 is provided with three first guide gears 45 with large teeth. The three first guide gears 45 are fixed to the shaft, rotated by 120° from each other. The second guide roll 42 is provided with two second guide gears 46 with small teeth. The two second guide gears 46 are fixed to the shaft, rotated by 120° from each other. The number of guide gears and the number of teeth are not limited to those in the embodiment, and may be any number that can catch and push the container C downward.

[0028] 8 and 9 are perspective views showing one set of compression gears. The compression rolls 43 and 44 are provided with a plurality of compression gears 47, each of which is a set of three independent gears. The central gear 471, which is sandwiched between the three gears, is attached in a state where it is rotated by 1 / 4 of the central angle between the teeth relative to the side gears 472 and 473. In the embodiment, each component gear has six teeth, and the teeth are arranged at intervals of 60°, so that the central gear 471 is connected to the side gears 472 and 473 in a state where it is rotated by 15°. Note that this rotation angle does not have to be 1 / 4 (15°) as long as the amount of rotation leaves a valley portion.

[0029] The central gear 471 is thicker than the side gears 472, 473. In this embodiment, the central gear 471 is 3 mm thick, and the side gears 472, 473 are each 2.5 mm thick. Of course, the thickness is not limited to this, and all three gears may be the same thickness.

[0030] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a compression roll with a compression gear disposed thereon. FIG. 11 is a plan view of a compression roll. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a compression roll. The compression rolls 43 and 44 rotate in opposite directions at the same speed (in the figure, the left compression roll 43 rotates right and the right compression roll 44 rotates left). A plurality of compression gears 47 are fixed to the shafts of the compression rolls 43 and 44 at equal intervals. The compression gears 47 fixed to the left compression roll 43 and the right compression roll 44 overlap each other in a side view (in the direction of Figs. 5, 6, and 12) to form an overlapping portion. In the embodiment, the thickness of one set of compression gears 47 is 8 mm, and the interval between each compression gear 47 is 9 mm. The teeth of each compression gear 47 of the right compression roll 44 are arranged so as to fit into the gap between each compression gear 47 of the left compression roll 43. That is, in the embodiment, the gears of the left compression roll 43 and the right compression roll 44 are arranged at intervals of 0.5 mm.

[0031] The compression gears 47 on each compression roll 43, 44 are attached in a state where they are rotated by 1 / 2 the central angle between the teeth of the adjacent compression gears 47. In the embodiment, each compression gear has six teeth and the teeth are arranged at 60° intervals, so they are attached in a state where they are rotated by 30°. By shifting the position of the teeth for each compression gear 47 in this way, the container C can be crushed in the toothless portion (valley portion) and the container C can be cut in the toothed portion.

[0032] FIG. 13 is a front view showing a single gear. As described above, the individual gears are fixed to the shaft in a mutually rotated orientation, so that the shaft is assumed to be hexagonal and in this embodiment, four types of individual gears rotated by 15° each are used.

[0033] FIG. 14 is a photograph of the compressed container. Container C is pinched and crushed by the bottom of each gear (bottom of the valley), and a notch is made by the teeth of each gear. The notch reaches the opposite side of container C, and the wall of container C gets caught on the opposite wall, preventing container C from opening. Container C has multiple independent notches made overall by the multiple compression gears and multiple teeth.

[0034] <Containment Box> The container C compressed by the volume reduction unit 40 falls into a storage box 50 arranged below the volume reduction unit 40 (FIG. 5). The storage box 50 is preferably designed to be independently placed on the floor and to be able to be pulled out from the housing 10 for easy insertion and removal. The storage box 50 is used by covering it with a collection bag such as a plastic bag. Casters may also be provided on the bottom surface.

[0035] FIG. 15 is a flow diagram showing the flow of cleaning and compression. When the container C is pressed against the pressing unit 24 and the switch 26 is pressed, cleaning water is sprayed from the tip of the nozzle 25 and the drop port lid 33 in the drop port 30 opens at the same time. When the container C is dropped from the drop port 30 and the drop detection sensor detects the container C, the drop port lid 33 closes and the volume reduction unit 40 operates to transfer and reduce the volume. When the volume reduction is completed, the container C is stored in the storage box 50. The volume reduction section 40 operates for a certain period of time, but if a container C is pressed against the pressing section 24 and the drop opening lid 33 opens while the volume reduction section 40 is operating, the rotation stops even if the operation time is still in progress. This is for safety reasons. Even if a container C remains in the volume reduction section 40 at this time, the volume reduction section 40 will operate when the next container C is dropped in, and the volume reduction will continue. [Industrial Applicability]

[0036] The container treatment device of the present invention can make a great contribution to the recycling field by cleaning and compressing used disposable containers in the store to reduce their volume. In addition, the reduced volume containers will not open, which can reduce transportation costs, etc. This invention can be expected to not only be used industrially, but also to make a great contribution to society by reducing the environmental load. [Explanation of symbols]

[0037] 1 Container processing equipment 10. Chassis 20 Cleaning section 21 Drainage receiver 22 Drain pipe 23 Drain tank 24 Pressing part 25 Nozzle 26 Switch 27 Water tank 28 Pump 29 Water supply pipe 30 Drop-off 31 First drop port 32 Second Drop Hole 33 Drop Palate 34 Rotational Axis 40 Volume reduction section 41 First induction roll 42 Second induction roll 43 Left compression roll 44 Right Compression Roll 45 First Induction Gear 46 Second Induction Gear 47 Compression Gear 471 Central Gear 472 Side Gear 473 Side Gear 50 Storage Box C container

Claims

1. In a container treatment device, a container is dropped from above into an overlapping portion where a part of a left gear and a part of a right gear overlap each other in a side view, and the container is crushed. A first guide roll having a shaft on which a first guide gear having a plurality of arc-shaped teeth that are sharp only toward the front side in the direction of rotation is provided, the first guide roll catching the container and pushing it downward; A second induction roll is provided with a second induction gear having a plurality of second induction gears on a shaft, the second induction gears having a plurality of arc-shaped teeth that are smaller than the teeth of the first induction gear and do not overlap with the first induction gear in a side view, and that are sharp only toward the front side in the direction of rotation, the second induction roll capturing the container and pushing it downward; The first guide roll and the second guide roll are disposed opposite each other, The first guide roll rotates clockwise and the second guide roll rotates counterclockwise. Container processing equipment.

2. a left compression roll having a plurality of the left gears fixed to a shaft with gaps therebetween; A right compression roll is further provided, in which a plurality of the right gears are fixed to a shaft with gaps therebetween, The left compression roll and the right compression roll are disposed opposite each other, the left compression roll rotates clockwise and the right compression roll rotates counterclockwise; A portion of the right compression roll is inserted into the gap of the left compression roll, and a portion of the left compression roll is inserted into the gap of the right compression roll, The container treatment device according to claim 1 .

3. A cleaning unit having a rotating nozzle for spraying cleaning water onto the inside of the container; A drop port for dropping a container; and a push switch that sprays cleaning water when pushed in.

3. The container treatment device according to claim 1 or 2.

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