Used disposable diaper disposal system

Abstract

The present invention provides a used disposable diaper disposal device and disposal method that is inexpensive, imposes little financial burden on the user, and allows for easy, hassle-free disposal of used disposable diapers collected in sealed plastic or vinyl bags from hospitals, nursing homes, etc., in a hygienic working environment. [Solution] A system 1 for disposing of used disposable diapers, comprising a washing machine 4 in which used disposable diapers 2 are placed together with a collection bag 3 and stirred with a processing agent to decompose the used disposable diapers 2, and a pre-treatment device 6 that breaks a part of the collection bag 3 in which the collected used disposable diapers 2 are stored in a sealed state, to form a bag tear start point, characterized in that the washing machine 4 is placed together with the collection bag 3 with the bag tear start point formed, and stirred with a processing agent to dismantle the collection bag 3 from the bag tear start point, and the used disposable diapers 2 are ejected from the collection bag 3 for decomposition processing.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention is a used disposable diaper processing system that collects used disposable diapers used in hospitals, nursing homes, etc., and decomposes them into the multiple materials that make up the disposable diapers. Mu Regarding. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, disposable diapers have been used in large quantities in hospitals, nursing homes, etc., and many of the used diapers after being changed for care recipients at hospitals, nursing homes, etc. are incinerated as general waste at waste disposal plants. However, disposable diapers are generally made from materials such as pulp and plastic, which are recyclable materials, and the wastewater after decomposition contains components that are beneficial to the soil and can be used as fertilizer.

[0003] Therefore, Patent Documents 1 and 2 propose decomposing used disposable diapers, recovering the pulp and plastic that make up the disposable diapers, and the waste liquid after treatment, and recycling the recovered pulp, plastic, and waste liquid. The used disposable diaper treatment devices proposed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 are equipped with a separator, which is formed from an outer body separation tank fixed to a housing and sealed, and an inner body separation tank rotatably installed within the outer body separation tank, into which used disposable diapers are introduced together with treatment liquid.

[0004] Then, by rotating the inner body separation tank, used disposable diapers are agitated together with the treatment liquid in the inner body separation tank, and the agitated used disposable diapers are decomposed into pulp, plastic, etc. Pulp is recovered from the discharged liquid containing the treatment liquid after the decomposition process, and plastic, which is a solid matter remaining in the inner body separation tank, is recovered.

[0005] When used disposable diapers are decomposed in the above-mentioned used disposable diaper treatment equipment, used disposable diapers changed by care recipients at hospitals, nursing homes, etc. are sealed and placed in plastic or vinyl bags, etc., and then collected in collection bags. After these collection bags are transported to the treatment facility, the used disposable diapers are removed from the plastic or vinyl bags, etc., and placed in an inner body separation tank. The plastic bags, etc., after the used disposable diapers have been removed, are sterilized and disinfected and reused, or disposed of as general waste. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7250299 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 5258316 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, the above-mentioned used disposable diaper treatment device is a dedicated treatment device designed for treating used disposable diapers, and the cost per treatment device is high because it requires the manufacture of dedicated outer body separation tanks, inner body separation tanks, wastewater treatment equipment, etc. Therefore, while it can be introduced in large hospitals and municipalities in large cities, it poses a problem of being a heavy financial burden for small hospitals and municipalities.

[0008] Furthermore, in the conventional used disposable diaper disposal devices, used disposable diapers are removed from sealed plastic or vinyl bags after being changed by the care recipient and then placed into the inner body separation tank. This takes time, and decomposing used disposable diapers at disposal facilities requires labor, time, and effort. In addition, removing used disposable diapers from plastic or vinyl bags can cause odors and bacteria to spread.

[0009] Therefore, the present invention provides a used disposable diaper disposal system that is inexpensive, imposes a small financial burden on the user, and allows for easy, hassle-free disposal of used disposable diapers collected in sealed plastic bags or vinyl bags from hospitals, nursing homes, etc., in a hygienic working environment. Mu's The purpose is to provide. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, one aspect of the present invention is a used disposable diaper processing device that uses a processing agent to decompose and process used disposable diapers collected from hospitals, nursing homes, etc. into multiple materials that make up the disposable diapers, and recovers the materials. The device comprises: a washing machine that loads the used disposable diapers together with a collection bag, agitates the used disposable diapers together with the processing agent, and decomposes the used disposable diapers; and a pre-processing device that breaks a part of the collection bag in which the used disposable diapers collected from hospitals, nursing homes, etc. are stored in a sealed state, to form a bag tear start portion. The washing machine loads the collection bag together with the bag tear start portion, agitates the used disposable diapers together with the processing agent, and dismantles the collection bag from the bag tear start portion, and ejects the used disposable diapers from the collection bag for decomposition.

[0011] In one aspect of the present invention, the washing machine comprises a water tub supported by a housing, a drum rotatably mounted within the water tub, and a drive means capable of rotating the drum, and is characterized in that the recovery bag on which the bag tearing initiation portion has been formed is agitated together with the treatment agent, thereby dismantling the recovery bag from the bag tearing initiation portion.

[0012] In one aspect of the present invention, the pretreatment device has laser irradiation means for irradiating the collection bag with laser light.

[0013] In one aspect of the present invention, the pre-treatment device is characterized by having a cylindrical input cylinder with openings at both ends, into which the collection bag containing used disposable diapers is input through one opening, and a bag-breaking blade provided near the other opening of the input cylinder for breaking a portion of the collection bag input through the one opening to form a bag-breaking start point.

[0014] In one aspect of the present invention, the treatment agent is a mixture of a disinfectant, lime, and water in a predetermined ratio, packed in a bag.

[0015] One aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the washing machine further includes a dehydration device that removes pulp from the wastewater containing the treatment agent discharged from the washing machine. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] According to the present invention, since used disposable diapers are decomposed and processed using a washing machine, there is no need to newly manufacture dedicated outer body separation tanks, inner body separation tanks, wastewater treatment equipment, etc., which makes it possible to significantly reduce the unit price of one treatment device, thereby reducing the financial burden on small hospitals and small local governments.

[0019] Furthermore, according to the present invention, the pre-treatment device breaks a part of the collection bag in which used disposable diapers collected from hospitals, nursing homes, etc. are sealed and stored, forming a bag tearing start point. Therefore, when the used disposable diapers are placed in the washing machine together with the collection bag, the collection bag breaks and disassembles at the bag tearing start point, eliminating the need for labor and time to disassemble the used disposable diapers. In addition, the diffusion of odors and the scattering of bacteria can be suppressed when the used disposable diapers are removed from the plastic or vinyl bag. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of a used disposable diaper disposal system according to the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a washing machine in the used disposable diaper disposal system according to the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 shows a pretreatment device of a used disposable diaper treatment system according to the present invention, where (a) is a side view and (b) is a plan view. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a method for disposing of used disposable diapers according to the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a collection bag containing used disposable diapers. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the washing process of the method for disposing of used disposable diapers according to the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing another example of the pretreatment device of the used disposable diaper treatment system according to the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a front view showing another example of the pretreatment device of the used disposable diaper treatment system according to the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a side view showing another example of the pretreatment device of the used disposable diaper treatment system according to the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a side view showing a state in which used disposable diapers are put into a washing machine using another example of a pretreatment device of a used disposable diaper treatment system according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] [First embodiment] A used disposable diaper disposal system and disposal method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below. As shown in Fig. 1, a used disposable diaper disposal system (hereinafter referred to as the "disposal system") 1 according to this embodiment decomposes multiple materials constituting the disposable diapers using a processing agent to recover the materials. The disposal system 1 includes a washing machine 4 into which the used disposable diapers 2 are placed together with a collection bag 3, which is agitated with the processing agent to decompose the used disposable diapers 2, and a pre-treatment device 6 that breaks a portion of the collection bag 3 in which the used disposable diapers 2 collected from hospitals, nursing homes, etc. are sealed and stored, forming a bag tear-start portion 5. The washing machine 4 places the collection bag 3 with the bag tear-start portion 5 in the washing machine, which agitates the collected disposable diapers 2 together with the processing agent to disassemble the collection bag 3 from the bag tear-start portion 5, and ejects the used disposable diapers 2 from the collection bag 3 for decomposition.

[0022] As shown in Figure 2, washing machine 4 includes a water tub 8 supported by a housing 7, a drum 9 rotatably mounted within the water tub 8, and a drive means 10 capable of rotating the drum 9. The washing machine 4 agitates collection bags 3 with bag tearing initiation sections 5 formed therein together with chemical 21 serving as a treatment agent, and disassembles the bags from the bag tearing initiation sections 5. The washing machine 4 is a commercial washing machine used in laundromats, linen rooms of hotels, hospitals, etc., for washing items to be washed. The treatment agent is a mixture of disinfectant, lime, and water in a predetermined ratio, and is individually packaged in amounts sufficient to disassemble used disposable diapers 2 within the washing machine 4.

[0023] 2, reference numeral 22 denotes a discharge pipe for discharging wastewater containing a treatment agent from inside the water tub 8 of the washing machine 4, and reference numeral 23 denotes a new water supply pipe for supplying new water into the water tub 8. Reference numeral 51 denotes a steam supply pipe for supplying high-temperature steam into the water tub 8.

[0024] As shown in Figures 3(a) and (b), the pre-treatment device 6 has a chamber 24, a belt conveyor 25 that passes through the chamber 24, and laser irradiation means 12 that irradiates laser light 11 onto collection bags 3 containing used disposable diapers 2 on the belt conveyor 25. Three laser irradiation means 12 are arranged in a direction that intersects with the conveying direction of the belt conveyor 25, and irradiate laser light onto the collection bags 3 being conveyed on the belt conveyor 25. As shown in Figure 5, the collection bags 3 irradiated with the laser light are partially destroyed, forming bag tear initiation points 5.

[0025] In this embodiment, the collection bag 3 is irradiated with laser light 11 as a means for forming the bag tearing initiation part 5, but other methods for forming the bag tearing initiation part can be used as long as they damage a part of the collection bag 3. For example, a sharp blade can be used to make a cut on the surface of the collection bag 3.

[0026] Next, the behavior of the collection bag 3 being disassembled in the drum 9 by forming the bag tearing initiation portion 5 will be described. The collection bag 3 with the bag tearing initiation portion 5 formed thereon is placed into the drum 9 of the washing machine 4, and when the drum 9 is rotated and agitated while water, a treating agent, and high-temperature steam are supplied to the drum 9, the water and the treating agent enter the collection bag 3 through the bag tearing initiation portion 5. The water that enters the collection bag 3 is absorbed by the absorbent polymer (SAP) of the used disposable diapers 2 inside the collection bag 3, causing the used disposable diapers 2 to swell. The swelling of the used disposable diapers 2 causes the collection bag 3 to swell, which causes the collection bag 3 to tear at the bag tearing initiation portion 5 and disassemble. As a result, the used disposable diapers 2 inside the collection bag 3 are ejected from the collection bag 3.

[0027] The treatment system 1 of this embodiment also includes a dehydrator 13 that extracts pulp 14 from the wastewater containing the treatment agent discharged from the washing machine 4. The dehydrator 13 removes moisture from the wastewater (first wastewater) after the washer 4 has agitated it to decompose used disposable diapers, and recovers the pulp 14 that is mixed in the wastewater. The hydrogen ion concentration (PH) of the wastewater (second wastewater) after recovery of the pulp 14 is adjusted by an adjuster 15, and the second wastewater is then discharged (sewage). Plastic 20 remains in the drained washing machine 4, and the plastic 20 is recovered.

[0028] As described above, according to the treatment system 1 of this embodiment, used disposable diapers 2 are decomposed and treated using a washing machine 4, so there is no need to newly manufacture dedicated outer body separation tanks, inner body separation tanks, wastewater treatment equipment, etc., and the unit price of the treatment system 1 can be significantly reduced. This makes it possible to reduce the financial burden on small hospitals and small local governments. In addition, by significantly reducing the unit price of the treatment system 1, the cost associated with recycling used disposable diapers can also be reduced.

[0029] Furthermore, the pre-treatment device 6 breaks a part of the collection bag 3 in which used disposable diapers 2 collected from hospitals, nursing homes, etc. are sealed and stored, forming the bag tearing start part 5. Therefore, when the collection bag 3 containing the used disposable diapers 2 is placed into the washing machine 4, the collection bag 3 breaks and disassembles at the bag tearing start part 5, eliminating the need for labor and time to disassemble the used disposable diapers 2. In addition, there is no need to remove the used disposable diapers 2 from the plastic or vinyl bag, which helps prevent the spread of odors and the scattering of bacteria.

[0030] Furthermore, the pre-treatment device 6 that forms the bag tearing initiation portion 5 also forms the bag tearing initiation portion 5 in the packaging portion of the treatment agent that has been individually packaged in amounts sufficient to disassemble the used disposable diapers 2. In addition, in this embodiment, the pre-treatment device that breaks a portion of the collection bag 3 forms the bag tearing initiation portion 5 by irradiating it with laser light, so the bag tearing initiation portion 5 can be formed without contacting the collection bag 3. This means that the bag tearing initiation portion 5 can be formed more hygienically because it does not come into contact with the used disposable diapers 2, compared to when the bag tearing initiation portion 5 is formed with a blade such as a cutter.

[0031] [Second embodiment] Next, a method for treating used disposable diapers will be described with reference to FIG. 4. In this embodiment, the washing machine 4, pretreatment device 6, and spin dryer 13 described above are used. As shown in FIG. 4, the method for treating used disposable diapers includes a collection step 16 in which collection bags 3 containing used disposable diapers 2 in a sealed state are collected from hospitals, nursing homes, etc.; a pretreatment step 17 in which parts of the collection bags 3 collected in the collection step 16 are broken to form bag tear initiation points 5; and a washing step 18 in which the collection bags 3 with the bag tear initiation points 5 formed in the pretreatment step 17 are agitated with a treating agent (chemical) in the washing machine 4 to eject the used disposable diapers 2 from the collection bags 3 and decompose the used disposable diapers 2. The treatment method of this embodiment also includes a spin dryer step 19 in which pulp 14 is collected from the wastewater (first wastewater) discharged from the washing machine 4 after the washing step 18 is completed.

[0032] In the washing process 18, as shown in FIG. 6, in step 26, the collection bag 3, on which the bag tearing initiation portion 5 was formed in the pretreatment process, is placed directly into the drum 9 of the washing machine 4 along with the chemicals. In step 27, water and steam are supplied into the drum 9 while the drum 9 is rotating. Then, the drum 9 is rotated to perform the washing process (step 28). In this washing process 28, by rotating the drum 9, the collection bag 3 is broken down at the bag tearing initiation portion 5, and the collection bag 3 is disassembled. As the collection bag 3 is disassembled, the used disposable diapers 2 inside are ejected from the collection bag 3 and agitated together with the chemicals by the rotation of the drum 9, and the used disposable diapers 2 are decomposed. Through this decomposition process, the used disposable diapers 2 are broken down into pulp, plastic, and other materials, which are mixed in the wastewater containing the treatment agent (chemicals).

[0033] After the washing step 28 is completed, the waste liquid containing the chemicals is drained, and new water is supplied into the drum 9 again to perform the rinsing step (step 29). The waste liquid discharged from the drum 9 contains pulp, and this waste liquid is sent to the dehydrator 13. In the rinsing step 29, the solid plastic 20 and pulp 14 are agitated with the new water to rinse, and the pulp adhering to the surface of the plastic 20 is washed away. After the rinsing step 29 is completed, the treatment liquid in the drum is drained in the draining step (step 30), and the waste liquid discharged from the drum 9 is sent to the dehydrator 13.

[0034] After draining the waste liquid from the drum 9 in step 30, the drum 9 is rotated to spin the water in step 30a. After spinning in step 30a, the solid plastic 20 remaining in the drum 9 is removed in step 31. The waste liquid discharged from the drum 9, together with the waste liquid discharged in the washing step 28 and the rinsing step 29, is dehydrated in the spin dryer 13 in step 32, and the solid pulp 14 is recovered. The hydrogen ion concentration (PH) of the waste liquid dehydrated in the spin dryer 13 and the waste liquid dehydrated by rotating the drum 9 in step 30a is adjusted in step 33, and then discharged to the sewer in step 34. In this way, by repeating the washing step 28 and the rinsing step 29 multiple times, the used disposable diapers 2 are further agitated, and the pulp is further washed away from the surface of the plastic 20.

[0035] In the washing process 18, when the wastewater is discharged after the used disposable diapers in the collection bag 3 are decomposed with a treatment agent made of chemicals, plastics 20 with some pulp adhering thereto remain in the drum 9. In this case, new water is supplied into the water tank 8 from the new water supply pipe 23, and rinsing is performed, thereby making it possible to wash away the pulp adhering to the surface of the plastics 20.

[0036] [Third embodiment] Next, another embodiment of the pre-treatment device will be described with reference to Figures 7 to 10. Note that components that are the same as those in the above-described embodiments will be described using the same reference numerals as those in the above-described embodiments. A pre-treatment device 35 of this embodiment has a cylindrical insertion cylinder 37 that is open at both ends and into which a collection bag 3 containing used disposable diapers 2 is inserted through one opening 36, and a bag-breaking blade 39 that is provided near the other opening 38 of the insertion cylinder 37 and that breaks a portion of the collection bag 3 inserted through the one opening 36 to form a bag-breaking initiation portion 5. A drive unit 40 that rotates and drives the bag-breaking blade 39 is provided on the lower side of the insertion cylinder 37.

[0037] The input cylinder 37 has rectangular openings 36, 38 at both ends, with the other opening 38 being smaller than the other opening 36, forming a square cylinder. Used disposable diapers 2 contained in a collection bag 3 are input into the input cylinder 37 through one opening 36, with the other opening 38 positioned at the opening of the drum 9 of the washing machine 4. The bag-breaking blade 39 provided on the side of the other opening 38 is formed by three rotary blades 41, 42, 43, which are attached at a predetermined interval to a rotary shaft 44 rotatably supported on the input cylinder 37. A rotational driving force is transmitted from the drive unit 40 to the rotary shaft 44, causing the rotary blades 41, 42, 43 to rotate.

[0038] The drive unit 40 is formed by a drive motor 45 provided on the lower side of the insertion cylinder 37, and an endless transmission belt 47 wound around a drive shaft 45a of the drive motor 45 and a pulley 46 provided on the rotation shaft 44. As shown in Figure 9, a collection bag 3 inserted into the insertion cylinder 37, which has one opening 36, slides down the slope on the inner surface of the insertion cylinder 37 and becomes entangled between the inner surface of the insertion cylinder 37 and the rotary blades 41, 42, and 43. When the collection bag 3 is pushed out toward the other opening 38 by the rotation of the rotary blades 41, 42, and 43, the collection bag 3 is broken by the rotary blades 41, 42, and 43, and a bag breakage initiation point 5 is formed.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 10 , the pretreatment device 35 aligns the opening of the drum 9 with the other opening 38 of the pretreatment device 35 while the washing machine 4 is tilted. From this state, an operator 49 inserts a collection bag 3, which is placed on a transport vehicle 48 and contains used disposable diapers 2, into the insertion cylinder 37 through one opening 36 of the insertion cylinder 37. The collection bag 3 inserted into the insertion cylinder 37 slides down the inclined inner surface of the insertion cylinder 37 and is partially broken by the rotating rotary blades 41, 42, 43 as it passes between the rotating rotary blades 41, 42, 43 and the inclined inner surface, forming a bag-breaking initiation portion 5. The collection bag 3 with the bag-breaking initiation portion 5 formed therein is inserted into the drum 9 of the washing machine 4.

[0040] The collection bag 3 with the bag tearing start portion 5 formed is agitated with water, chemicals, and steam by the rotation of the drum 9 of the washing machine 4, and the collection bag 3 is disassembled, and the used disposable diapers 2 inside are ejected and decomposed.

[0041] While the present invention has been described above by way of example, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. All such modifications and equivalents are intended to be encompassed by the following claims. [Industrial Applicability]

[0042] The used disposable diaper collection tool and used disposable diaper recycling method according to the present invention can be applied to plastic products and paper products used in hospitals, nursing homes, etc., in addition to diaper collection bags. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 1. Used diaper disposal system 2. Used disposable diapers 3 Collection bags 4. Washing machine 5 Bag breaking start part 6 Pretreatment equipment

Claims

1. A used disposable diaper treatment device that decomposes a plurality of materials constituting used disposable diapers using a treatment agent and recovers the materials, a washing machine in which the used paper diapers are put into a collection bag containing the used paper diapers and agitated together with a treatment agent to decompose and treat the used paper diapers; a pre-treatment device that breaks a part of the collection bag in which the used disposable diapers are sealed to form a bag tearing start portion; The washing machine is a used paper diaper processing system characterized in that the collection bag with the bag tearing start portion formed is put in and stirred with the processing agent to dismantle the collection bag from the bag tearing start portion, and the used paper diapers are ejected from the collection bag and decomposed.

2. The washing machine is characterized in that it comprises a water tub supported by a housing, a drum rotatably mounted within the water tub, and a driving means capable of rotating the drum, and agitates the collection bag on which the bag tearing start portion has been formed together with the treatment agent, thereby dismantling the collection bag from the bag tearing start portion.

3. 3. The used disposable diaper disposal system according to claim 1, wherein the pre-treatment device has a laser irradiation means for irradiating the collection bag with a laser beam.

4. The pre-treatment device is characterized in that it comprises a cylindrical input cylinder having openings at both ends and into which the collection bag containing used disposable diapers is input through one opening, and a bag-breaking blade located near the other opening of the input cylinder for breaking a portion of the collection bag input through the one opening to form a bag-breaking starting point.

5. 2. The used disposable diaper disposal system according to claim 1, wherein the treatment agent is a mixture of a disinfectant, lime, and water in a predetermined ratio, packed in a bag.

6. 2. The used disposable diaper disposal system according to claim 1, further comprising a dehydration device for extracting pulp from the wastewater containing the treatment agent discharged from the washing machine.

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