Method and apparatus for treating used sanitary products

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for treating used sanitary products that can eliminate variations in the separation state of used sanitary products during decomposition treatment of used sanitary products in an inner body separation tank. [Solution] The present invention is a used sanitary product processing device that has an outer body separating tank 3 fixed to a housing 2, an inner body separating tank 4 supported so as to be freely rotatable within the outer body separating tank 3, and a drive means 6 equipped with a motor 5 that applies rotational force to rotate the inner body separating tank 4, in which used sanitary products are placed into the inner body separating tank 4 together with processing liquid, and the inner body separating tank 4 is operated by passing electricity through the motor 5, causing it to rotate at a predetermined rotation speed and decomposing and separating the used sanitary products into the materials that make up the used sanitary products.The method for processing used sanitary products that checks the separation state of the used sanitary products is characterized in that when it is detected that the current value passing through the motor 5 has reached its maximum value, power to the motor 5 is stopped and it is determined that the separation state of the used sanitary products has ended.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for treating used sanitary products such as used disposable diapers and used urine absorption pads. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 proposes a used sanitary product treatment device that decomposes used disposable diapers as used sanitary products and recovers the materials that make up the used disposable diapers. In this used sanitary product treatment device, a predetermined weight of used disposable diapers and a treatment liquid for decomposing the used disposable diapers are placed in a separator, and the used disposable diapers are immersed in the treatment liquid for decomposition.

[0003] The separator in Patent Document 1 is composed of an outer body separating tank, an inner body separating tank rotatably mounted within the outer body separating tank, and a drive means for rotating the inner body separating tank. Used disposable diapers are placed in the inner body separating tank, a treatment solution is supplied into the outer body separating tank, and the drive means rotates the inner body separating tank within the outer body separating tank. As a result, the treatment solution permeates the used disposable diapers, breaking them down into the materials that make up the disposable diapers, i.e., pulp, plastic, and others.

[0004] The inner and outer separating tanks are provided with windows through which the interior can be seen, and the gradual decomposition of used disposable diapers in the inner separating tank can be confirmed through these windows. The time for processing used disposable diapers, i.e., the time for rotating the inner separating tank, is determined by visually observing the decomposition state of used disposable diapers in the inner separating tank through the window. Alternatively, the average separation time of used disposable diapers is determined by collecting data on the decomposition state of used disposable diapers, and the rotational drive time of the inner separating tank is determined from the empirical value of this average separation time, and the separation state of used disposable diapers is determined based on the drive time of the inner separating tank obtained from the empirical value. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6326166 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, when visually checking the separation state of used disposable diapers in the inner body separation tank after they have been disassembled, there is variation in the judgment of the separation state depending on the worker performing the visual inspection, which can result in insufficient separation or excessive disassembly, resulting in unnecessary disassembly time being wasted. Furthermore, the predetermined amount of used disposable diapers placed in the inner body separation tank varies in type and weight, with some having a lot of excrement attached, some having almost no excrement attached, and diapers of different sizes, etc. Therefore, when used disposable diapers are decomposed within the empirically determined decomposition time, the separation may be insufficient or the diapers may be excessively decomposed, resulting in unnecessary decomposition time.

[0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for treating used sanitary products that can eliminate variation in the separation state of used sanitary products when they are decomposed in an inner body separation tank. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, the first aspect of the present invention is a method for confirming the separation state of used sanitary products in a processing device for used sanitary products, which has an outer body separation tank fixed to a housing, an inner body separation tank rotatably supported within the outer body separation tank, and a drive means equipped with a motor that applies rotational force to rotate the inner body separation tank, in which used sanitary products are placed into the inner body separation tank together with a processing solution, and the inner body separation tank is operated by passing current through the motor to rotate it at a predetermined rotation speed to decompose and separate the used sanitary products into the materials that make up the used sanitary products, and is characterized in that when it is detected that the current value passing through the motor has reached a maximum value, the current passing through the motor is stopped and it is determined that the separation state of the used sanitary products has ended.

[0009] A second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that after the temperature inside the inner body separation tank reaches a predetermined temperature, the current value flowing through the motor is detected, and when the current value reaches its maximum value, the current flow to the motor is stopped, and it is determined that the separation of used sanitary products has ended.

[0010] A third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that after the inner body separating tank starts to rotate, a predetermined amount of water is supplied into the inner body separating tank, and after the predetermined amount of water has been supplied into the inner body separating tank, steam at a predetermined temperature is supplied into the inner body separating tank, and after the temperature in the inner body separating tank reaches the predetermined temperature, it is determined whether the current flowing through the motor is at its maximum value.

[0011] A fourth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that it comprises a used sanitary product treatment device comprising an outer body separation tank fixed to a housing, an inner body separation tank rotatably supported within the outer body separation tank, and a drive means equipped with a motor that applies rotational force to rotate the inner body separation tank; a water supply unit that supplies water into the outer body separation tank, a steam supply unit that supplies steam into the outer body separation tank, a power source that provides electricity to the motor, a power switch that is provided between the power source and the motor and connects and disconnects the motor from the power source, an ammeter that is provided between the motor and the power source and detects the current flowing through the motor, a thermometer that detects the temperature within the outer body separation tank, a flowmeter that detects the amount of water supplied from the water supply unit into the outer body separation tank, and a control unit to which the ammeter, thermometer, flowmeter, steam supply unit, water supply unit and power switch are connected, and that stops the supply of electricity to the motor when the current value supplied to the motor detected by the current reaches a maximum value, thereby determining that the separation of used sanitary products has ended. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the present invention, the separation of used sanitary products is determined to have ended when it is detected that the current value passing through the motor has reached its maximum value, thereby making it possible to eliminate variation in the decomposition state of used sanitary products during the decomposition process of used sanitary products in the inner body separation tank.

[0013] In addition, when disassembling used sanitary products, the end of the separation of the used sanitary products is determined when the current value passing through the motor is detected to have reached its maximum value. This prevents insufficient or excessive separation of the used sanitary products, thereby eliminating variation in the separation state and enabling efficient processing of the used sanitary products. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the schematic configuration of a treatment device used in the method for treating used sanitary products according to the present invention. [Figure 2]FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the control unit of the used sanitary product treatment device according to the present invention, and the ammeter, thermometer, flow meter, steam supply unit, water supply unit, and power switch connected to the control unit. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the steps of the method for disposing of used sanitary products. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the state of used disposable diapers in the inner body separation tank at the beginning of decomposition processing and at the end of decomposition processing. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a graph showing the change in the current value supplied to the motor and the temperature inside the outer shell separation tank with respect to the elapsed time of decomposition of used disposable diapers. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] Hereinafter, a method and a treatment device for used sanitary products according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, a case where used disposable diapers are decomposed and treated as used sanitary products will be described. In this embodiment, the treatment device for used sanitary products is a treatment device for used disposable diapers, and will be simply referred to as a "treatment device" hereinafter. First, the treatment device for used disposable diapers will be described.

[0016] 1 and 2, the processing device 1 in this embodiment is used in a separator 7 comprising an outer body separating tank 3 fixed to a housing 2, an inner body separating tank 4 rotatably supported within the outer body separating tank 3, and a drive means 6 equipped with a motor 5 that applies a rotational force to rotate the inner body separating tank 4. The outer body separating tank 3 has an input port 9 on one side for inputting used disposable diapers 8 therein, and the input port 9 is connected to an input opening 10 of the inner body separating tank 4. In addition, the input port 9 of the outer body separating tank 3 has a door 11 that can be opened and closed.

[0017] The drive means 6 is formed by a rotary shaft 12 that protrudes from the rear surface of the inner body separating tank 4 and penetrates the rear surface of the outer body separating tank 3, and a transmission belt 14 that is wound around the drive shaft 13 of the motor 5. The motor 5 is connected to a power source 15, and is supplied with drive power from the power source 15.

[0018] The processing device 1 also includes a water supply unit 16 that supplies water into the outer body separating tank 3, a steam supply unit 17 that supplies steam into the outer body separating tank 3, a power source 15 that supplies power to the motor 5, a power switch 18 that is provided between the power source 15 and the motor 5 and connects and disconnects the motor 5 to the power source 15, an ammeter 19 that is provided between the motor 5 and the power source 15 and detects the current flowing through the motor 5, a thermometer 20 that detects the temperature inside the outer body separating tank 3, a flowmeter 21 that detects the amount of water supplied from the water supply unit 16 to the outer body separating tank 3, and a control unit 22 that is connected to the ammeter 19, thermometer 20, flowmeter 21, steam supply unit 17, water supply unit 16, and power switch 18, and that stops the flow of power to the motor 5 when it detects that the current value passed through the motor 5, detected by the ammeter 19, has reached a maximum value, thereby determining that the separation of the used disposable diapers 8 has ended.

[0019] The water supply section 16 is formed by a water supply pipe 23 communicating with the inside of the outer body separating tank 3, a water supply valve 24 provided midway along the water supply pipe 23, and a flow meter 25 provided in the water supply pipe 23 between the water supply valve 24 and the outer body separating tank 3, and the water supply valve 24 is connected to the control section 22 and opened and closed. The steam supply section 17 is formed by a steam supply pipe 26 communicating with the inside of the outer body separating tank 3 and a steam supply valve 27 provided midway along the steam supply pipe 26, and the steam supply valve 27 is connected to the control section 22 and opened and closed.

[0020] Next, the procedure for treating used disposable diapers and the procedure for decomposing used disposable diapers 8 using the treatment device 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in Figure 3. First, a predetermined amount of used disposable diapers 8 are placed into the inner body separation tank 4 through the input port 9 and input opening 10. A predetermined amount of treatment liquid is then supplied into the inner body separation tank 4. This treatment liquid is a decomposition agent for decomposing used disposable diapers and is a mixture of lime, hypochlorous acid as a disinfectant, and water. The amounts of lime, hypochlorous acid, and water are determined depending on the type and amount of used disposable diapers to be treated. A detergent or bleach may also be added as needed. Alternatively, a mixture of lime and water may be used as the decomposition water, and hypochlorous acid as a disinfectant may be supplied to the inner body separation tank 4 separately from the decomposition water.

[0021] After a predetermined amount of used disposable diapers has been placed in the inner body separating tank 4 and a predetermined amount of treatment liquid has been supplied, the control unit 22 turns the power switch 18 ON in step S1 to supply power from the power source 15 to the motor 5 and drive the motor 5 (S1). When the motor 5 is driven, the inner body separating tank 4 begins to rotate at a predetermined rotation speed. With the inner body separating tank 4 rotating, the control unit 22 opens the water supply valve 24 in step S2 to start the supply of new water to the outer body separating tank 3 (S2).

[0022] At this time, the control unit 22 determines in step S3 whether the amount of water passing through the water supply pipe 23 using the flow meter 21 is a predetermined amount (S3). If the predetermined amount has not been reached, in step S2, new water continues to be supplied into the outer body separation tank 3. If the value of the flow meter 21 is determined to be the predetermined amount in step S3, the control unit 22 closes the water supply valve 24 in step S4, stopping the supply of new water into the outer body separation tank 3 (S4).

[0023] When a predetermined amount of new water has been supplied into the outer body separating tank 3, the control unit 22 starts supplying steam into the outer body separating tank 3 in step S5 (S5). At this time, the control unit 22 opens the steam supply valve 27 to supply steam into the outer body separating tank 3 through the steam supply pipe 26. When steam is supplied into the outer body separating tank 3, the temperatures of the treatment liquid and new water in the outer body separating tank 3 rise, and the temperature inside the outer body separating tank 3 gradually rises.

[0024] The temperature inside the outer body separating tank 3 is detected by the thermometer 20, and the control unit 22 determines in step S6 whether the temperature inside the outer body separating tank 3 has reached a predetermined temperature. If the temperature inside the outer body separating tank 3 has not reached the predetermined temperature, the supply of steam continues in step S5, and when the temperature inside the outer body separating tank 3 reaches the predetermined temperature in step S6, the control unit 22 closes the steam supply valve 27 in step S7 to stop the supply of steam into the outer body separating tank 3 (S7).

[0025] When the temperature inside the outer shell separation tank 3 reaches a predetermined temperature, the control unit 22 detects the current value from the power supply 15 to the motor 5 with the ammeter 19 in step S8 (S8). Then, the control unit 22 determines in step S9 whether the current value detected by the ammeter 19 is the target maximum current or not (S9). Note that "whether it is the target maximum current value" is determined, for example, by whether it is detected that the detected current value has reached a maximum value. If the current value detected by the ammeter 19 has not reached the target maximum current value, step S5 and subsequent steps are repeatedly executed.

[0026] That is, it is determined whether the temperature inside the outer shell separation tank 3 is at a predetermined temperature, and if it has not reached the predetermined temperature, steam is supplied again. If it has reached the predetermined temperature, the supply of steam is stopped and the current value is detected by the ammeter 19. When it is detected that the current value detected by the ammeter 19 has reached the target maximum current value, the control unit 22 stops driving the motor 5 in step S10 (S10). In this case, the control unit 22 turns the power switch 18 to the OFF state and stops the supply of power from the power source 15 to the motor 5.

[0027] By stopping the supply of power from the power source 15 to the motor 5, the rotation of the inner body separation tank 4 stops. In this state, the decomposition of the used disposable diapers 8 in the inner body separation tank 4 is completed. By the above procedure, confirmation of the separation state due to the decomposition of the used disposable diapers 8 in the inner body separation tank 4 is completed.

[0028] In this embodiment, the current value supplied to the motor 5 is detected, and when this current value reaches a maximum current value, it can be determined that the separation state of the used disposable diapers 8 has ended. The relationship between the separation state of the used disposable diapers 8 and the current value supplied to the motor 5 will be described with reference to Figs. 4 and 5.

[0029] As shown in Figure 4(a), when used disposable diapers 8 are placed in the inner body separation tank 4 and treatment liquid and new water are supplied, the used disposable diapers 8 are large because they have not yet been decomposed, and the treatment liquid and new water do not contain pulp, plastic, or other materials decomposed from the used disposable diapers 8. When the inner body separation tank 4 is rotated and the used disposable diapers 8 are scooped up by the scraping protrusions 28 inside the inner body separation tank 4 and dropped onto the surface of the treatment liquid, they are agitated, and the used disposable diapers 8 are decomposed, and the pulp and plastic become mixed in the treatment liquid.

[0030] As shown in Figure 4(b), as the decomposition of used disposable diapers 8 progresses, the size of the solid matter in the treatment liquid decreases, and pulp, plastic, and other materials become mixed in the treatment liquid. In this state, when the scraping protrusion 28 scrapes up the pulp and plastic in the treatment liquid, the resistance to rotation of the inner body separation tank 4 increases compared to the state before the decomposition of the used disposable diapers 8, and therefore, when the inner body separation tank 4 is rotated at a predetermined rotation speed, the current flowing to the motor 5 increases. Then, as the decomposition of the used disposable diapers 8 progresses, the increase in the current flowing to the motor 5 stops and the current value remains flat.

[0031] Next, using FIG. 5, we will explain the change in the current supplied to the motor 5 and the change in the temperature inside the outer body separation tank 3 and the inner body separation tank 4 (hereinafter referred to as "tank temperature") over time. In FIG. 5, curve A shows the change in the current supplied to the motor 5, and curve B shows the change in the temperature inside the outer body separation tank 3 and the inner body separation tank 4. As shown in FIG. 5, as the decomposition time progresses, the temperature inside the tank rises as shown by curve B, and when it reaches a predetermined temperature, it is maintained at the set temperature. Furthermore, the current value detected by the ammeter 19, as shown by curve A, gradually increases from the current value required to rotate the inner body separation tank 4 at a predetermined rotation speed to the current value supplied to the motor 5 as the used disposable diapers 8 are decomposed and pulp, plastic, and other materials begin to mix in the treatment liquid, resulting in an increase in rotational resistance. When the decomposition process of the used disposable diapers 8 reaches the final stage, the increase in the current value supplied to the motor 5 stops and the current value remains constant.

[0032] The current value supplied to the motor 5 stops increasing and becomes flat, and the current value P at this time can be determined to be the maximum current value P, which means that even if the used disposable diapers 8 are further stirred with the treatment liquid, they will not be further decomposed.Therefore, when the current value supplied to the motor is detected to be the maximum value P, it is determined that the separation state of the used sanitary products has ended.

[0033] As described above, according to this embodiment, the end of the separation state of used paper diapers 8 is determined when it is detected that the current value passing through motor 5 has reached its maximum value, thereby making it possible to eliminate variation in the decomposition state of used paper diapers 8 during the decomposition process of used paper diapers 8 in the inner body separation tank 4.

[0034] In addition, when disassembling used paper diapers 8, the end of the separation state of the used paper diapers 8 is determined when it is detected that the current value passing through the motor 5 has reached its maximum value. This prevents the used paper diapers 8 from being separated insufficiently or from being disassembled more than necessary, thereby eliminating variation in the separation state and enabling the used paper diapers 8 to be disassembled efficiently.

[0035] In the above embodiment, the value of the current supplied to the motor 5 is detected when the temperature inside the tub reaches a predetermined temperature, but the current supplied to the motor 5 may be detected from the start of power supply to the motor 5. Also, when the current supplied to the motor 5 reaches a maximum value, a buzzer or the like may be used to notify that the separation of the used disposable diapers has been completed. Furthermore, a process after the disassembly of the used disposable diapers has been completed, such as a spin-drying process, may be automatically performed after the disassembly has been completed.

[0036] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the current value when the current value supplied to motor 5 stops increasing and becomes flat is determined to be the maximum value of the current supplied to motor 5, and the decomposition process of used disposable diapers is determined to be completed. However, when the current value supplied to motor 5 stops increasing and a slight decrease is detected, the current value just before the decrease can be determined to be the maximum value of the current supplied to motor 5. [Industrial Applicability]

[0037] The separator for a used sanitary product treatment device according to the present invention can be used to decompose and treat used disposable diapers as well as used sanitary products such as urine absorption pads. [Explanation of symbols]

[0038] 1. Used sanitary product treatment device (treatment device) 2. Case 3 Outer shell separation tank 4 Inner shell separation tank 5 motors 6. Driving means 7 Separator 8 Used disposable diapers

Claims

1. A method for treating used sanitary products, comprising: an outer body separating tank fixed to a housing; an inner body separating tank rotatably supported within the outer body separating tank; and a drive means having a motor for applying a rotational force to rotate the inner body separating tank, wherein used sanitary products are placed into the inner body separating tank together with a treatment solution, and the inner body separating tank is operated by energizing the motor to rotate it at a predetermined rotation speed to separate and decompose the used sanitary products into their constituent materials, the method comprising: A method for processing used sanitary products, characterized in that when it is detected that the current value passing through the motor has reached a maximum value, the power supply to the motor is stopped and the separation state of the used sanitary products is determined to have ended.

2. A method for processing used sanitary products as described in claim 1, characterized in that after the temperature inside the inner body separation tank reaches a predetermined temperature, the current value flowing to the motor is detected, and when it is detected that the current value has reached a maximum value, the current flow to the motor is stopped and the separation of the used sanitary products is determined to have ended.

3. A method for processing used sanitary products as described in claim 2, characterized in that after the inner body separation tank starts to rotate, a predetermined amount of water is supplied into the inner body separation tank, and after the predetermined amount of water is supplied into the inner body separation tank, steam of a predetermined temperature is supplied into the inner body separation tank, and after the temperature in the inner body separation tank reaches the predetermined temperature, it is determined whether the current flowing through the motor has reached its maximum value.

4. a used sanitary product treatment device comprising an outer body separation tank fixed to a housing, an inner body separation tank rotatably supported within the outer body separation tank, and a drive means having a motor that applies a rotational force to rotate the inner body separation tank; a water supply unit that supplies water into the outer shell separation tank; a steam supply unit that supplies steam into the outer shell separation tank; a power supply for powering the motor; a power switch provided between the power supply and the motor for connecting and disconnecting the motor and the power supply; an ammeter provided between the motor and the power source to detect a current flowing through the motor; a thermometer for detecting the temperature inside the outer shell separation tank; a flow meter for detecting the amount of water supplied from the water supply unit into the outer shell separation tank; a control unit that is connected to the ammeter, thermometer, flow meter, steam supply unit, water supply unit, and power switch, and that stops power to the motor when it detects that the current value detected by the current passing through the motor has reached a maximum value, thereby determining that the separation state of the used sanitary products has ended.

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