Domestic Container Compactor with Horizontal Compression and Safety Interlock
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Container waste occupies a large volume, making its accumulation and removal cumbersome, especially for individuals with reduced strength or mobility, and existing compaction technologies are not suitable for home use.
Innovation Solution
A compactor device with a mechanical compression system, heat transmitters, and safety features like an anti-entrapment mechanism and electronic control board, designed for domestic use, which reduces container volume and ensures safe operation by preventing accidental access during compaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If manual compression of containers is performed, then container volume is reduced, but the operation becomes cumbersome and difficult for individuals with reduced strength or mobility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical compression with an automated mechanical compression system featuring a mobile plate that moves horizontally to compress containers. The system uses a motor-driven mechanism to automatically apply compression force, eliminating the need for manual effort while achieving significant volume reduction of container waste.
Solution Approach 2:
The compactor device enables users to simply deposit containers into the drawer and activate the compression through a control interface. The system then automatically performs the compression operation and ejection of compacted containers, making the process self-serving and eliminating physical strain on users.
2Volume of moving object
If industrial-level compaction equipment is used, then waste volume is reduced, but the equipment becomes too complex and large for home use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the compaction function into a modular drawer unit that can be independently removed and inserted. This segmentation allows the complex compression mechanism to be contained within a compact, standardized drawer module, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining effective compaction capability suitable for home environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from vertical compression (typical of industrial equipment) to horizontal compression through the mobile plate movement. This dimensional change allows for a more compact device footprint while achieving similar compression effectiveness, making the equipment suitable for home use without sacrificing volume reduction performance.
3Area of stationary object
If frequent removal of containers to collection bins is performed, then storage space is managed, but time and effort are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous compression capability that allows users to progressively compact containers over time. The drawer can be repeatedly loaded and compacted, gradually building up a compacted waste volume that is then ejected as a single unit, eliminating the need for frequent trips to collection bins and maximizing storage space utilization.
4Volume of moving object
If mechanical compression system operates, then container volume is reduced, but safety hazards from entrapment may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates an anti-entrapment safety mechanism that detects the presence of objects or fingers in the compression zone before the mobile plate initiates movement. The safety system performs preliminary verification and prevents compression operation if entrapment risk is detected, eliminating the hazard before it can materialize while allowing normal compression to proceed when safe.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Significantly reduces the volume of container waste in homes, facilitating easier storage and recycling by allowing for efficient compaction and safe operation, reducing the frequency of waste transfers to collection bins.
Implementation Method 1
The tilting plate (12) is supported on a first spring (13), with the first spring (13) also supported on the support plate (26)... and joins, by means of a third spring (36), to a fixed point of the structure (6)
Implementation Method 2
The fixed part (1) comprises a system that provides heat, which comprises two independent heat transmitters
Implementation Method 3
a mobile plate (8) configured to slide towards the fixed plate (11) of the drawer (2)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The compactor device for containers comprises a fixed part (1) and a drawer (2), where the fixed part (1) comprises a mechanical compression system (7) with a mobile plate (8) configured to move towards a fixed plate (11) of the drawer (2) and a system for providing heat, and wherein the drawer (2) comprises a front plate (25), a back plate (22), a support plate (26) and a tilting plate (12) facing the fixed plate (11), the tilting plate (12) being fixed to a first spring (13), and the tilting plate (12) comprising an "L" shape, where a first limb fixes the tilting plate (12) to the first spring (13), and a second limb forms a "V" shape with the fixed plate (11) and the tilting plate (12) is placed so that the movement of the mobile plate (8) towards the fixed plate (11) presses against the tilting plate (12).