Waste Collection Apparatus with Segmented Containers and Mobile Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current separate rubbish collection systems are impractical, cumbersome, and costly, requiring frequent emptying of small containers, leading to accessibility issues, odor problems, and inefficient recycling processes, especially for organic waste.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with a containing structure featuring multiple rubbish collection containers and sensors that automatically recognize waste types, allowing for separate collection through two apertures, shredding, and compacting, reducing user intervention and optimizing container space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate containers are provided for different waste types, then separate collection is enabled, but the overall size and bulk of the apparatus increases
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus is divided into multiple separate containers (first container for organic waste, second container for inorganic waste) that can be independently positioned and managed. This segmentation enables separate collection of different waste types while allowing each container to be optimized for its specific function, reducing the need for excessive overall space compared to a single large mixed container.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus incorporates a mobile support system that allows the containers to be dynamically repositioned. The support can move between a first position (receiving waste through first aperture) and a second position (receiving waste through second aperture), enabling flexible adaptation to different waste types without requiring fixed, space-consuming structures for each container type.
2Volume of moving object
If containers are made small to fit within standard furniture sizes, then the apparatus fits in normal spaces, but frequent emptying is required
Solution Approach 1:
The organic waste container is designed to be extractable from the apparatus. This allows the container to be removed and emptied separately without disturbing the inorganic waste container, enabling more efficient waste management. The extraction capability effectively increases the functional capacity of a compact container by allowing selective removal and emptying of only the filled container.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus pre-separates organic and inorganic waste into different containers, performing the separation action before the waste needs to be emptied. This preliminary classification allows for more efficient emptying operations, as each container can be emptied according to its specific requirements rather than requiring frequent emptying of a mixed container.
3Loss of time
If rubbish is left in containers for prolonged periods, then collection frequency can be reduced, but unpleasant odors and insect attraction increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting waste into separate organic and inorganic containers, the apparatus isolates the odor-generating organic waste from the environment and from inorganic waste. This segmentation allows organic waste to be contained and managed separately, reducing the spread of odors and insect attraction while still allowing for less frequent collection compared to mixed waste containers.
Solution Approach 2:
The separate container structure acts as an intermediary barrier between the organic waste and the surrounding environment. This intermediary containment reduces the direct exposure of organic waste to air and insects, thereby minimizing odor generation and pest attraction during the storage period between collections.
4Adaptability or versatility
If manual separation of waste is required, then separate collection is achieved, but user complexity and effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus enables self-service waste separation by providing dedicated containers for different waste types with separate access apertures. Users simply deposit waste into the appropriate aperture based on basic classification (organic vs. inorganic), and the apparatus automatically manages the separation through its dual-container system, reducing the cognitive load and effort required compared to manual sorting into multiple containers.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile support system provides multi-functionality by serving both as a structural base for the containers and as an active component that moves between receiving positions. This universal component handles both organic and inorganic waste reception, eliminating the need for separate fixed structures for each waste type and simplifying user interaction to a single apparatus rather than multiple separate systems.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for the separate collection of rubbish includes a containing structure provided with an internal compartment in which there are a plurality of rubbish collection containers and at least a first and a second aperture for access to the internal compartment from the outside, in order to introduce the rubbish.