Waste Container Opening Apparatus with Tilting Wall
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing waste container opening apparatuses require human contact to operate, leading to inefficient energy consumption, potential jamming, and improper waste bag insertion, resulting in incomplete filling of the container and potential conflicts with mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A separably mountable opening apparatus with a rotatable drawer and tilting wall mechanism that allows for ergonomic waste bag insertion without human contact, utilizing elastic recall elements and a locking system to control access and prevent overfilling, powered by user action without batteries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a pedal connected to leverage systems is used to open the container, then the opening apparatus can pass from closing to opening position, but human contact is required which increases energy consumption and reduces hygiene
Solution Approach 1:
The opening apparatus is designed to be automatically activated by the waste bag itself during insertion. The drawer's rotation mechanism is triggered by the bag's entry, causing the tilting wall to open without requiring external human contact or energy input. The system serves itself by using the waste bag's insertion motion to initiate the opening sequence.
Solution Approach 2:
The drawer is pre-positioned in a closed state that blocks the opening. During waste bag insertion, the bag's movement automatically triggers the drawer's rotation to the open position. This preliminary positioning and automatic triggering eliminates the need for human contact while maintaining controlled access.
2Ease of operation
If the opening apparatus passes from closing to opening position, then waste bags can be inserted, but the opening leaves the chamber accessible allowing wrong insertion and potential jamming
Solution Approach 1:
The tilting wall is designed to dynamically change its orientation based on the drawer's position. When the drawer rotates to the open position, the tilting wall automatically tilts to align with the chamber opening, creating a guided path for waste bags. This dynamic adjustment ensures proper insertion while preventing wrong orientations.
Solution Approach 2:
The tilting wall acts as an intermediary element between the drawer and the chamber opening. It mediates the transition from closed to open state by creating a controlled passage that guides waste bags correctly into the chamber, preventing wrong insertion while maintaining reliable operation.
3Productivity
If waste bags are inserted through the opening, then the container can be filled, but bags fall one on top of the other creating a pyramid that prevents homogeneous filling and causes jamming
Solution Approach 1:
The tilting wall dynamically adjusts its angle during the waste bag insertion process. As bags are inserted, the tilting wall's movement guides them to distribute evenly across the chamber floor rather than stacking vertically. This dynamic guidance prevents pyramid formation and ensures homogeneous filling that eliminates jamming risks.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the orientation parameter of the tilting wall during operation. By adjusting the wall's angle based on insertion needs, the system controls waste bag distribution patterns, transforming the filling process from vertical stacking to horizontal distribution, preventing jamming while maintaining productivity.
4Reliability
If the opening apparatus is mounted with a locking system controlled by electronic recognition, then unauthorized access is prevented, but the device complexity increases and battery consumption accelerates
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic recognition system and locking mechanism are extracted as separate, optional modules rather than being integrated into the core opening apparatus. This allows the basic mechanical opening function to remain simple while enabling advanced access control only where needed, reducing overall device complexity and battery requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The drawer mechanism serves multiple functions: it acts as both the opening/closing mechanism and the access control element. By rotating the drawer to different positions, the system universally handles both waste bag insertion and security functions, eliminating the need for separate complex locking systems in basic applications.
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
The solution enables efficient, contact-free operation, prevents jamming, ensures complete container filling, and conserves energy by using user-generated kinetic energy for operation, while maintaining a defined waste volume and secure access.
Implementation Method 1
a first elastic recall element (51) adapted to pass from a more elongated position to a less elongated position and move the drawer (30) from the angular closing position to the angular opening position
Implementation Method 2
a second elastic recall element (52) adapted to pass from a more elongated position to a less elongated position and move the tilting wall (70) from the closed position to the open position
Implementation Method 3
leverage means (85) comprising a pedal (80) and at least one pulling cable (81)... adapted to pass from a raised position to a lowered position and move the drawer (30) from the angular opening position to the angular closing position
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
Opening apparatus (10) separably mountable with a waste container (100) which comprises a containment chamber (103), adapted to pass from a closing position which does not provide accessible openings to said containment chamber (103) to an opening position which provides at least an access opening to the containment chamber (103), comprising a coupling body (11) couplable with said container (100), a drawer (30) with solid dihedral geometrical shape rotatably mounted with said coupling body (11) defining a first rotation axis of said drawer (30), said drawer (30) and said coupling body (11) defining a chamber (35) of predefined volume for housing a waste bag of said predefined volume, a tilting wall (70) hinged at a point (63) of the coupling body (11) which rotates about said second rotation axis bonded by said at least one spacing bar (90) hinged with another point (65) of at least one guide element (20) and hinged at a point (75) of said tilting wall (70), where said at least one guide element (20) is hinged at a point (25) of the coupling body (11) and defines another rotation axis. (Figure 7).