FOOD WASTE RECYCLING SYSTEM

Abstract

The present invention describes a Food Waste Recycling system 10 consisting of four major units, crushing, screw conveyor for squeezing, controlled heating for curing and activated carbon filter for deodorization. The present invention uses slow moving crusher blades 28 powered by a slow rotating motor 26 to crush all types of food waste including bones. This increases the surface area for uniform drying. The same motor can be used to rotate the squeezer 30 placed below the crusher. Output of the squeezing unit is fed to the curing unit; containing the stirrer blades 48 and the heater 32 to get the nutrient rich product that can be used as a soil amendment, animal feed or for gardening purpose. By using this device food waste, kitchen waste, herb residues, fruit and vegetable waste, leaves, meat, cereals and even bones can be recycled. The device has advantages of being simple in structure, easy to operate, cost-effective, energy efficient and have short treatment cycle.

Claims

1. A food waste recycling system 10 comprises crushing, screw conveyor for squeezing, controlled curing unit and deodorization units characterised by: i) crusher blades 28 rotating asynchronously in an opposite direction; ii) a Human Machine Interface (HMI) 16; iii) a squeezer 30 carry out the dehydration of the waste material received after the crushing process; iv) an outer body 18; v) a curing basket 20 having stirrer blades 46 rotate in a circular motion; vi) a curing chamber drawer 22 having a heater 32, a thermostat 34, a low rpm gear assembly 36, a stirrer motor 38 and a thermocouple 54; and vii) an exhaust blower 50 coupled with a thermocouple 52 and a replaceable activated carbon filter assembly 42.

2. The food waste recycling system 10 as claimed in claim 1 wherein, the crusher blades 28 and the squeezer 30 are powered by a Low RPM High Torque Motor with load sensor 26.

3. The food waste recycling system 10 as claimed in claim 1 wherein, a sliding lid 14 closes the waste inlet 12 once waste material is placed inside or when the device 10 is not in use.

4. The food waste recycling system 10 as claimed in claim 1 wherein, the curing basket 20 is removably attached to the curing chamber drawer 22.

5. The food waste recycling system 10 as claimed in claim 1 wherein, the outer body 18 of the device 10 is polymeric in nature.

6. The food waste recycling system 10 as claimed in claim 1 wherein, the curing chamber drawer 22 can be pulled out and pushed back inside the lower portion of the device 10.

7. The food waste recycling system 10 as claimed in claim 1 wherein, an exhaust blower 50 sucks and drives the odorized air/steam towards the activated carbon filter assembly 42.

8. A method of operating a food waste recycling system 10 having four units comprises: i) the crusher blades 28 that break down the materials present in the unprocessed waste container 24; ii) the squeezer 30 takes out the water of the waste food particles that came from the crusher blades 28. By this process 80-90% of the water of the food waste will be removed which will again help to reduce the time and energy required for the curing process; iii) the stirrer blades 46, the heater 32 a thermostat 34, a Low RPM gear assembly 36, a stirrer motor 38, and a thermocouple 54 carry out the uniform and controlled curing of the crushed dried waste; and iv) the exhaust blower 50 sucks the odorized air/steam and guides it towards the replaceable Activated Carbon Filter Assembly 42 deodorises the air/steam and an air vent 44 removes the odorised air.

9. The method of operating a food waste recycling system 10 as claimed in claim 8 wherein, the Low RPM High Torque Motor with load sensor 26 powers the crusher blades 28 and the squeezer 30 to calculate the load and once load processing is completed it will stop and processor will go for the curing step.

10. The method of operating a food waste recycling system 10 as claimed in claim 8 wherein, the waste treatment cycle completes within one and a half to two hours.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] FIG. 1 illustrates an isometric view of a food waste recycling system.

[0018] FIG. 2 shows a Human Machine Interface (HMI).

[0019] FIG. 3 depicts a cross-sectional view of the food waste recycling system.

[0020] FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of the food waste recycling system.

[0021] FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a crushing, squeezing and a deodorization unit.

[0022] FIG. 6 shows a process flow of the food waste recycling system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] The objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be further apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the several figures of the accompanying drawings.

[0024] Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to corresponding elements.

[0025] FIG. 1 illustrates a food waste recycling system 10 (hereinafter referred to as device 10) having an outer polymeric body 18. A waste inlet 12 allows kitchen waste, herb residues, fruit and vegetable waste, leaves, meat, cereals and even bones to be placed inside the device 10 for the recycling process. A sliding lid 14 closes the waste inlet 12 once waste material is placed inside or when the device 10 is not in use. A Human Machine Interface (HMI) 16 displays instructions on a LCD screen 16d. User needs to follow the instructions displayed on the LCD screen 16d. A curing chamber drawer 22 holds a curing basket 20 that allows controlled curing of the crushed waste.

[0026] FIG. 2 shows the Human Machine Interface (HMI) 16 that includes a power button 16a, a play/pause button 16b, a reverse button 16c and a LCD screen 16d. After pressing the power button 16a red LED light turns to green 17a and LED Screen displays welcome message. After pressing the play/pause button 16b of the HMI 16 green colour of LED light turns blue 17b. If any hard particles like spoon or any metal particle accidently enters, crushing process will stop and LED on the power button 16a will turn back to green 17a and LED 17c on the reverse button 16c will turn ON. By pressing the reverse button 16c Low RPM High Torque Motor with load sensor 26 will take quarter turn in a reverse direction and it will remove the hard particle.

[0027] FIG. 3 shows a waste container 24 that holds unprocessed organic waste entered from the waste inlet 12. After pressing the play/pause button 16b of the HMI 16 green colour of LED light turns blue 17b. Crusher blades 28 break down the materials present in the unprocessed waste container 24. These small waste organic particles increase the surface area thus reduces the time and energy required for curing process. The Crusher blades 28 rotate asynchronously in an opposite direction. A squeezer 30 takes out the water from the waste food particles that came from the crusher blades 28. By this process 80-90% of the water of the food waste will be removed which will again help to reduce the time and energy required for the curing process. Waste water flows out from waste liquid outlet 40. A Low RPM High Torque Motor with load sensor 26 powers the crusher blades 28 and the squeezer 30 to calculate the load and once load processing is completed it will stop and processor will go for the curing step. After crushing and squeezing process, stirrer blades 46, a heater 32 a thermostat 34, a Low RPM gear assembly 36, a stirrer motor 38 and a thermocouple 54 carry out the controlled curing of the crushed dried waste. A replaceable Activated Carbon Filter Assembly 42 deodorises the air/steam and an air vent 44 removes the odorised air. After analyzing the moisture level processor will turn OFF the Low RPM High Torque Motor with load sensor 26 and the exhaust blower 50. The HMI 16 display shows the completion of the process and LED on the power button 16a of the HMI 16 turns back to red 17a. Output of this process is a nutrient rich soil amendment and it can be used as a soil amendment, animal feed or for gardening purpose. The entire waste treatment cycle completes within one and a half to two hours. This method does not use any microbial agent.

[0028] FIG. 4 illustrates the crusher blades 28 that break down the unprocessed waste materials into smaller particles by rotating in a circular motion powered by the Low RPM High Torque Motor with load sensor 26. Once the unprocessed waste materials are placed inside the waste container 24 user needs to close the waste inlet 12 by moving the sliding lid 14. The HMI 16 displays the instruction on the LCD screen if the sliding lid 14 is kept open. The stirrer blades 46 ensure uniform heating of the dry waste product by rotating in a circular motion. The stirrer blades 46 with the help of a thermostat 34, a Low RPM gear assembly 36, a stirrer motor 38 and a thermocouple 54 carry out the controlled curing of the crushed dried waste.

[0029] FIG. 5 illustrates a gear coupling 48 that assists the crushing and squeezing process, the exhaust blower 50 coupled with a thermocouple 52 at the base sucks the odorized air/steam and guides it towards the replaceable Activated Carbon Filter Assembly 42 that deodorize the air/steam with the help of an air vent 44.

[0030] FIG. 6 illustrates a process flow of the food waste recycling system. The waste inlet 12 allows the waste material and the crusher blades 28 break down the materials. The squeezer 30 takes out the water from the waste food particles that came from the crusher blades 28. A Low RPM High Torque Motor with load sensor 26 powers the crusher blades 28 and the squeezer 30. Waste water flows out from waste liquid outlet 40. After crushing and squeezing process, stirrer blades 46, a heater 32 a thermostat 34, and a thermocouple 54 carry out the controlled curing of the crushed dried waste. A curing basket 20 that allows controlled curing of the crushed waste. A replaceable Activated Carbon Filter Assembly 42 deodorises the air/steam and an air vent 44 removes the odorised air. After analyzing the moisture level processor will turn OFF the Low RPM High Torque Motor with load sensor 26 and the exhaust blower 50. The dotted portion indicates electrically controlled components.