Disposal apparatus, disposal system and method for disposing of food leftovers

Abstract

A proposal is made for a disposal apparatus for disposing of food leftovers. The disposal apparatus comprises at least one comminuter, which has at least one grinding chamber and at least one collecting chamber. The grinding chamber is connected to the collecting chamber via one or more openings. At least one comminuting device having at least one impact tool for comminuting the food leftovers is arranged in the grinding chamber. In addition, at least one mixing device for generating a movement in the food leftovers is arranged in the grinding chamber. A method for disposing of food leftovers is furthermore proposed.

Claims

1. A disposal apparatus for disposing of food leftovers, comprising: at least one comminuter, wherein the comminuter has at least one grinding chamber and at least one collecting chamber, wherein the at least one grinding chamber is connected to the at least one collecting chamber via one or more openings, wherein at least one comminuting device having at least one impact tool for comminuting the food leftovers is arranged in the at least one grinding chamber, wherein, in addition, at least one mixer configured to generate a movement in the food leftovers is arranged in the grinding chamber, wherein the at least one grinding chamber is structured such that the one or more openings are configured to direct comminuted food leftovers from the at least one grinding chamber to the at least one collecting chamber, wherein a housing defines the at least one grinding chamber and the at least one collecting chamber, wherein the at least one collecting chamber at least partially surrounds the at least one grinding chamber, wherein the at least one grinding chamber is divided into at least one loading chamber for receiving un-comminuted food leftovers and at least one fines chamber for receiving fully or partially comminuted food leftovers, wherein the at least one comminuter has at least one separator structured to separate the at least one loading chamber and the at least one fines chamber, wherein the at least one separator is structured to permit only food leftovers of a predetermined maximum size to pass through the at least one separator, wherein the at least one impact tool, the at least one mixer and the at least one separator are mounted on a common drive axle, and wherein the at least one impact tool comprises a plurality of chains connected to a hub.

2. The disposal apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one impact tool is flexible.

3. The disposal apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one comminuting device and the at least one mixer are driven by a common drive.

4. The disposal apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one impact tool and the at least one mixer are arranged axially spaced apart on the common drive axle.

5. The disposal apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one mixer is configured to generate a flow in the food leftovers.

6. The disposal apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one comminuting device is arranged fully or partially in the at least one loading chamber or between the at least one loading chamber and the at least one fines chamber.

7. The disposal apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one mixer is arranged fully or partially in the at least one fines chamber.

8. The disposal apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one separator is one of a separating disk or a screen.

9. The disposal apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one fines chamber is arranged in such a way relative to the at least one loading chamber that comminuted food leftovers are moved from the at least one loading chamber into the at least one fines chamber under the action of gravity.

10. The disposal apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a bottom of the at least one grinding chamber slopes by an angle relative to a horizontal.

11. The disposal apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: at least one pump for pumping comminuted food leftovers out of the at least one collecting chamber.

12. The disposal apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: at least one level sensor for detecting at least one level of comminuted food leftovers in the at least one collecting chamber.

13. The disposal apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one collecting chamber at least partially surrounds the at least one grinding chamber such that an interspace forming the at least one collecting chamber is provided in the housing between the at least one grinding chamber and a wall of the housing.

14. A disposal system for disposing of food leftovers, comprising: the disposal apparatus as claimed in claim 1, and at least one collecting receptacle for receiving comminuted food leftovers, said receptacle being connected or connectable to the disposal apparatus.

15. A method for disposing of food leftovers, comprising: loading at least one comminuter with the food leftovers, wherein the comminuter has at least one grinding chamber and at least one collecting chamber, wherein the at least one grinding chamber is connected to the at least one collecting chamber via one or more openings, wherein the loading comprises feeding the food leftovers to the at least one grinding chamber, comminuting the food leftovers in the at least one grinding chamber by at least one impact tool, and at least one process of generating a movement in the food leftovers by at least one mixer in the at least one grinding chamber, wherein the at least one grinding chamber is structured such that the one or more openings are configured to direct comminuted food leftovers from the at least one grinding chamber to the at least one collecting chamber, wherein a housing defines the at least one grinding chamber and the at least one collecting chamber, wherein the at least one collecting chamber at least partially surrounds the at least one grinding chamber, wherein the at least one grinding chamber is divided into at least one loading chamber for receiving un-comminuted food leftovers and at least one fines chamber for receiving fully or partially comminuted food leftovers, wherein the at least one comminuter has at least one separator structured to separate the at least one loading chamber and the at least one fines chamber, wherein the at least one separator is structured to permit only food leftovers of a predetermined maximum size to pass through the at least one separator, wherein the at least one impact tool, the at least one mixer and the at least one separator are mounted on a common drive axle, and wherein the at least one impact tool comprises a plurality of chains connected to a hub.

16. The disposal apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one grinding chamber comprises at least one grinding chamber wall, and wherein the one or more openings comprise a plurality of openings provided as through holes in the at least one grinding chamber wall to allow the comminuted food leftovers to pass from the at least one grinding chamber into the at least one collecting chamber through the plurality of openings.

17. The disposal apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the plurality of openings form a screen.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) Further details and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred illustrative embodiments, in particular in conjunction with the dependent claims. Here, the respective features can be implemented in isolation or together in combination with one another. The invention is not restricted to the illustrative embodiments. The illustrative embodiments are shown schematically in the figures. Here, identical reference signs in the individual figures denote elements which are identical or functionally identical or correspond to one another in terms of their functions.

(2) In particular:

(3) FIG. 1 shows a perspective overall view of one illustrative embodiment of a disposal apparatus according to the invention;

(4) FIG. 2 shows a section through the disposal apparatus according to FIG. 1 in a cross section;

(5) FIG. 3 shows a front view of the disposal apparatus with the front panel removed; and

(6) FIG. 4 shows a plan view of the disposal apparatus according to FIG. 1 with the top cover removed and a schematic illustrative embodiment of a disposal system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

(7) In FIGS. 1 to 4, one possible illustrative embodiment of a disposal apparatus 110 according to the invention for disposing of food leftovers is shown in various views and representations. The disposal apparatus 110 can also be referred to as a deposition station or can be configured and/or used as a deposition station. Here, FIG. 1 shows a perspective representation of the disposal apparatus 110, FIG. 2 shows a section through the disposal apparatus 110 in cross section, along a section line A-A in FIG. 3, FIG. 3 shows a front view of the disposal apparatus 110 with the front panel removed, and FIG. 4 shows a plan view of the disposal apparatus 110 with the top cover removed. In the description which follows, joint reference is made to these figures. As indicated schematically in FIG. 4, the disposal apparatus 110 can furthermore be a component part of a disposal system described in detail below.

(8) The disposal apparatus 110 in the illustrative embodiment shown in the figures first of all preferably comprises an external housing 112, which is preferably of multi-part configuration. As can be seen in FIG. 1, for example, the external housing comprises a front panel 114, side panels 116, a top cover 118 (also referred to as a work surface) and, optionally, a stand 120, for example. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the external housing 112 can furthermore have a rear panel 122. The panels 114, 116 and 122 and the top cover 118 can each be installed in a fixed manner but can each also be configured so as to be individually removable. In particular, the front panel 114 can be of removable configuration, thus allowing access to the components in the interior of the external housing 114 by removal of the front panel.

(9) A comminuter 124 is accommodated in the interior of the housing. By way of example, this comminuter 124 can be supported in the interior of the housing 112 by means of an appropriate suspension (not shown in the figures), which brings about vibration damping for example. The comminuter 124 comprises a comminuter housing 126 and is divided into a grinding chamber 128 and a collecting chamber 130. Here, the grinding chamber 128 is fully or partially surrounded by the collecting chamber 130, as can be seen in FIG. 3 for example. The grinding chamber 128 is formed by at least one grinding chamber wall 132, which forms a grinding chamber housing 134 as part of the comminuter housing 126. The collecting chamber 130 is formed substantially by at least one collecting chamber wall 136, which forms a collecting chamber housing 138. The grinding chamber 128 and the collecting chamber 130 can be opened toward the front, toward front panel 114, and can be closed by a common door 140, which can be seen particularly in FIGS. 2 and 4. In particular, the door 140 can have a seal 142. The collecting chamber 130 and/or the grinding chamber 128 and devices and/or food leftovers situated therein can be accessed for maintenance by opening the door 140, e.g. by removing said door 140.

(10) Within the grinding chamber 128, the comminuter 124 furthermore has at least one comminuting device 144, which can also be referred to as a grinding mechanism. The comminuting device 144 comprises at least one impact tool 146, in particular an impact tool 146 having a plurality of impact members 148 connected to one another in an articulated manner. In particular, the at least one impact tool 146 can comprise one or more chains 150. Accordingly, the comminuting device 144 can be configured more particularly as a chain grinding mechanism.

(11) In the illustrative embodiment shown, the impact tool 146 is connected by at least one hub 152 to at least one drive axle 154, which can also be referred to as a drive shaft. As can be seen from FIG. 2, this drive axle 154 is passed out of the grinding chamber 128 on a rear side of the grinding chamber housing 134, e.g. via a shaft seal 156 or some other kind of leadthrough.

(12) In addition to the comminuting device 144, there is furthermore at least one mixing device 158 arranged in the grinding chamber 128. This mixing device 158 can have a plurality of blades 160 and/or a propeller, for example. The blades 160 can be connected directly or indirectly to the drive axle 158, for example. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the blades 160 are connected to the drive axle 154 by means of a separating disk 162, for example, said separating disk being a component part of a separating device 164. Thus, for example, the blades 160 can be arranged on a side of the separating disk 162 facing away from the comminuting device 144, with the result that the separating disk 162 is situated between the impact tool 146 and the mixing device 158. As an alternative, the blades 160 could also be connected directly to the drive axle 154 or could be arranged completely separately from the comminuting device 144. In general terms, the mixing device 158 is designed to bring about a movement, e.g. a flow, within the food leftovers accommodated in the grinding chamber 128.

(13) The grinding chamber 128 is divided by the separating device 164 into a loading chamber 166 and a fines chamber 168. The loading chamber 166 can be loaded with food leftovers via a loading opening 170, which is arranged in the top cover 118 and can also be referred to as a feed opening 172, and via a chute 174, which can be of funnel-shaped configuration in whole or in part, for example. The chute 174 can open into an opening 176 at the upper end of the grinding chamber 128, for example.

(14) The comminuting device 144 is driven by at least one drive 178 via the drive axle 154. By way of example, the drive 178 can comprise a drive motor 180 and, for example, a V-belt drive having at least one V-belt 182. By way of example, the V-belt 182 can drive a driving pulley 184, which is connected to the drive axle 154.

(15) As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, for example, the grinding chamber 128 can, in particular, be configured in such a way that food leftovers slide from the loading chamber 166 into the fines chamber 168 under their own weight and/or due to a movement or flow generated by means of the mixing device 158 during or after comminution. For this purpose, a bottom 186 of the grinding chamber 128 can slope in such a way, for example, that the food leftovers can slide from the loading chamber 166 into the fines chamber 168. By way of example, the bottom 168 can have a slope angle relative to a horizontal, which can be 10 to 45, e.g. 30, in this illustrative embodiment, for example. Other configurations are also possible. Similarly, as in the illustrative embodiment shown, the grinding chamber 128 can be of substantially cylindrical configuration, for example, with a cylinder axis 188 which slopes relative to a horizontal, likewise by the angle , for example.

(16) In the illustrative embodiment shown, the grinding chamber 128 is connected to the collecting chamber 130 via a plurality of openings 190 in the grinding chamber wall 132. For example, the grinding chamber wall 132 can be designed completely or partially as a screen. In this way, comminuted food leftovers with a maximum diameter and/or equivalent diameter that can be predetermined by the openings 190 can pass from the grinding chamber 128 into the collecting chamber 130.

(17) At least one opening 196 for manual emptying can be provided in the collecting chamber 130, e.g. in a collecting region 194, the bottom 192 of which chamber can slope toward the collecting region 194. This opening can be closable by means of at least one closure 198, for example, e.g. by means of a screw closure.

(18) The disposal apparatus 110 can furthermore have at least one pump 200 for pumping comminuted food leftovers out of the collecting chamber 130. This pump 200, which can be seen, in particular, in FIGS. 3 and 4, can draw in food leftovers out of the collecting chamber 130, e.g. via at least one extraction connection piece 202, which preferably opens, in turn, into the collecting region 194, and can feed said leftovers to a collecting receptacle 205 or waste receptacle shown in FIG. 4, e.g. via a pipe 204. This collecting receptacle 205 or waste receptacle can be connected to the disposal apparatus 110 temporarily or permanently, for example. For example, this collecting receptacle 205 can form a disposal system 207 together with the at least one disposal apparatus 110, as likewise indicated in FIG. 4.

(19) In the illustrative embodiment shown, the disposal apparatus 110 furthermore has at least one level sensor 206, in particular at least one float switch 208. This level sensor 206 can monitor a filling level within the collecting chamber 130, for example, and transmit corresponding filling level information to a controller 210 of the disposal apparatus 110, for example. This controller 210, which can be provided independently of the level sensor 206, can be arranged in the front panel 214, for example, and/or can comprise at least one operating element 212 accessible from the front panel 114. In particular, the controller 210 can be designed to control the comminuting device 144, e.g. via appropriate control of the drive motor 180. The controller 210 can furthermore be designed, for example, to monitor the filling level in the collecting chamber 130 and/or to control pumping of the food leftovers out of the collecting chamber 130 by means of the pump 200.

(20) During the operation of the disposal apparatus, the drive axle 154 drives the comminuting device 144. In this arrangement, the impact members 148 of the impact tool 146 are preferably arranged in such a way that no unbalance occurs during rotation. The impact members 148, which can also be referred to as impact elements, are preferably manufactured from a very durable material, e.g. hardened steel. By means of the impact tool 146, the food leftovers are comminuted. The separating device 164 allows the comminuted food leftovers to pass through from the loading chamber 166 into the fines chamber 168. For example, they can pass through via an encircling gap 214 between the separating disk 162 and the grinding chamber wall 132, through which sufficiently comminuted material can flow off into the fines chamber 168. As an alternative or in addition, however, the separating disk 162 can also be provided with one or more through holes and can form a screening disk, for example. This screening disk can likewise be connected to the hub 152 and/or the drive axle 154, for example, and can thus rotate along with the grinding mechanism. As an alternative, however, the screening disk can also be arranged in the grinding chamber 128 in such a way that it remains stationary during the operation of the comminuting device 144. Once again as an alternative or in addition, it is also possible for the separating disk 162, e.g. the screening disk, to be installed in such a way that it is freely rotatable, has a dedicated drive and, as a result, can rotate at, for example, any desired speed or, alternatively, counter to the direction of rotation of the comminuting device 144.

(21) The mixing device 158 is provided behind the separating device 164, e.g. the separating disk 162. As the comminuting device 144 rotates, a flow, for example, can be generated with the aid of said mixing device 158, and this flow can cause comminuted material to flow off into the fines chamber 168 through the separating device 164 (e.g. the screening disk and/or the gap 214). By this means, it is possible, for example, to convey uncomminuted material to be ground into the comminuting device, and this can improve the efficiency of the comminuting device 144. As explained above, the mixing device 158, which can also be referred to as a fluid flow device, can be provided by a plurality of blades on the rear side of the separating disk 162, for example. However, it can also have the form of a propeller or, alternatively, some other configuration and, in principle, does not have to be directly part of the separating disk 162 or be connected to the separating disk.

(22) As explained above, the grinding chamber 128 and, in said grinding chamber, the fines chamber 168, in particular, are connected to the collecting chamber 130 via the plurality of openings 190, which can be configured as through holes, for example. The collecting chamber 130 can be situated to the side and/or below the grinding chamber 128, for example, and can be designed as an interspace between the grinding chamber 128 and the external housing 112, for example. The collecting chamber 130 can furthermore fully or partially surround the grinding chamber. Comminuted material can accumulate in the collecting chamber 130.

(23) As explained above, the elements of the comminuting device 144 and of the mixing device 158 are preferably arranged on at least one common drive axle 154, e.g. a shaft. It is thereby possible to significantly simplify the construction of the disposal apparatus 110 and to configure it in a low-cost way. The grinding mechanism of the comminuting device 144 and the mixing device 158 can be driven in the same direction of rotation or, alternatively, in different directions of rotation. Operation with a direction of rotation which is reversed at regular intervals or in a manner controlled as required can also be possible. By means of the latter configuration, it is possible, in particular, to remove blockages in the gap 114 and/or in the screening disk.

(24) The drive motor 180 can be configured fully or partially as an electric motor, for example. The drive 178 can have a reduction gear, for example, in the form of the V-belt drive with the V-belt 182 and the driving pulley 184. Fundamentally, this results in less noise and an overload safeguard. The rated speed of the comminuting device 144, i.e. of the grinding mechanism, can be 1000 rpm, for example.

(25) The pump 200 described above can be configured as an impeller pump, for example. As an alternative or in addition, however, one or more other types of pump can also be used, e.g. peristaltic pumps and/or eccentric screw pumps.

(26) The entire comminuter 124 can be swing-mounted in the basic structure of the disposal apparatus 110, for example. As explained above, this fundamentally results in a significant reduction in noise and vibration in the working environment of the disposal apparatus 110. The entire structure of the disposal apparatus 110 can furthermore be embodied in such a way that all the components are easily accessible, e.g. for maintenance purposes. This can be achieved, for example, by means of the above-described at least one door 140 and/or by means of the panels 114, 116 and 122, some of which are removable. As a result, easy and unhindered access to the interior of the disposal apparatus 110 is possible. The pump 200 can also be constructed and incorporated in such a way, for example, that maintenance work can be carried out easily, if required.

(27) As explained above, it is possible, in particular, for the disposal apparatus 110 to have a loading opening 170. In order to improve the hygiene situation during pauses in operation and to avoid the occurrence of odors, the loading openings 170 and/or the chute 174 can be rinsed out at regular intervals with clean water and/or cleaning fluids, for example. Moreover, the loading opening 170 can be closed by means of a closure, for example, e.g. by means of at least one lockable plug, which is not shown in the figures.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(28) 110 disposal apparatus 112 external housing 114 front panel 116 side panel 118 top cover 120 stand 122 rear panel 124 comminuter 126 comminuter housing 128 grinding chamber 130 collecting chamber 132 grinding chamber wall 134 grinding chamber housing 136 collecting chamber wall 138 collecting chamber housing 140 common door 142 seal 144 comminuting device 146 impact tool 148 impact members 150 chain 152 hub 154 drive axle 156 shaft seal 158 mixing device 160 blade 162 separating disk 164 separating device 166 loading chamber 168 fines chamber 170 loading opening 172 feed opening 174 chute 176 opening 178 drive 180 drive motor 182 V-belt 184 driving pulley 186 bottom 188 cylinder axis 190 openings 192 bottom 194 collection plate 196 opening 198 closure 200 pump 202 extraction connection piece 204 pipe 205 collecting receptacle 206 level sensor 207 disposal system 208 float switch 210 controller 212 operating element 214 gap