Household waste recycling module and appliance assembly

Abstract

A can crushing and storing module has a chassis, a crushing unit, and a storage unit. The crushing unit includes a drawer, which is slidable into and out of the chassis, and a can crushing device that is mounted in the drawer.

Claims

1. A can crushing and storing module comprising: a) a chassis; and b) a crushing unit housed within the chassis and comprising: i) a crushing unit drawer that is horizontally slidable into and out of the chassis; ii) a can crushing device mounted in the crushing unit drawer and comprising an elongate crushing compartment that comprises a slot through which a crushed can may drop under gravity; and iii) a storing unit housed within the chassis and configured to receive a crushed can dropped through the slot; wherein the crushing compartment has a non-circular cross-section and at least two walls, wherein one of the at least two walls forms at least a portion of a side wall of the crushing compartment, wherein at least one of the at least two walls is one of a generally planar moveable wall and a smoothly curved moveable wall that is moveable in a generally horizontal plane during a crushing operation thereby to reduce a size of the crushing compartment; wherein the crushing unit further comprises a drive means for driving the moveable wall, wherein the drive means comprises an electrically powered sealed linear ram and a reciprocating drive rod operably connected to the moveable wall, and further wherein the drive means is connected to the moveable wall such that at least the drive rod of the drive means and the elongate crushing compartment are removable from the chassis as a single unit; wherein the crushing compartment further comprises a first fixed end wall positioned opposite from the moveable wall, and further wherein the side wall is partially curved, such that the crushing compartment has the form of an open trough with an elongate curved bottom that extends from the moveable wall toward the fixed wall, wherein the side wall supports a can on the elongate curved bottom during a crushing operation, and wherein the can is crushed against the fixed wall and the crushed can dropped through the slot located at an end of the trough.

2. A module according to claim 1, wherein the slot is located adjacent to the first fixed end wall.

3. A module according to claim 1, wherein the moveable wall is moveable under the action of the linear ram so as to reduce the size of the crushing compartment.

4. A module according to claim 1, wherein the side wall is a continuous U-shaped side wall such that the crushing compartment is an open, generally U-shaped trough with a curved bottom.

5. A module according to claim 1, wherein the storing unit comprises a storing unit drawer which is slidable into and out of the chassis, wherein the crushing unit drawer is located above the storing unit drawer, and wherein a crushed can is deposited directly from the crushing unit into the storing unit.

6. A module according to claim 5, wherein the storing unit drawer comprises a container.

7. A module according to claim 6, wherein the container comprises a first arm, a second arm, and a third arm, wherein the first arm, the second arm, and the third arm extend from a rear face of a drawer front of the storing unit rearwardly in the direction of sliding of the storing unit drawer.

8. A module according to claim 7, wherein the first arm is in a perpendicular relationship with the second arm and the third arm.

9. A module according to claim 8, wherein the first arm, the second arm, and the third arm each comprise a C-shaped channel, and wherein the chassis comprises three runners that are each in a position corresponding to one of the first arm, the second arm, and the third arm.

10. A module according to claim 9, wherein the C-shaped channel of the first arm lies in a first plane at a bottom of the chassis, and the C-shaped channel of the second arm and the C-shaped channel of the third arm are in a second plane perpendicular to the C-shaped channel of the first arm.

11. A module according to claim 1, wherein the crushing unit comprises control electronics for the linear ram, wherein the control electronics include an initiation switch, and further wherein the initiation switch is operated by the crushing unit drawer when the crushing unit drawer reaches an in position.

12. A module according to claim 1, wherein the chassis is enclosed on all sides apart from one by a skin.

13. A module according to claim 1, wherein the chassis comprises a front, and wherein the crushing compartment is slidable out of the front of the chassis in a direction corresponding to its elongate dimension.

14. A module according to claim 1, wherein the crushing compartment is configured to be removable from the crushing unit drawer without damaging a component of the can crushing and storing module.

15. A module according to claim 1, wherein the drive means is connected to the moveable wall such that the sealed linear ram, the reciprocating drive rod, and the elongate crushing compartment are removable from the chassis as a single unit.

16. An appliance assembly, comprising: a can crushing and storing module comprising: a) a chassis; b) a crushing unit housed within the chassis and comprising: i) a crushing unit drawer that is horizontally slidable into and out of the chassis; ii) a can crushing device mounted in the crushing unit drawer and comprising an elongate crushing compartment that comprises a slot through which a crushed can may drop under gravity; and iii) a storing unit housed within the chassis and configured to receive a crushed can dropped through the slot; wherein the crushing compartment has a non-circular cross-section and at least two walls, wherein one of the at least two walls forms at least a portion of a side wall of the crushing compartment, wherein at least one of the at least two walls is one of a generally planar moveable wall and a smoothly curved moveable wall that is moveable in a generally horizontal plane during a crushing operation thereby to reduce a size of the crushing compartment; wherein the crushing unit further comprises a drive means for driving the moveable wall, wherein the drive means comprises an electrically powered sealed linear ram and a reciprocating drive rod operably connected to the moveable wall, and further wherein the drive means is connected to the moveable wall such that at least the drive rod of the drive means and the elongate crushing compartment are removable from the chassis as a single unit; wherein the crushing compartment further comprises a first fixed end wall positioned opposite from the moveable wall, and further wherein the side wall is partially curved, such that the crushing compartment has the form of an open trough with an elongate curved bottom that extends from the moveable wall toward the fixed wall, wherein the side wall supports a can on the elongate curved bottom during a crushing operation, and wherein the can is crushed against the fixed wall and the crushed can dropped through the slot located at an end of the trough; and a module that performs a different function than the can crushing and storing module.

17. An appliance assembly according to claim 16, further comprising a bezel that corresponds to the can crushing and storage module or the module that performs the different function than the can crushing and storing module.

18. A module according to claim 1, wherein the side wall is a single continuous side wall that fully supports the can during the crushing operation.

19. A module according to claim 2, wherein the crushing compartment further comprises a second fixed end wall, wherein the movable wall is positioned within the crushing compartment and movable by the drive means to crush a can between the first fixed end wall and the movable wall, wherein the reciprocating drive rod extends through the second fixed end wall, wherein the curved bottom of the crushing compartment extends from the second fixed end wall toward the first fixed end wall, and wherein the slot is positioned between the first fixed end wall and the curved bottom of the crushing compartment.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present invention will now be described hereinafter by way of example only with reference to the following Figures, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows an exploded isometric view of a can crushing and storing module according to the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a side view of the can crushing and storing module of FIG. 1 with the crushing unit drawer pulled outwardly of the module in use;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a side view of the can crushing and storing module of FIG. 1 with a can being put into the crushing unit drawer of the module in use;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a side view of the can crushing and storing module of FIG. 1 with a can in the crushing unit drawer, which has been pushed inwardly of the module in use;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a side view of the can crushing and storing module of FIG. 1 with a crushed can being dropped from the crushing unit drawer of the module in use;

(7) FIG. 6 shows a side view of the can crushing and storing module of FIG. 1 with the storage unit pulled outwardly of the module in use;

(8) FIG. 7a shows an isometric view of an extended module comprising two different modules for crushing, compacting and storing recyclable waste, including the can crushing and storing module of FIG. 1. FIG. 7b shows a cross-sectional view from the longitudinal mid-point of the extended module of FIG. 7a facing rearwardly; and

(9) FIG. 8 shows an exploded isometric view of an appliance comprising three different modules for crushing, compacting and/or storing recyclable waste, including the can crushing and storing module of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(10) Referring to FIG. 1, the can crushing and storing module 1 has a chassis 2 comprising a framework consisting of metal members defining a rectangular box-shaped space 3.

(11) Adjustable leg units 38 are slidably received in the bottom of the chassis 2, adjacent to the chassis front and back.

(12) The space 3 is enclosed on all sides apart from the front 4 by a plastics material skin 5. The module 1 has an upper, can crushing unit 6 comprising a first drawer 7, occupying approximately the top one third of the volume of the space 3, and a lower storage unit 8, comprising a second drawer 9, occupying the remaining two thirds of the volume of the space 3.

(13) Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the first drawer 7 comprises a drawer front 10 including a recess handle 11. The first drawer 7 has a pair of side rails 13, 13 which sit on a corresponding pair of runners 14, 14 fastened to the chassis 2.

(14) In the first drawer 7, mounted on the rails 13, 13 is a can crushing device 15 comprising a can crushing compartment 16.

(15) The can crushing compartment 16 has a first fixed end wall 17 adjacent to the drawer front 10, a second fixed end wall 18 at the opposite end of the compartment 16 to the drawer front 10, and a moveable partition wall 19 which, in the resting state of the crushing unit 6, sits adjacent the second fixed end wall 18.

(16) A continuous, partially curved side wall 20 extends around all sides of the device 15 apart from the side 21 serving as an opening to the compartment 16. At the end of the compartment 16 nearest the first fixed end wall 17 there is a slot 22 in the side wall 20.

(17) The fixed end walls 17, 18 and the side wall 20 of the compartment 16 are a unitary construction, made from plastics material. The partition wall 19 is made from metal, here stainless steel.

(18) The device 15 further comprises a linear ram 23 fixed to the drawer 7 within the space 3 of the storing and crushing module 1.

(19) The linear ram 23 is an electrically powered device that has a reciprocating drive rod 24. The electrical power unit 28 for the ram is mounted on the back of the chassis 2.

(20) The second fixed end wall 18, at the end of the compartment 16 remote from the drawer front 10, includes an orifice 25. The drive rod 24 extends in the direction of opening the drawer 7, through the orifice 25. The orifice 25 has a rim projecting into the compartment 16 and running around the orifice 25, to prevent any liquid spillage up to a certain level in the compartment 16 from a can 12 received in the compartment 16 escaping through the orifice 25 and around the drive rod 24. Any such liquid spillage may escape through the slot 22 in the side wall 20 near the first fixed end wall 17 into the bin 32 in the storage unit 8 below.

(21) The free end of the drive rod 24 is releasably connected to the partition wall 19. The drive rod 24 has a T-piece at its free end and the partition wall 19 includes a slot, and the partition wall 19 slots over the T-piece. The T-piece may be mounted in any of four orthogonal orientations on the square end of the linear ram 23 allowing four orthogonal orientations in which the linear ram may be mounted in the drawer 7.

(22) The partition wall 19 is freely moveable within the compartment 16 and, during a crushing operation, when the linear ram 23 drives the drive rod 24 in the direction of opening the drawer 7, the partition wall 19 is moved in the compartment 16 towards the first fixed end wall 17. This reduces the size of the can-crushing space such that any can received in the space is crushed.

(23) The profile of the partition wall 19 matches the profile of the side wall 20 so that the partition wall 19 maintains a close contact with the side wall 20 as it moves through the device 15 and, because the profile is non-circular, the partition wall 19 is maintained aligned and prevented from rotating under any rotational torque from the linear ram 23.

(24) A crushing operation initiation switch 36 is mounted on the chassis 2 at a position opposite the back of the drawer 7, such that closing the drawer 7 completely will activate the switch 36.

(25) The second, lower drawer 9 has a drawer front 29 including a recess handle 30. The lower drawer 9 has solid sides, back and bottom forming an open box 31. An open-ended generally box-shaped bin 32, which is smaller than the drawer 9, is slidably received in the drawer 9, adjacent the drawer front 29.

(26) The neck 33 of the bin 32 has an increased width portion 34, and the upper part of the drawer 9 has a similarly increased width to accommodate the increased width neck portion 34 of the bin 32 so that bin 32 and drawer 9 fit together in an interlocking fashion. In this way, the specific location of the bin 32 is ensured and the bin 32 is prevented from moving around in the drawer 9.

(27) The remaining space 35 in the drawer 9, which is not occupied by the bin 32, is used for storing other recyclable waste.

(28) In the resting state of the crushing and storing module 1, both the top and bottom drawers 7, 9 are closed.

(29) Referring to FIGS. 2 to 6, the first drawer 7 comprises a drawer front 10 including a recess 11.

(30) A crushing operation involves opening the top drawer 7 and placing a can 12 for recycling in the device 15. The top drawer 7 is then closed. As the drawer 7 reaches its fully closed position, the drawer actuates the crushing operation initiation switch 36 which activates the linear ram 23 under the control of its control circuitry. Activation causes the drive rod 24 to extend in the direction of opening the drawer 7 so as to drive the partition wall 19 in the direction of the first fixed end wall 17, thereby reducing the size of the compartment 16 and crushing the can 12 received in the compartment 16.

(31) The drive rod 24 continues to extend so as to move the partition wall 19 to a position beyond the edge of the slot 22 in the side wall 20 nearest the partition wall 19. By that point, the can 12 will have been crushed to a size smaller than the slot 22, whereupon the crushed can 12 drops through the slot 22 into the bin 32 in the storage unit 8 below.

(32) A sensor switches the linear ram 23 so that it then retracts the drive rod 24 until the partition wall 19 is again positioned adjacent the second fixed end wall 18. The compartment 16 is then ready to receive another can 12 for crushing.

(33) Referring to FIGS. 7a and 7b, a recycling extended module is indicated generally at 41.

(34) The term extended module as used herein refers to a module for crushing and/or compacting recyclable waste materials which comprises two or more sub-modules. Each sub-module of the extended module performs a different function, such as a sub-module for crushing cans and storing the crushed cans, or for compacting paper, cardboard cartons or cardboard or plastics material containers and storing the compacted materials.

(35) The extended module 41 illustrated comprises two different modules:

(36) A can crushing unit 6 comprising a first drawer 7, mounted in, and adjacent to the top left side edge 44a of, the chassis 42 of the extended module 41, occupying approximately half of the top one third of the volume of the space 43 within the chassis 42, and extends rearwardly the front of the chassis 42.

(37) An electrically powered drive means of a compacting and storing module for paper, cardboard cartons or cardboard or plastics material containers is mounted in, and adjacent to the right top side edge 44a of, the chassis 42, also occupying approximately half of the top one third of the volume of the space 43 within the chassis 42, and extends rearwardly the front of the chassis 42. The drive means is operably connected to a compacting means, here a planar and rectangular compacting plate 49 which extends in a generally horizontal direction.

(38) The drive means and the crushing unit 6 abut each other laterally. Although each component of the module performs different functions, the compacting drive means and the crushing unit 6 share a common storage unit 45.

(39) The common storage unit is a storage unit drawer 45 with a cage-like container part 51 and an open-top generally box-shaped receptacle 52, which is smaller than the container part 51 and is slidably received in the container part 51.

(40) The storage unit drawer 45 is slidably mounted in the chassis 2 below the crushing unit 6 and the compacting drive means, such that in use a crushed can 12 drops into it and the drive means drives the compacting means downwardly into the receptacle 52 from a rest position clear of the receptacle 52 before the compacting operation, such that any cans, cartons, packaging or containers in the receptacle 52 are compacted. The drawer 45 occupies the remaining two thirds of the volume of the space 3.

(41) As noted above, the can crushing compartment 16 includes a slot 22 adjacent to the first fixed end wall 17 through which a crushed can 12 may drop under gravity, and in the rest position of both units, the receptacle 52 is positioned underneath the slot 22 in the crushing unit compartment 16. The compacting plate 49 extends in a generally horizontal direction under the crushing unit 6 and the compacting drive means, but it only extends forward in the direction of sliding of the crushing unit drawer 7 from the rear of the chassis 2 for its front edge to overlap the rear part of the slot 22 in the crushing unit compartment 16 and to define a space behind the receptacle drawer front 61.

(42) The crushing compartment 16 is slidable out of the front of the chassis 2 from the rear of the chassis 2 in a direction generally corresponding to its elongate dimension after a crushing operation (during which the crushing unit drawer 7 is closed). A crushed can 12 will be retained in the slot 22 adjacent to the first fixed end wall 17 by the compacting plate 49 until withdrawal of the crushing compartment 16, when the slot 22 clears the front edge of the compacting plate 49, so that a crushed can 12 drops under gravity through the space in front of the compacting plate 49 into the receptacle 52.

(43) The cage-like container part 51 comprises members which are first, second and third arms 59a, 59b, 59c, wherein the arms 59a, 59b, 59c extend from a rear face 60 of a drawer front 61 rearwardly in the direction of sliding of the drawer 45.

(44) They further extend transversely of the direction of sliding of the drawer 45 to meet adjacent to the rear of the drawer 45. The arms 59a, 59b, 59c are so arranged that they conform to the outside of the receptacle 52 to hold the receptacle 52.

(45) The cage-like container part 51 so formed has a first arm 59a in perpendicular relationship with second and third arms 59b, 59c. Each arm 59a, 59b, 59c comprises a C-shaped channel 60a, 60b, 60c and the chassis 2 comprises three runners 61a, 61b, 61c, each in a position corresponding to one of the first, second and third arms 59a, 59b, 59c. Each of the C-shaped channels 60a, 60b, 60c slots and runs over a corresponding runner 61a, 61b, 61c.

(46) Each runner 61a, 61b, 61c comprises first and second members (not shown), wherein the first member is mounted on the chassis 2, extending rearwardly in the direction of sliding of the drawer 45 from the front of the module 41 and the second member loosely conforms internally to the outside of the first member and is held captive by a C-shaped channel, respectively 60a, 60b, 60c, that slots and runs over the corresponding runner second member. This arrangement allows each runner 61a, 61b, 61c to float within controlled limits to take up any inaccuracies in the cage-like container part 51.

(47) Drawer runners usually tend to be rigid in one direction only. Thus, each of the runners in a lateral position corresponding to one of the second and third arms, and over which each of the C-shaped channels slots and runs, is rigid to vertical motion but not lateral. The bottom runner in a position corresponding to the first arm, and over which the C-shaped channels slots and runs, is rigid to lateral motion but not vertical. The bottom runner makes the top runners more rigid laterally and the top runners make the bottom runner more rigid vertically.

(48) The perpendicular relationship of the first channel and the second and third channels and between the corresponding runners gives rise to a triangulated structure, which means that the drawer is stable when it is slid in and out and prevented from rocking or rotating, and which prevents runners binding, e.g. a pair of lower runners and channels in parallel with a pair of upper runners and channels preventing the latter from running smoothly, or vice versa.

(49) The C-shaped channel 60a of the first arm 59a lies in one plane on the bottom 63 of the chassis 2, and the C-shaped channel 60b, 60c of each of the other arms 59b, 59c lies in another plane, perpendicular to the first plane.

(50) The perpendicular relationship of the first channel 59a and the second and third channels 59b, 59c give the drawer 45 stability when it is slid in and out and prevent it rocking or rotating, and prevent the drawer runners binding.

(51) In use, a can 12 may be crushed in the crushing unit 6 as described hereinbefore in relation to FIGS. 2 to 6, with the crushed can 12 being dropped from the crushing unit drawer 7 into the receptacle 52, which acts as a storage unit for compacted recyclable waste materials.

(52) Alternatively or subsequently, the drawer 45 is slid outwards, and paper, cardboard cartons or cardboard or plastics material containers are put into the receptacle 52. The drive means drives the compacting plate 49 downwardly into the receptacle 52 from a rest position clear of the receptacle 52 before the compacting operation, such that any cans, cartons, packaging or containers in the receptacle are compacted. Following a compacting operation, the drive means drives the compacting plate 49 in a withdrawing operation out of the receptacle 52 to its rest position clear of the receptacle 52 before the compacting operation.

(53) Aptly, the compacting means is in the form of a compacting plate, e.g. a planar and rectangular plate which extends in a generally horizontal direction. The receptacle 52 then acts as a storage unit for compacted recyclable waste materials.

(54) Referring to FIG. 8, a recycling appliance is indicated generally at 80.

(55) The term appliance as used herein refers to one or more modules for crushing and/or compacting recyclable waste materials, such as cans, and/or storing compacted or non-compacted recyclable waste materials. Each module of the appliance performs one or more different functions.

(56) The term appliance assembly as used herein refers to one or more modules for crushing and/or compacting recyclable waste materials, such as cans, and/or storing compacted or non-compacted recyclable waste materials. An appliance assembly may consist of any one of the modules or a combination of any two or more of the modules.

(57) The appliances illustrated consist of modules selected from three different modules: a first, left-hand, can crushing and storing module 1; a second, centre, compacting and storing module 64 for paper, cardboard cartons or cardboard or plastics material containers; and, a third, right-hand, storage module 65, e.g. for glass.

(58) The appliance may consist of:

(59) The can crushing and storing module 1 in the casing 71 with bezel 81;

(60) The compacting and storing module 64 for paper, cardboard cartons or cardboard or plastics material containers in the casing 74 with bezel 84 and drawer front 104;

(61) The can crushing and storing module 1 with the compacting and storing module 64 for paper, cardboard cartons or cardboard or plastics material containers in the casing 72 with bezel 82 and drawer front 102; and/or

(62) The can crushing and storing module 1 with the compacting and storing module 64 for paper, cardboard cartons or cardboard or plastics material containers and the storage module 65, e.g. for glass, in the casing 73 with bezel 83 and drawer front 103.

(63) Each module has its own chassis and where the first, can crushing and storing module 1 is combined with the second, compacting and storing module 64 for paper, cardboard cartons or cardboard or plastics material containers; or also with the storage module 65, e.g. for glass, the chassis of the first module 1 is fastened to the chassis of the second module 64 to form an integrated, two-module unit, or the chassis of the third module 65 is also fastened to the chassis of the second module 64 to form an integrated, three-module unit.

(64) Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the words comprise and contain and variations of them mean including but not limited to and they are not intended to (and do not) exclude other moieties, additives, components, integers or steps. Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the singular encompasses the plural unless the context otherwise requires. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless the context requires otherwise.

(65) Features, integers, characteristics or groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment or example of the invention are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described herein unless incompatible therewith. All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of the features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. The invention is not restricted to any details of any foregoing embodiments. The invention extends to any novel one, or novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

(66) The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.