ES2554810T5 - Macerator - Google Patents

Description

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DESCRIPTION

Macerator

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a macerator of the type used for the disposal of assorted pulp-reduced products, such as paper, cardboard, pulp-reduced paper or similar fibrous or starch-based products and human waste. More specifically, though not exclusively, the invention relates to hygienically handled macerators for the reduction of human waste and to collectors of paper pulp waste or similar articles.

Background of the invention

In conventional toilets, a relatively large volume of water is used to complete a discharge cycle, as it is needed to initiate the vortexing and draining with a siphon in order to maintain the siphon until all the waste material has been evacuated from Cup. Although common, such toilets are not efficient and are poorly equipped to cope with repeated and frequent use and / or large amounts of waste. In addition, large diameter sewage pipes are required to evacuate waste.

In certain circumstances, waste disposal facilities are required in situations that do not allow the use of traditional toilet types. Often, large sewage pipes are not practical. In other situations, the removal of larger or denser items is required. This can occur in places such as hospital or care center washing rooms, where bedridden or geriatric patients are predominant, or in temporary or offshore environments, such as on ships.

There are also situations, for example when a nursing home or hospital ward has a large number of bedridden residents or patients, in which wedges and disposable urine bottles or the like are used. The adoption of single-use waste collectors, such as paper pulp wedges or urine bottles, allows the use of a new collector for each use. This is inherently more hygienic in environments where cross contamination is a major concern. However, this entails a waste disposal system that is capable of handling a variety of waste products that include denser or more fibrous matter, as well as human waste.

Designers and manufacturers of domestic, commercial and industrial equipment are increasingly concerned about the costs of resources required by such equipment. In particular, designers and manufacturers of planters seek to reduce the amount of water and electricity they use.

In addition, such facilities require ease of use and hygienic operation. In this way, the installation would ideally allow a complete and simple use without contact. The process should be as quick as possible, leaving more time for patient care. Preferably, the unit should not be noisy or detrimental to a local environment that typically contains sensitive people.

Previous Technique

There have been a number of previous attempts to solve the problem of the disposal of residual products, with some of the most successful being the macerators.

A previously known macerator had a drain valve located at the bottom of a chamber containing a waste shredder, which was displaced so that the shredded waste product circulated towards the drain.

Previous devices mixed the waste product with water to produce an effluent that was drained through the sewer system. During the operating cycle, water was normally fed continuously to a maceration chamber as the macerator motor was running continuously. Typically, such devices took the form of a cylindrical chamber that had a cutting mechanism arranged at the bottom, typically on the perimeters of a disk or in a concentric or annular arrangement to allow a progressive reduction until the small particles had a sufficient size as to allow download. Such devices were sometimes inefficient from the point of view of resource consumption, often requiring several liters of water in a cycle, and, in addition, it was possible to allow elongated particles to pass through a pipe for waste with the risk of blocking the pipe or the drain.

European patent document EP 0 347 205 B1 (from Ward et al) discloses a macerator for reducing fibrous products, comprising a housing and stirring means rotatably mounted inside the housing to reduce the products.

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In the preferred embodiment, approximately 12 liters of water are pumped into the chamber before the beginning of the maceration cycle. A cutting blade is adapted to follow the contour of the chamber wall. After the disintegration of the waste into relatively large pieces, the subsequent reduction in the size of the pieces is mainly due to the impact and turbulence.

The macerator works depending on large hydraulic shear forces, between the stirring blade and the inner wall of the housing, and the liquid inside the housing. Next, the drain valve is opened and more water is used to rinse the chamber.

European Patent Document EP-B1-1 348 816 (of Sheperd) describes a waste disposal apparatus that includes a maceration chamber, a water inlet and a waste outlet, and a first and second actuator arranged to actuate independently a water pump and a macerator and to interrupt the flow of water, while the macerator actuator is operating the macerator.

The described apparatus includes: a control system to limit the flow of water in the chamber. In the described embodiment, the water flow is interrupted after a predetermined interval to allow the macerated waste to drain, before the reintroduction of water into the chamber and instead of continuing to wash the practically empty chamber. The independent nature of the actuators and the interruption of the continuous water flow, try to reduce the use of water.

Patent application document GB-A-2 445 036 (from Vernacare Limited), which has a filing date prior to the present application and which was published on June 25, 2008, describes and claims a macerator with a housing, an opening, a lock that can be released releasably and a contactless switch to control a function of the macerator. The preferred embodiment of the contactless switch is an infrared pedal switch, which is described as reducing cross infection as it avoids the need for the user to use the contactless switch with the use of the hands.

Thus, the prior art describes devices that provide different methods of maceration or disintegration of assorted waste relatively quickly, but not necessarily high efficiency in the use of energy or water per charge. In addition, because many of the aforementioned devices rely on the use of water to reduce waste, they were often noisy due to the moving volume of water and waste. In addition, all prior art devices mentioned above depended on contact with the user to activate, open or close the maceration chamber.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a fast, efficient and relatively silent device that can be used completely hygienically.

A waste disposal apparatus is described in GB1421771 comprising a housing with an upper inlet and a lower outlet, which includes a closure with a plurality of nozzles (preferably three) arranged to deliver a flow of cleaning water to the entire inner surface of the closure and the housing. When the closure is closed, a switch and a main switch energize the motor and, preferably, a pump. The closure includes a positive closing lever that is interconnected with the switch.

A crushing apparatus is described in GB1209766, in particular for disposable wedges, and comprises a tank and a rotor by means of which water jets are supplied through holes that are directed upwards and outwards in order to break the material in the vats. In operation, a pump supplies water through a tube to the base of a groove to force a tight seal against the tank and secure the lid. The lid is pedal operated, and has a microswitch in the engine start circuit to prevent operation until the lid is closed.

Disposal equipment for infectious or otherwise contaminated waste is described in US4883189, to be used, for example, in hospitals, doctors' offices, laboratories and other similar institutions. Waste is disposed of in a container placed on a support. When the container is full, it is closed tightly with the cover provided. The cover ready to be released is held on the support by means of the rotating cover support which is actuated by the motorized actuator. The opening and closing of the container is provided by the lid holder, and during the filling phase the lid is closed without pressing on the container. When the container is full, another actuator connected to the equipment closes the lid support with the lid tightly pressed on the container and then the lid connected to the container is released.

A garbage can assembly is described in EP1700799 which has an outer cover, a cover pivotally coupled to the upper end of the outer cover, a sensor placed within a covered area defined by the outer cover and a control system of cover that couples the sensor and the cover. The lid control system opens and closes the lid when the sensor is operated.

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Summary of the Invention

Several aspects and features of the present invention are defined in the claims.

According to a first exemplary application, a macerator is provided comprising: a chamber and a cover, which together, in use, define a tight volume for receiving articles to macerate; a chopper that is in the chamber; an entrance for water; and a drain to evacuate macerated product, characterized in that means are provided to close the lid in the chamber using a contactless control system.

In an alternative application, the opening means includes a pedal switch that when activated by a user's foot activates the release mechanism in the macerator in order to open the lid.

Thus, according to another application, a macerator is provided comprising: a chamber and a cover, which together, in use, define a tight volume for receiving articles to macerate; a chopper that is in the chamber; an entrance for water; and a drain to evacuate macerated product, characterized in that a non-contact, pedal control system is provided to close the lid on the chamber.

Preferably, the contactless control system includes a proximity sensor, such as a capacitive sensor or an infrared (IR) sensor to detect a hand or foot of an operator or user. The IR proximity sensor is placed in an ideal position to be at the rear of the macerator, typically on a control panel and facing the front of the macerator.

The IR sensor ideally has a relatively small range of action of between 0.05 m and 0.2 m so that the closure of the lid is a deliberate action and not accidentally activated by a passer-by that happens by chance.

A logic circuit can be included and configured to close the lid upon receiving a specific pattern or sequence of signals, for example, a user may have to wave his hand through the sensor a predetermined number of times and / or confirm a command signal. and / or keep your hand in a preferred proximity for a given interval of time. It will be appreciated that the specific pattern or sequence of signals to control the closure of the lid can be varied.

There are sensors arranged to detect the closure of the lid and to lock the lid in position. Ideally, solenoid bolts, or, alternatively, reed switches, are activated, as soon as a cover closing signal is detected by the sensors.

Alternatively, the contactless control system may include a voice recognition system, which is capable of identifying a user's voice; or some other feature, such as an iris and / or an acoustic control signal, for example, "lid closure".

In yet another application, the contactless control system may be adapted to read an optical badge, for example carried by a user or adapted to respond to an identity tag (ID) with a short range radio frequency (Rf).

What is important is that the contactless control system is configured to operate at the command of a control signal that allows a user to close the lid of the macerator without touching any switch or part of the machine with their hands, thus reducing the risk of cross infection and keeping the macerator in a state as clean as possible. An advantage of this is that the improved macerator reduces the risk of leaving any dirty or contaminating substance in contact with the shut-off switch, which could otherwise have been touched by a user or subsequent users and that could have resulted in a possible cross infection , for example, in a different room.

Preferably, an opening mechanism is provided to allow the camera cover to open without contact by a user's hand. Such opening mechanism is ideally a pedal and allows the lid to open, for example, while a user is carrying a pile of dirty items to macerate.

However, it is envisioned that the opening mechanisms can also be manipulated by a similar remote switch such as, for example, an IR or other optical switch; It can be seen that the lid can only be opened once the macerator has completed the cleaning cycle.

Advantageously, at least one safety lock ensures that the opening of the lid is only possible when the machine has completed the cycle and stopped. A safety interval of between a few seconds and one or two minutes can be established, after which the lid is opened.

Optionally, a manual control can be provided, which is usually located at the rear of the macerator, which allows an operator or maintenance engineer to open the lid in case of a failure or lid jam.

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According to a third application, a method of mashing a product reduced to paper pulp is provided comprising the steps of: introducing the product into a chamber; tightly close the chamber with a lid; chop the product for a predetermined period of time using a rotating blade when at least part of the paper product is in a substantially dry state, introduce a predetermined volume of water while the chopper continues to chop the product; and evacuate the waste product cut from the chamber while the water supply continues to clear the chamber.

Preferably, the initial chopping interval is less than 30 seconds and ideally less than 20 seconds and, preferably, about 10 seconds long. This initial chopping period, in this document called 'dry chopping', is usually done using a chopping speed of around 1,000 to 1,500 revolutions per minute (RPM).

The chamber volume is typically at least 0.25 m3 and can receive up to eight pulp products from dirty waste.

Ideally less than 20 liters of water are introduced. Preferably between 18 and 20 liters of water and more preferably between 16 and 18 liters of water are introduced. Even more preferably, less than 16 liters of water are introduced.

Despite giving the impression that a relatively large volume of water is used, in comparison, for example, with the prior art systems mentioned above, it will be appreciated that the present invention, in fact, reduces more products to pulp and is therefore more efficient, when comparing the volume of water per macerated product, than many prior art systems. An advantage of this aspect of the invention, therefore, is that it not only accelerates the maceration process, but also requires less water and is greener than existing macerators that have comparable loads.

It is believed that the improved maceration cycle is faster and requires less water due to the initial "dry" cutting process, which disintegrates paper product / pulp-reduced product into relatively small fragments, which greatly increases the available surface for water absorption. Therefore, this initial phase of "dry" chopping is considered important for the rapid absorption of water. Once the water has been absorbed by the sliced pieces of pulp-reduced product, the resulting mass has an adequate consistency for its evacuation, in addition the water serves to clarify the chamber and helps in the elimination of water-soaked material, as well as of waste

At or near the end of the cycle, the rotary chopper is ideally turned off and if more water is introduced, it simply serves to clear the inside surface of the drum or chamber.

At this stage, an disinfectant and / or air freshener can also be introduced as an option.

This application results in a faster chopping cycle, thus requiring less energy for the operation of the electrical components, pumps and motor that drive the chopper, and less water. Therefore, the macerator not only reduces the amount paid for electricity expenditure but also reduces water costs and produces less waste. Therefore, it is clear that improvements in the cutting cycle not only save money, but are more environmentally friendly.

It is appreciated that the first and second applications can be combined in a single macerator in which both applications are present.

According to a fourth application, an improved cutting blade is provided for use in a macerator, comprising: three main blades and three secondary blades, the axis of each blade being located in a plane and substantially arranged at 60 °. of others, whereby the main blades and the secondary blades are arranged alternately with respect to each other.

Ideally, the length of the main blade is between 5 and 25 cm and that of the secondary blade is between 1 and 7 cm. Preferably, the length of the main blade will be between 10 and 15 cm and the length of the secondary blade will be between 3 and 6 cm.

Typically, the widths of the blades range between 2 and 4 cm and more preferably between 1.5 and 2.5 cm. The thickness of the blades typically ranges between 0.3 and 0.6 cm.

Ideally, the material for the blades is hardened steel or stainless steel with relatively blunt faces and areas with curved tips. The chopper is ideally located in the center inside the chamber or drum and resting on a tree, which is connected directly to an external motor to the drum. In use, the motor is arranged to drive the blade at a maximum rotation speed of typically between 1,000 and 1,500 RPM and ideally around 1,200 RPM, typically 1,425 RPM. This not only achieves an efficient chopping function based on energy, but has also been found to achieve faster and quieter results.

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The end or distal portions of the main blades are advantageously shaped and arranged to fit the inner shape of the drum in order to define a narrow space, of substantially constant width, between the surface of the blade and the surface of the chamber.

In one application, the blades are provided with two curves, in order to create an S-shape, whereby a main surface of the blade is substantially parallel to the flat surface of a part of the interior of the chamber.

In a preferred application, the flat surface of a part of the interior of the chamber is a part of an angled truncated conical surface so as to direct the reduced pulp and pulp waste to a drain.

Ideally, the space between the blade and the chamber is less than 0.5 cm and ideally less than 0.3 cm. It has been found that the space is ideal since if it is too large, the pulp-reduced product sticks to the underside of the blade and tends to "make a ball"; and if the space is too small, there is not enough shear force generated between the product to reduce pulp and the chamber wall.

In fact, the chopper has two sets of blades: a first set of relatively short blades and a second set of longer blades. The short and long blades alternate and are arranged symmetrically.

An advantage of the preferred arrangement of the blades is that it favors a very efficient "dry" chopping, which chops before the introduction of water. The cutting cycle is not only very efficient, but also relatively quiet.

As a result of the improved blade, noise levels are typically below 60 dB and, preferably, below 50 dB.

The chamber or drum has a sump area whose volume is typically between 3 and 5 liters and in which the blade is at a distance of approximately 9.0 cm from the base of the sump. This distance ensures that there is slack between the blade and the drum in order to avoid any accumulation of debris that could otherwise clog or inhibit the rotation of the chopper.

Suitable sensors are located in the rotation shaft to determine the amount of rotor torque that is required and to isolate energy for the motor in the event of a stop. In the event of a stop, such sensors may be arranged to reverse the direction of the motor rotation in order to eliminate debris and release the motor rotation.

It will be appreciated that the fourth application can be used in combination with the first and / or second and / or third applications and combined in a single macerator.

According to a fifth application, a macerator control system is provided to determine a particular operating cycle, in which a menu of alternative cycles for varying is provided: the speed of slicing and / or the duration of slicing before the introduction of water and / or the amount of water to be introduced and / or the moment at which the drain is opened, characterized in that the menu is presented in the form of a look-up table and works under software control.

This feature allows to configure a single type of macerator, for use in a wide variety of applications ranging from, for example, conditions in which there is a large volume of very dirty pulp products to those in which there is a smaller amount of slightly dirty products.

In addition, this feature gives an operator the flexibility to select different pulp reduction times and to vary the amount of water used in a cycle. Certain minimum limits may be imposed in order to ensure that the products are reduced to pulp, to a sufficiently small size and that minimum volumes of water are introduced into the chamber so that it can be emptied properly.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example and with reference to the figures in which:

Brief description of the figures

Figure 1 shows an overview of an embodiment of the macerator 10 of the type found in hospitals or care centers;

Figure 2 is an organizational chart showing key decisions in the control and logic of the operation of the macerator;

Figure 3 shows several views of a macerator lid;

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Figure 3a is a general view;

Figure 3b is a bottom plan view;

Figure 3c is a plan view;

The 3d figure is a side elevation view;

Figure 3e shows a detailed view in partial section of the hinge part that connects the lid to the macerator; Figure 3f shows an end elevation of the macerator lid;

Figure 4 is a general view of the solenoid housing;

Figure 5a is a plan view of the six-blade chopper;

Figure 5b is in side elevation of the six-blade chopper; Y

Figure 6 is a block diagram of an automatic control system for closing a lid of the macerator.

Detailed description of the figures

With reference to the figures in general and in particular Figure 1, a general view of an embodiment of the macerator 10 of the type normally found in hospitals or care centers is shown. The macerator 10 has the form of a profiled cabinet as a parallelepiped whose dimensions are approximately between 0.5 and 0.7 m (width), between 0.5 and 0.8 m (depth) and between 0.8 and 1 , 1 m (height).

The cabinet 10 is typically mounted on the floor on four legs or rubber supports 12. The macerator 10 requires a water supply 14 (usually only cold), a sewage drain 16 and an electrical supply 17 (single phase or three phase ). An articulated lid 18 is closed to seal an inner drum 20. In use, the lid 18 is opened by a foot switch, a pedal or a metal defense sheet 22. This allows a user, who normally transports one or more wedges or dirty pads to macerate, open the lid without placing the above-mentioned dirty items on a work surface, or anywhere in the macerator 10, thus ensuring hygienic disposal.

In use, the cover 18, shown in detail in Figures 3a to 3f, is closed and locked by two locking bolts or pins 24a and 24b, operating under the control of solenoids 26a and 26b (shown in detail in the figure 4), respectively, in a fault protection mode. The fault protection mechanism ensures that in the event of a power failure, interruption in the power supply 17 or the water supply 14, the pins keep the cover 18 in a locked state.

Referring to Figures 5a and 5b, the chopper 28 is supported in a substantially central location, in the lower area of the drum and supported by a sealed support 34. The chopper 28 comprises a multi-sided blade device, which ideally has three relatively long blade parts 36a, 36b and 36c, and three relatively short flat blade parts 38a, 38b and 38c. The long blade parts are disposed between means of the short blade parts in a star configuration at substantially 60 ° with respect to each other.

An advantage of this configuration of blade parts is that it has been found to produce low noise levels, which is particularly beneficial in hospital rooms or care centers where macerators often need to operate at night when patients are asleep

Next, a brief reference will be made to Figure 2 in which a logical diagram illustrates a series of questions / decisions and states that control the operation and safety characteristics of the macerator 10.

In Figure 2, which is an organization chart showing key decisions, the macerator 10 is initially operated with a footswitch to open the lid. An LED indicates "connected" status. Up to 8 pulp products can then be loaded into the macerator 10. To close the cover 18, a user moves a hand over a proximity sensor that includes an IR detector 44. Once the cover 18 is closed, the motor is driven. The machine checks the load on the engine and if there is a problem, an F3 indicator will flash on the screen. This fault code means that an obstruction must be removed, for example an item trapped in the lid. If there are no obstructions, two spring loaded latches 24 are activated to lock the lid 18 and an LED indicates that the maceration cycle begins.

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The engine is then started to dry-cut. Subsequently, after an interval of approximately 10 seconds, the water pump 70 is connected. It fills the chamber 20 with water for 70 seconds. A dosing fluid, such as detergent or disinfectant, can then be added and the peristaltic pump started. The defined period of time for this is between 3 and 30 seconds.

The cycle is completed later and the engine shuts down. Pump 70 continues to pump the water for cleaning the chamber for 10 seconds. If the engine is still running, an error code F8 flashes on a screen and the cycle stops. A counter is incremented by 1 based on the fact that another cycle has been carried out and a verification of a predetermined limit is made. If the limit is reached, an alarm is triggered and a revision is required. However, if it is not reached, the cycle is completed and starts again. The LED indicates the ready status.

There are two counters: a first one is integrated into the software and can be set to zero, for example, a maintenance engineer to alert the moment for the next revision; and the second keeps track of the absolute number of cycles: The system counter in the software requires a reboot when the revision has been carried out until the next revision; The absolute cycle counter cannot be altered.

The unit executes a continuous fault verification loop whereby, for example, if a pressure sensor is activated, an F1 error code flashes on the screen, the drains are unblocked and the unit restarts. If the water tank is not full during the cycle, the error code F5 flashes. If the power is interrupted during the cycle, the error code F6 flashes. If the lid is opened during the cycle or the engine is turned off, F7 flashes on the display.

There is also a continuous fault verification loop referring to eventualities in which the motor can be stopped in the middle of the cycle. When there is too much product in camera 20, the error code F2 flashes on a screen. If the engine fails, the error code F4 flashes.

Referring again to Figures 1 and 3, an operator / user (not shown) approaches the macerator 10, normally carrying a stack of dirty disposable compress containers (not shown) for hygienic disposal. If the lid 18 of the macerator 10 is already open, the user places the stack, usually of up to 8 paper pulp products, in the inner drum 20, which has tapered or partially tapered lower areas, which favors the evacuation of reduced matter to pulp. The articulated lid 18 is then closed by an automatic closure system described in detail below with reference to Figures 2 and 6.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, an automatic closing system (ACS) comprises an infrared (IR) radiation source 42a, an infrared (IR) detector 44, a threshold detection circuit 46, control logic 48 and a relay fifty.

Referring to Figure 6, which shows the ACS in use by detecting a user hand when it is shaken near the IR detector 44 as an increase in the reflected IR radiation 42b. The threshold detector 46 eliminates any ambient radiation or IR incident from a received signal (S) and, in case the duplicate of the received signal exceeds a predefined threshold level (T), an activation signal is sent to a circuit Logic 48. The logical sequence of decisions and actions that are made and controlled by the logic circuit 48 are described in detail in Figure 2.

The threshold detection can be varied in order to change the angle / cone of variable vision of the detected IR radiation and / or the distance between the target (hand 100) and the detector and / or the particular frequency of the IR radiation 42a. The variation of these criteria allows a high degree of selectivity to be achieved, thus ensuring that the macerator 10 can be used in a wide range of environments, for example in banks or rows or, for example, one in front of the other, without the risk of receiving a reading or a false input signal.

A particular advantage of this aspect of the invention is that it ensures that a user no longer has to contact any part of the macerator 10 to start it or initiate a maceration cycle. This is especially important with the increased frequency of cross contamination between patients and hospital wards of bacteria that cause methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. (SARM) and Clostridium difficile (c-difficile), since the person carrying dirty items (nursing assistant or cleaner) usually moves between several different places in the hospital or care center.

Referring again to Figures 1 and 4, the closing operation of the cover 18 is now described in more detail and with reference to the specific safety features housed in solenoids 26a and 26b. After the detection of a nearby hand 100 or other actuator, the cover 18 is closed under the supervision of a lid security system. A cover security system 60 includes an actuator or activator arranged to close the cover 18 upon receiving a signal from the self-closing system. A pressure sensor, which is located to detect voltage in the actuator activator, in which the detected voltage level exceeds a particular value, sends a fault signal to the activator, which automatically stops its movement. This feature ensures that a user does not accidentally trap a hand or a finger, or any other element inadvertently placed so as to prevent the lid 18 from closing.

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In situations where the lid security system is activated, an alarm may sound and / or the actuator activator can be controlled to delay it or to try to close it, thus giving the user the opportunity to remove the element.

In addition to the aforementioned alarm, a series of fault codes and alternative alarms are provided for the safe and efficient operation of the macerator.

These are described in detail below. Fault codes and error signals have been designed to ensure that the macerator is relatively easy to maintain and repair.

• If the drains of the power supply or the chamber are blocked, a pressure sensor detects a change in pressure and stops the unit, showing F1.

• If too much pulp product is loaded into the unit, then the macerator stops and displays F2.

• If the chopper becomes stuck during the cycle, the unit stops and shows F3.

• If motor 32 stops rotating during the cycle, F4 is displayed.

• If camera 20 does not fill after a desired period of time, F5 is displayed.

• If the power is interrupted during the cycle, the unit displays F6. When the power is turned on again, the unit automatically ends the cycle.

• If lid 18 opens during the cycle, the macerator stops and shows F7.

• If motor 32 continues to rotate after a cycle is completed, the macerator unit shows F8.

• When the cycle counter reaches the set limit, the unit will display F9, which implies that a revision is required.

It will be appreciated that variations can be made in the aforementioned embodiments, without departing from the scope of the invention.

It is also understood that the terms: paper, cardboard, paper pulp or similar fibrous or starch-based products are intended to include: biodegradable products, disposable hygiene products, feminine hygiene products, diapers (spikes), incontinence pads and other items of sanitary use for use by incontinent persons, incontinence equipment, wedges and the like, which can be formed from plant material or any synthetic, organic or other material that is temporarily impervious to liquids, (for example by a coating), Although capable of being macerated.

It is also understood that the foregoing description is not intended to be limiting in that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention may include variations in size, materials, profile, shape, function and mode of operation. , assembly and use; and all are readily considered clear to one skilled in the art, and all ratios equivalent to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the description are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Claims (15)

5 10 fifteen twenty 25 30 35 40 Four. Five fifty 1. Macerator (10) comprising: a chamber (20) and a cover (18), which together, in use, define a watertight volume for receiving articles to macerate; a chopper (28) is located in the chamber (20); an entrance is provided to introduce water into the chamber (20); a drain to evacuate macerated product from the chamber (20); a means (22) for opening the lid is provided; and a lid closure system (40) is provided to close the lid (18), characterized in that the lid closure system (40) includes a contactless control system (44, 46, 48) arranged to detect a hand or foot, an iris, an optical badge, an identity tag with a short-range radiofrequency, or the voice of a user and activating an actuator that closes the lid upon receiving a command signal; lid locking means (24) ensure that the lid (18) is locked when closed, before the control system (44, 46, 48) begins a maceration cycle. 2. Macerator (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one sensor is arranged to detect the closure of the lid (18) and to initialize the lid locking means (24). 3. Macerator (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one sensor is provided to detect an obstruction for closing the lid (18), the sensor detecting an obstruction automatically stops the actuator. 4. Macerator (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contactless control system includes a proximity sensor and the proximity sensor (44) includes an infrared sensor (GO). 5. Macerator (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that the infrared (IR) sensor has a range of between 0.05 m and 0.2 m so that the closure of the lid is not activated from accidental way by a passer-by that happens by chance. 6. Macerator (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the contactless control system includes a proximity sensor and the proximity sensor (44) includes a recognition system that is capable of identifying a acoustic control signal 7. Macerator (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the contactless control system includes a proximity sensor and the proximity sensor (44) includes an optical recognition system. 8. Macerator (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the contactless control system includes a proximity sensor and the proximity sensor (44) includes a short-range radio frequency (RF) receiver to receive a signal from an RF identity tag (ID). 9. Macerator (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that an opening mechanism (22) is provided to allow a user's foot to open the chamber cover (18) (20). 10. Macerator (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a safety release mechanism allows the lid to be opened (18) after a predetermined interval after the end of a cycle. 11. Macerator (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the chopper (28) comprises: three main blades (36a, 36b and 36c) and three secondary blades (38a, 38b and 38c), the axis of each blade in a plane and being arranged substantially at 60 ° from each other, whereby the main blades (36a, 36b and 36c) and the secondary blades (38a, 38b and 38c) are alternately arranged with respect to each other to others. 12. Macerator (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a control system (48, 50) determines a particular operating cycle, characterized in that a menu of alternative cycles for varying is provided: the speed of Chopping and / or the duration of chopping before the introduction of water and / or the amount of water to be introduced and / or the moment at which a drain is opened, whereby the menu is presented in the form of a query table and in use it works under software control. 13. Method of maceration of a product reduced to paper pulp, using the macerator (10) according to any of claims 1 to 12, comprising the steps of: introducing the paper product into the chamber (20); tightly close the chamber (20) with the cover (18); chop the paper product for a predetermined period of time using a rotary chopper (28), when at least part of the paper product is in a substantially dry state, characterized by the step of introducing a predetermined volume of water, while the chopper (28) continue cutting the paper product; and evacuate the waste product cut from the chamber (20) while the water supply continues to clear the chamber (20). 14. Method of mashing a pulp product according to claim 13, characterized in that an initial crushing interval is less than 30 seconds. 15. Method of mashing a pulp product according to claims 13 or 14, wherein a volume of less than 20 liters of water is used in one cycle.