NL2007708C2

NL2007708C2 - Compactor.

Info

Publication number: NL2007708C2
Application number: NL2007708A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Jacobus Petrus Maria Dessing; Abram Christiaan Knip
Original assignee: Craftworks B V
Priority date: 2011-11-03
Filing date: 2011-11-03
Publication date: 2013-05-07
Also published as: EP2589487A1

Description

17123- GU/Fe Compactor

The invention concerns a device in accordance with the preamble of claim 1. Such a device is known from US 2007/0034098. In the known device, the bag is enclosed by a flexible enclosure which presses on the bag and the garbage 5 material in the bag in unpredictable ways and which flexible enclosure is complicated to produce. This makes the device expensive and difficult to use, especially if more than one compacting cycle is needed to fill the bag.

In order to overcome this disadvantage the device is 10 according to the characterizing part of claim 1. In this way, the bag is pulled around the material while it is being compacted, or conversely, the material is pressed into the bag, and after compacting in a first cycle the user can push the plunger to the lower position so that the device is ready to 15 receive further material to be compacted and to compact it in a second cycle. The device is primarily suited for compacting package or garbage material, but it may be used for any amount of material that is deformable.

In accordance with an embodiment, the device is 20 according to claim 2. In this way, the upper rim improves guiding all material within the cylindrical wall into the bag.

In accordance with an embodiment, the device is according to claim 3. In this way, the cylindrical wall supports the bag support and/or the upper rim against sideways forces so 25 that compacting forces do not cause deformation.

In accordance with an embodiment, the device is according to claim 4. In this way, it is easy to remove the bag with compacted material from the bag support.

In accordance with an embodiment, the device is 30 according to claim 5. In this way, leakage or waste from the material can be collected in the bowl and can be removed easily. The bowl may be removable from the bag support, e.g. for easy cleaning.

2

In accordance with an embodiment, the device is according to claim 6. In this way, the material above the upper rim is pressed, over the distance of between the higher position and the lower position, into the bag so that considerable 5 compacting occurs.

In accordance with an embodiment, the device is according to claim 7. In this way, the lower seal always moves along that part of the cylindrical wall that has not contacted the material and therefore is undamaged and/or not deformed by 10 the material. The sealing properties of the lower seal do not decrease in this way.

In accordance with an embodiment, the device is according to claim 8. In this way, the bag maintains a fixed position in the bag support and moving material does not move 15 this position. That the upper rim extends above the upper end of the cylindrical wall makes fixing the bag on the outside circumference of the bag support easy.

In accordance with an embodiment, the device is according to claim 9. In this way, the material is pressed below 20 the upper rim and it is possible to pull the bag closed over the compressed material before the material starts to expand upwards due to relaxation.

In accordance with an embodiment, the device is according to claim 10. In this way, eccentric forces on the bag 25 support due to compressing the package material do not lead to misalignment or tilt of the plunger.

In accordance with an embodiment, the device is according to claim 11. In this way, operation of the device is facilitated, in particular if the pressure sensitive switch can 30 be activated by pressing the lid onto the cylindrical wall.

In accordance with an embodiment, the device is according to claim 12. In this way, the user may sense when due to leakage the vacuum pump does not generate a sufficient under pressure, so that he may correct that immediately.

35 In accordance with an embodiment, the device is according to claim 13. In this way, the device does not run unnecessary. For this, the device may comprise one or more 3 sensors and a controller coupled with the sensor and the vacuum pump to operate the vacuum pump in response to a signal from the sensor.

In accordance with an embodiment, the device is 5 according to claim 14. In this way, pressure is equalised between the inside and outside of the bag preventing its rupture by pressure differences. It also facilitates use of substantially inelastic bags, which may be more robust than bags of elastic material.

10 In accordance with an embodiment, the device is according to claim 15. In this way opening the device after compaction is made easy.

The invention further includes use of a bag in the compacting device according to claim 16. In this way, the volume 15 of the compacted material can be maintained after releasing pressure on the material.

In accordance with an embodiment, the use is according to claim 17. In this way suitable material for closing the bag over the compacted material is provided.

20 The above-described aspects will hereafter be more explained with further details and benefits with reference to the drawings showing an embodiment of the invention by way of example.

Figs 1A and IB are perspective and cut away views, 25 respectively, of an embodiment prior to compaction;

Figs 2A and 2B are perspective and cut away views, respectively, of the device of Figs 1A-1B after compaction;

Figs 3A and 3B are perspective and cut away views, respectively, of the bag support of the device of Figs 1A-2B, 30 with only Fig. 3B showing the bag;

Fig 4 is a partial cut away view of the cylindrical wall and the bag support in the position of Fig. 2B;

Fig. 5 is a schematic detail of cross section of Fig. 2B, also showing the bag.

35 It is noted that the drawings are schematic, not necessarily to scale and that details that are not required for understanding the present invention may have been omitted.

4

Further, elements that are at least substantially identical or that perform an at least substantially identical function are denoted by the same numeral.

Figures 1A-2B show a device 1 for compacting material, 5 here formed as a generally known garbage can, comprising a cylindrical wall 3, enclosing a cavity 5 in which, in use, a bag is arranged (see below), note that the cut away planes of Figs. IB and 2B are indicated in Figs. 1A and 2A, respectively. An upper end of the cylindrical wall 3 comprises a lid 7, here 10 attached to the cylindrical wall 3 by a hinge 9. As seen in Figs 1A-1B the lid 7 can be opened to fill the bag.

The lid 7 comprises a seal 10 and a groove 11 surrounding an extension in the form of a pusherpusherl3 in the middle of the lid 7, which extends towards and into the cavity 5 15 and which may be at least partly hollow. The hinge 9 may provide a displaceable hinge axis to allow for both rotation and translation of the lid 7 with respect to the cylindrical wall 3, e.g. to accommodate insertion into the cylindrical wall 3 of the cylindrical pusher 13 closely fitting the cylindrical wall 3.

20 A vacuum pump 15 for removing air from the bag support and a bag contained therein is connected to the inside of the cavity 5. Here, the vacuum pump 15 is mounted inside (the pusher 13 of) the lid 7, which is aesthetically pleasing, protects the pump 15 from user contact and is weighting down the lid 7 so 25 that it may close the seal and/or press on material received inside the cavity 5 and/or the bag (see below). Alternatively, a vacuum pump 15 may be arranged elsewhere or be provided as a separate object, e.g. a vacuum cleaner. Preferably, plural connections, e.g. plural openings, are provided between the 30 vacuum pump 15 and the cavity 5, to ensure proper operation of the device in case of accidental covering, clogging or other blocking of one opening, e.g. by material sucked against the opening.

The device 1 further comprises a bag support 17, shown 35 in detail in Figs. 3A-3B in similar views as Figs 1A-2B, located inside the cylindrical wall 3 and having an upper rim 19, and a plunger 21 with a lower seal 23, which can sealingly move, e.g.

5 slide, in the cylindrical wall 3 between a lower position (Figs 1A-1B) and a higher position (Figs 2A-2B).

The cylindrical wall 3 comprises an upper rim 25, which, together with the seal 10 of the lid 7 provides a 5 substantially air tight seal between the cavity 5 and the environment outside the device 1. The seal 23 and the cylindrical wall 3 likewise provide a substantially air tight seal, so that when the device 1 is closed by the lid 7 the cavity 5 is substantially hermetically sealed off.

10 Here, and best seen in Figs. 3A-3B, part of the bag support 17 and the plunger 21 form a single part, comprising a side wall 26 and with the plunger 21 forming a bottom wall. The bag support 17 also comprises a guide ring 27 on the side wall 26 and a closed bowl 29 having a side wall 31 of conical shape 15 expanding towards the open side providing the upper rim 19. The guide ring 27 supports the side wall 26 against the cylindrical wall 3 and guides the plunger 21 and the bag support 27. The guide ring 27 may be resilient and provide a seal to sealingly slide in the cylindrical wall 3. Such seal may form the lower 20 seal, obviating the seal 23, and/or reversing functions between seal 23 and guide ring 27. Near the bottom end of the cylindrical wall 3 a support 30 is provided to retain the plunger 23 in the cylindrical wall 3. In another embodiment, plural guides and/or an interrupted guide ring of plural 25 protrusions may be provided.

In use, a bag 33 is arranged inside the bowl 29 of the bag support 17 and is coupled to the upper rim 19 so as to support the bag 33 in open state. As indicated in Fig. 3B, the open end of the bag 33 may be folded back over the upper rim 19 30 and the rim of the bag 33 may be fixed on or coupled to the upper rim 19 by fixing the rim of the bag 33 to the bag support 17, e.g. with a ridge, hooks or clamping means provided on the side wall 31. Fixation may be performed or assisted by one or more hooks, clamps, elastic rings, tying a closing string, 35 ribbon, or cord etc., e.g. provided with the bag 33, around the bowl 29 of the bag support 17. Also, or alternatively, the upper rim 19 may comprise one or more protrusions, recesses or teeth 6 to fix the bag 33, e.g. teeth engaging meshes of a net bag.

Thus, detachment of the bag 33 can be easy and fast, increasing available time for closing the bag 33 before relaxation of the compacted material.

5 Preferably the bag 33 and the bowl 29 of the bag support 17 have matching sizes, so that the bag 33 closely follows or lines the interior surface of the bag support 17 without stress, expansion or excess bag material, and the open volume of the bag 33 generally corresponds with that of the bag 10 support 17. Since by compacting the compacted material is pressed into the bag 33 and the bag 33 is supported by the bag support 33 against deformation, the bag 33 may be of flexible, tear and puncture resistant material with high resistance to plastic deformation so that it is substantially size retaining.

15 Thus, the volume of the compacted material can be maintained in its compacted state in a closed bag 33 after releasing pressure on the material. A suitable material for the bag 33 is a prestretched polyethylene mesh or burlap, e.g. as used for transporting potatoes, wood blocks, etc.

20 An air permeable bag support 17, in particular the bowl 29 when present, and/or an air permeable bag 33, e.g. a net bag, of strong, substantially inelastic woven or non -woven material, prevents sucking the bag 33 from the bag support 17 and allows lifting of the bag 33 from the bag support 17.

25 The bowl 29 shown in Fig. 4 has optional rounded corners R at the transition between its side wall 31 and its bottom wall, facilitating cleaning. It is noted that instead of a closed bowl 29, a bottomless bowl, i.e. only a side wall 31, may be provided, or that the bag support 17 may be a single part 30 having the upper rim 19.

When installed in the cylindrical wall 3, the radial distance DR between the upper rim 19 and the cylindrical wall 3 may be small, e.g. less than 10 mm, to prevent capturing material between them. The plunger 21 pushes the bag support 17 35 towards and/or against the lid 7 when the vacuum pump 15 removes air from the bag 33 received in the closed cavity 5, due to the pressure difference between the cavity 5 interior and the 7 environment. The compacting force F is determined by the product of the surface area A of the plunger 21 times the difference of the pressure Pin in the bag 33 or the cavity 5 and the environmental pressure Penv, F = A x (Pin - Penv) • The vacuum pump 5 15 can reduce the pressure Pin in the cavity 5 to approximately 200-300 millibar, i.e. about 20-30% of the environmental pressure Penv? so that with a plunger diameter of about 25 cm or more, a compaction force F of over 3000 N may be achieved, which is generally sufficient for compacting garbage which requires 10 successive deformation of parts. To provide a larger force F, a large plunger diameter and/or a stronger vacuum pump 15 capable of reaching lower interior pressures may be provided. The device 1 comprises an opening to allow access and exchange of environmental air under the plunger 21 at least during use.

15 A comparison of Figs IB and 2B shows that, in the shown embodiment, the distance between the higher position (Fig. 2B) and the lower position (Fig. IB) is about equal to the diameter of the cylindrical wall 3, and that material contained inside the cavity 5 having an initial volume of more than the bag 33 is 20 compacted between the bag support 17 and the lid 7.

Fig. 4 shows the bag support 17 and the cylindrical wall 3 in the higher position, of Fig. 2B, but with the lid 7, the rim 25 and associated portions removed for clarity.

A comparison of Figs 2B, 3B and 4 shows that in this 25 higher position, the upper rim 19 of the bag support 17 extends above the cylindrical wall 3 for a height distance DF and that it is received in the groove 11 of the lid 7, here for the full depth of the groove 11. Thus, the pusher 13 of the lid 7 extends below the upper rim 19 and into the bag 33 and compacted 30 material is pressed into the bag 33 which is therewith pulled around the compacted material. Here, the pusher 13 has a concave surface towards the cavity 5 to guide the material into the bag 33 and shape the compacted material to facilitate closing the bag 33. When opening the lid 7 in the situation of Fig. 2A-2B, 35 4, the upwardly extending upper rim 19 facilitates fixing, release, removal, and exchange of a bag 33 on / from the bag 8 support 17. Also, the optional bowl 29 is accessible for removal and cleaning if desired.

The height distance DH between the guide ring 27 and the upper rim 19 of the bag support 17 may be chosen such that a 5 length of the sleeve portion S of the bag 33 between the underside of the pusher 13 to the rim of the bag 33 (and over the upper rim 19) in fully compacted state (see Figs. 2B, and 5) is more than about 1/4 times, preferably more than about 1/3 times, the diameter of the upper rim 19. Thus, sufficient bag 10 material is available for closing the bag 33 over the compacted material, facilitating closing the bag 33 without force and/or before the compacted material can relax and expand again. The distance between the guide ring 27 and the upper rim 19 may be about or less than 50 mm, but preferably it is sufficient to 15 facilitate fixing the bag 33 folded over as in Fig. 3B.

Preferably the bag support 17 remains in place with respect to the cylindrical wall 3 when the lid is opened, e.g. by the friction of the seal 23 and the guide ring 27 or by separate means, e.g. an air cushion between the plunger 23 and a 20 bottom wall of the cylindrical wall 3. Preferably, the bag support 17 and the plunger 21 can be pressed down towards the lower position by a user, e.g. during or prior to filling of the bag 33 and the cavity 5 with material to be compacted.

Figs. 2A and 2B show that the lid 7 contains a hand 25 grip 35 for opening the lid 7. A user control for activating the vacuum pump 15 may be provided, e.g. on or in the lid 7, possibly on, in or near the hand grip 35.

A pressure sensitive switch, e.g. a push button, possibly covered by a membrane, may serve to activate the vacuum 30 pump. Such switch may be arranged to be operated by pressure of the lid 7 against the cylindrical wall 3, e.g. by pressing the lid 7 deep and/or long enough with sufficient pressure. Such pressure sensitive switch may be kept activated by an under pressure in the cavity 5 and the bag 33 developed by the vacuum 35 pump 15. The device 1 may be configured to determine a maximum under pressure for activating the switch, e.g. by using a pressure sensor, magnetic device and/or a resilient member 9 forcing open the lid with a predetermined force. When sufficient under pressure to activate the switch cannot be achieved, e.g. due to a leak in the system by material trapped in the seal 10;25 of the lid 7, the pump 15 switches off when the lid 7 is 5 released, allowing detection of such undesired situation and correction by the user.

The device may comprise a user operable off-switch and/or a control system to switch the vacuum pump off after achieving a predetermined compacting condition such as a 10 compacting time, a negative pressure in the bag, a plunger position and/or a plunger displacement. A pressure may be measured with a pressure gauge, e.g. a second pressure sensitive switch overriding the first pressure sensitive switch for switching on the device and/or a pump power detector since with 15 decreasing pressure the dissipated power of the pump will increase or other means. A distance or position measuring system may comprise a push button to be pressed by the bag support, an electrical contact to be shorted by the bag support, an optical switch to be interrupted by the bag support. etc.

20 As options, a lock and/or a user-operable venting valve may be provided to facilitate opening the lid 7 after evacuation of the cavity 5. The lock may be opened and/or the valve may be activated by operation of the hand grip 35. Such opening or activation may be coupled with deactivation of the vacuum pump 25 15 to ensure the pump 15 is switched off before opening the lid 7. This facilitates opening the lid 7 and protects the pump 15 from sudden pressure changes.

The disclosure is not restricted to the above described embodiments which can be varied in a number of ways within the 30 scope of the claims. For instance, a status indicator, e.g. one or more light sources and/or acoustic signalling devices may be provided, to indicate pump operation, finished compaction, detection of a leak etc. Instead of a guide ring a plurality of guides may be provided and/or the bag support may form a close 35 fit to the cylindrical wall.

In the shown embodiment the cylindrical wall 3 has a constant diameter. In another embodiment (not shown) the seal 23 10 has a larger diameter than the guide ring 27 and the corresponding portions of the cylindrical wall 3 have corresponding different diameters. In this way, downward movement of the guide ring 27 and/or the entire bag support 17 5 is restricted.

Elements and aspects discussed for or in relation with a particular embodiment may be suitably combined with elements and aspects of other embodiments, unless explicitly stated otherwise.

Claims

1. Device for compressing material in a bag, comprising a cylindrical wall, enclosed by the cylindrical wall, a bag support for receiving the bag and the compressed material, wherein an upper end of the cylindrical wall comprises a cover provided with a higher seal and cover can be opened to fill the bag, and a vacuum pump for extracting air from the bag is connected to the interior of the bag support, characterized in that the bag can be coupled to an upper edge of the bag support which is located within the cylindrical wall, a plunger with a lower seal can move sealingly within the cylindrical wall between a higher position and a lower position and the plunger presses the bag support towards and / or against the lid when the vacuum pump extracts air from the bag.

Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the distance between the top edge and the cylindrical wall is less than 10 mm.

3. Device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one guide supports the bag support against the cylindrical wall and wherein the distance between the guide and the upper edge is preferably less than 50 mm.

Device as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the bag support has a conical shape.

5. Device as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the bag support has a closed box which can enclose the bag and wherein the box preferably has rounded corners.

6. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the distance between the higher position and the lower position is more than 0.5 times the diameter of the cylindrical wall and preferably measures 1 times the diameter of the cylindrical wall.

Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the distance between the lower seal and the upper edge is more than the distance between the higher position and the lower position.

Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the bag support on or near the upper edge has a ridge, hooks, teeth or clamping means for fixing the bag on the upper edge and wherein the cover preferably has a recess so that in the higher position the upper edge 10 protrudes above the upper end of the cylindrical wall.

Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the lid has a protrusion, a chamber and / or a groove so that in the higher position a part of the lid can extend below the upper edge.

Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein at least a part of the bag support and the plunger are fixedly connected or form a single part and wherein preferably the distance between the guide and the lower seal is more than 0.5 times the diameter of the cylindrical wall and more preferably more than 1 times the diameter of the cylindrical wall.

11. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, comprising a pressure-sensitive switch, for instance a push-button, for operating the vacuum pump.

Device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the pressure-sensitive switch is adapted to remain activated by an underpressure in the bag support.

13. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the vacuum pump is adapted to be switched off after reaching a certain compression condition and wherein preferably the compression condition is a compression time, an underpressure in the bag support, a position of the plunger or the top edge and / or a plunger displacement.

Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the bag and / or the bag support is air-permeable, preferably comprising a net part or a cut-away part.

Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, comprising a valve for aerating the bag and / or the bag support.

16. Use of a substantially flexible, dimensionally stable, tear and / or perforation resistant bag in a device according to any one of the preceding claims.

Use of a bag according to claim 16, wherein the top of the bag is folded over the top edge of the bag support.