System for differentiated waste collection

Abstract: A system for differentiated waste collection includes a central seat (1), which is embedded in the ground and whose upper part is open. The central seat (1) is equipped with a cover (C), which features a mouth (B) for waste discharge. The system includes also at least two lateral seats (1a,1b,1c), likewise embedded in the ground and with the upper part closed, and communicating with the central seat (1), which they face. Moreover, the system includes at least two platforms (34), which receive and support as many containers (3a,3b,3c) for differentiated waste collection. Each of said platforms (34) can be positioned in any of the above mentioned seats (1,1a,1b,1c) and is equipped with linking elements (35), by which they couple with driving units (7), connected to the system. The driving units (7) are aimed at moving, in cooperation with the guiding means (5,51), the groups formed by the platforms and the containers from the related seats (1a,1b,1c) to a predetermined position in the region of a lifting device (D) situated in said central seat (1) and vice versa.

Description: The present invention relates to collection of urban solid wastes, with particular attention to separately storing them. More precisely, the present invention relates to a system for sorting and storing wastes in containers embedded in the ground, each container being capable of receiving, when selected, a specific kind of waste, e.g. paper, glass, plastic, etc., and/or usual waste produced by every citizen due to personal consumption. Recently, the differentiated waste collection has been constantly encouraged because of increasing amount of waste each administration must dispose of. In fact, if people takes care of separately store the waste, which allows to recycle and reuse various materials, such as paper, glass, plastic, etc. after specific processing, this results in economic advantages and bigger natural resources protection. For these main purposes, containers for separate kinds of waste have been situated in those areas which are considered appropriate. Therefore, once people have separated the various kind of waste, they are also supposed to store them separately. This means that they must find containers for different kinds of waste being collected, which are not always situated in the same collection area. Thus, the care of separately collecting the waste is not always followed by effective possibility of a differentiated disposal thereof. Various attempts to resolve this problem have been made, such as the one described in WO-A-92/01615. This publication discloses a platform, which supports a plurality of angularly equispaced containers for separately collecting waste. Another solution is the one described in document WO-A-92/22238, concerning to a system for separately collecting waste. The system includes a plurality of collecting units, with each unit including a series of containers situated inside seats made in the ground. For instance, the Italian application No. BO98A 000948 of the same Applicant, describes a system for differentiated waste collection, including a plurality of lateral seats, embedded in the ground. The seats are closed at top and communicate with one another while facing a central seat, whose upper part is open. The lateral seats house the containers for different kinds of waste, which are each time located, by moving means cooperating with support and guide means, in the region of the central seat to receive the relative kind of waste. An object of the present invention is to propose a system for differentiated waste collection in containers, which are housed by seats embedded in the ground and which are communicating with one another and arranged in such a way that containers for different types of waste are located in the same area. Another object of the present invention is to propose a system, which allows an operator to move, from outside and by suitable means, a selected container, so as to place it in a predetermined position, below the waste discharge mouth and in the region of lifting means. A further object of the present invention is to propose a system, realized by a simple technical solution, extremely reliable and practical, which optimizes and encourages a differentiated waste collection procedure. The above mentioned objects are obtained in accordance with the contents of the claims. The characteristic features of the invention will be pointed out in the following description of a preferred embodiment, which is not the only possible one, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic view from the top, of the ground area in which the seats housing the containers and means for moving them, are embedded; Figure 2a is a schematic view of the arrangement of the embedded seats containing the respective containers and the embedded central free seat, ready to receive the selected container when the waste is to be discharged; Figure 2b is a schematic view showing the movement procedure of a container to the central embedded seat; Figure 3 is a schematic view from the top of the area indicated with k in Figure 2a, containing all the important elements of the proposed system, connected with a device for lifting the containers; Figure 4 is a schematic section view taken along the line IV-IV of Figure 3a; Figure 5 is a schematic section view taken along the line V-V of Figure 3a; Figure 6 is a schematic lateral view of particularly important elements of the proposed system, as they appear in a particular working step, during which a container is moved; Figure 7 is a schematic plan view of important elements of the proposed system; Figure 8 is a schematic, very enlarged view of the particular indicated with G in Figure 4; Figure 9 is a schematic front sectional view of the waste discharge mouth; Figure 10 is a schematic side sectional and partially broken away view of characteristic elements connected with the proposed device; Figure 11 is an extremely schematic sectional view, taken along line XI-XI of Figure 10, of the above mentioned elements, as they appear in different working steps. With reference to the above described figures, reference numeral 1 indicates a central seat embedded in the ground and closed with a cover C communicating with the outside by a waste discharge mouth B. The central seat 1 faces other embedded seats, which are located all around, so that they surround the central seat. These seats are closed at top and there are three of them, arranged in clockwise direction first 1a, second 1b and third 1c, respectively, as shown e.g. in Figures from 1 to 2b. The central seat communicates with all the other seats. Each embedded seat, first 1a, second 1b, third 1c houses a corresponding container, respectively first 3a, second 3b, third 3c, adapted for collecting a particular type of waste. Each container, first 3a, second 3b, third 3c is supported by a rectangular platform 34, whose dimensions are similar to the dimensions of the container base. A unit 81 for lifting closing door 83 of the waste discharge mouth B is connected thereto. The lifting unit 81 includes at least one actuator means 84, e.g. a gear motor, which drives into rotation a worm screw 85 arranged vertically closed to a side of the mouth B. The worm screw 85 is coupled with a corresponding internally threaded bush 86 supporting one end of a first vertical rod 87. The other end of the first vertical rod 87 is fastened directly to the inner surface of the closing door 83. The lifting unit 81 includes further vertical rods 88, preferably in number of four, arranged at the corners of a rectangular. One end of each vertical rod 88 is slidably introduced into one of tubular columns 89, which are connected to the side of the mouth B. The other end of each vertical rod 88 is fastened to the inner surface of the door 83. The lifting unit 81 lifts the door 83, keeping it parallel with respect to the upper aperture of the mouth B, by a distance which allows to introduce only waste of normal dimension and prevents from introducing too bulky waste, which could remain blocked inside the mouth B. The above mentioned cover C is equipped with a first seal 93, which is of the type described in the Patent Application No. BO98A 000357 of the same Applicant. The first seal 93 is placed between the walls 90 of the central embedded seat 1 and the inner surface of the cover. A second seal 94 is also placed along the border of the cover C, this second seal being formed by a plurality of lips 95 which guarantee perfect sealing between outer edges of the cover C and the surface of the surrounding pavement P. The above mentioned first seal 93 and second seal 94 allow not only to avoid emission of bad smell, but also to maintain the cover C perfectly coplanar with the surface of the surrounding pavement P. A device D, situated in the above mentioned central seat 1, lifts any of the previously mentioned three containers. The device D is realized e.g. according to the one described in the Patent Application BO99A 000328 (filed the same day as the application whose priority is claimed by this European application) by the same Applicant. The lifting device D includes a lifting system for each container 3a, 3b, 3c. Each lifting system includes a lifting working unit 10 equipped with relative kinematic means 11 which lift a frame 4. The frame 4 includes a cross member 41, fastened to the above mentioned cinematic means 11, and two cantilevered arms 42. At its ends, the cross member 41 features plates 43, to which rollers 44 are rotatably fastened. The rollers 44 rotate inside a groove 32 made in the vertical guides 31. The cantilevered arms 42 feature a plurality of engaging means 45 provided for engagement with complementary seats 64 made in flanges 65. The flanges 65 are made integral with two parallel sides of each container 3a, 3b, 3c. The lower surface of each of the above mentioned platforms 34 is equipped with a linking element 35, which is in form of a stud, e.g. as shown in Figures 6 and 7. The platforms 34, connected with the containers 3a and 3c, have these studs in the region of the smaller side, which is turned toward the central seat 1, while the platform 34 connected to the container 3b has its stud placed in the region of the bigger side, which is also turned toward the central seat 1. Each of the lateral seats 1a, 1b, 1c houses corresponding driving units 7, e.g. hydraulic pushing means 71. The hydraulic pushing means 71 are arranged in such a way that their working direction is toward the central seat 1. In particular, the hydraulic pushing means 71 of the first and third lateral seats 1a and 1c are arranged parallel to the bigger sides of the seats, while the hydraulic pushing means 71 of the second lateral seat 1b are arranged parallel to the smaller sides of the seat. The hydraulic pushing means 71 feature fastened thereto, wheeled elements 72 equipped with housings 73, into which the above mentioned studs can be introduced and fixed. The coupling between the studs and the wheeled elements allows to link the hydraulic pushing means 71 with the platform-container assemblies. This link condition allows to move the containers from the lateral seats to the central seat and vice versa. For this purpose the bottom of the lateral seats 1a, 1b, 1c and of the central seat 1 feature guiding means 5, 51. The guiding means 5, 51 define motion-controlled ways for the containers 3a and 3c from the respective seats 1a and 1c to the central seat 1 and vice versa. The first guiding means 5 include a plurality of pairs of first wheels 53 fixed to first supports 52 made in the bottom of the central seat 1 and of the lateral seats 1a and 1c. The supports 52 are located along directions parallel to the longer sides of the lateral seats 1a, 1c. The wheels 53 of each pair are spaced out in such a way as to engage with corresponding guideways 54 having complementary profile. The guideways 54 are fastened to the lower side of the platforms 34, connected to the containers 3a and 3b, and extend parallel to the longer sides of the platforms. The guideways 54 include, e.g. as shown in Figure 4, section bars 540, whose shape allows to receive the wheels 53, which slide within respective wings 541. The second guiding means 51 allow movements of the container 3b from the relative seat 1b to the central seat 1 and vice versa. The second guiding means 51 include second wheels 55 carried by second supports 56 which are fastened to the base of the platform 34 of the container 3b and arranged in a line parallel to the shorter sides of the container. At least two I-beams 59 can be provided under the cover C as strengthening elements. The I-beams 59 are arranged parallel to the longer sides of the cover C and in such a way as give its shape to the profile of two corresponding opposite sides of the lower aperture E of the mouth B. The two I-beams 59 support also a leveling system 60, which slides parallel and inside with respect to the heads of the I-beams 59. The leveling system 60 is aimed at avoiding a disorderly pyramidal accumulation of waste in the container 3a, 3b, 3c each time situated in the central seat 1. The leveling system 60 includes a base 61, whose dimensions are comparable with those of the lower aperture E of the mouth B. A scraping bar 63 is fastened to the lower surface of the base 61 by means of a fork 62, so that it can swing. An actuator 75 is fastened to the lower surface of the cover C, by driving means 76, which co-operate with guiding elements 77 for driving the base 61 between three different working positions: first working position X, in which the base covers the lower aperture E of the mouth B, second position Y and third position Z, exactly opposite to the second one. In the second and third positions the aperture E is left free by the base (Figure 11). The guiding elements 77 include grooved wheels 25, which are rotatably fastened to the bottom of the base 61, so that the rotation axis of the wheels 25 is perpendicular with respect to the base 61. The wheels 25 have each one a groove 26 for engaging corresponding rods 27 having complementary profile. The rods 27 are fastened to uprights 270 fixed between the inner faces of the I-beams 59. The above mentioned driving means 76 include a lead nut 39, fastened to the base 61, which couples with a screw shaft 38, which is driven by the actuator 75. The group including the I-beams 59, the uprights 270, the rods 27 and the wheels 25 forms a kind of guiding track which supports and translated the base 61. A loading cell (not shown) can be connected to the base 61 to measure the weight of the waste before it falls and is collected in the container situated below. Moreover, a sensor for detecting smoke (not shown) can be situated inside the mouth B. When a person disposes of his waste, he selects the related platform-container in accordance with the kind of waste and by means of a push button, switch or a magnetic card. The platform-container activated is placed under the central seat 1, in the region of the mouth B. The selection activates the driving unit 7 connected to the selected group: the hydraulic pushing means 71 move the relative container up to the central seat 1 by means of the co-operating action of the wheeled element and the platform. The correct translation of the containers 3a and 3c is ensured by sliding of the guideways 54 connected thereto on the relative pairs of wheels 53, whereas the translation of the container 3b is ensured by sliding of the second wheels 55 directly on the bottom of the seats. The correct positioning of the platform-container assembly in the central seat 1 is determined by suitable sensors, not shown in the enclosed figures, which stop the assembly under the waste discharge mouth B. At this point the lifting unit 81 is operated. The actuator 84 drives the worm screw 85 to rotate, the bush 86 translates upwards pulling the first vertical rod 87, which lifts the shutter 83. The lifting of the shutter 83 is guided by contemporary sliding of the second vertical rods 88 inside the tubular columns 89. At this point, the user can discharge his waste into the mouth B and the waste stops on the base 61, which is in the first working position X. After the waste has been positioned on the base 61, the lifting unit 81 brings the shutter 83 back to the closing position, and the actuator 75 drives, in proper time relation, the leveling system 60 to translate until the base 61 reaches the second working position Y. During this translation, the scraping bar 63 moves the waste, which can have been accumulated under the mouth B, toward the wall of the container, while the freeing of the lower aperture of the mouth B allows the previously introduced waste to fall into the container situated below. When the base 61 has completed its translation, which is detected by suitable sensors or stops of the driving means 76, it is brought back to the position X, in which it is located under the lower aperture of the mouth B. When a next portion of waste is introduced, the base 61 translates up to the third working position Y: the alternate translation of the base toward the opposite walls of the container allows to level the waste contained therein in a convenient and uniform way. Moreover, the above mentioned stop position allows to locate the container in the region of, and over the means forming the lifting device D. If it is necessary to empty the container, the operator who collects the waste, operates, from outside, the lifting device D. The working means of the lifting device D are situated, as shown in Figure 4, in a recess 150 made lower than the bottom of the central seat 1 in order to prevent them, while in lowered position, from hindering the movement of the platform-container assembly. The container, filled with the waste or emptied, can be placed back in the corresponding seat when another user wants to deposit a different kind of waste or when the operator collecting waste wants to empty another type of container. In this case, before a corresponding working unit moves another container having been just chosen, the working unit connected to the previous container is operated to bring the latter back to the initial seat. Afterwards, the chosen container will be moved from its seat to the central seat 1 in the above described way. The proposed system allows to group, under the same part of ground, more containers into relative embedded seats, which facilitates and encourages differentiated waste collection. Moreover, this system allows to move containers inside the seats embedded in the ground by few and simple operations and allows also to position the containers in the region of lifting means and to the waste discharge mouth. Further, it is to be pointed out that the basic elements of the system for waste collection are few and simple to manufacture, which reduces the production costs. It is understood that what above has been described as a mere, not limitative example, therefore possible structural variants remain protected by the present technical solution, as described above and claimed hereinafter.

Claims: System for differentiated waste collection, characterized in that it includes: a central seat (1), which is embedded in the ground with respect to a pavement surface (P) and whose upper part is open, said central seat (1) being equipped with a cover (C), which has a mouth (B) for waste discharge therein; at least two lateral seats (1a,1b,1c) likewise embedded in the ground and with their upper parts closed, said lateral seats facing and communicating with the central seat (1); at least two platforms (34), which receive and support as many containers (3a,3b,3c) for differentiated waste collection, each of said platforms (34) being movable to any of the above mentioned seats (1,1a,1b,1c) and equipped with linking elements (35), by which they couple with driving units (7), connected to the system, said driving units aimed at moving, in cooperation with guiding means (5,51), each group formed by one platform and one container from the relative seats (1a,1b,1c) to a predetermined position in the region of a lifting device (D) situated in said central seat (1) and vice versa. System according to claim 1, characterized in that said driving units (7) include hydraulic pushing means (71), housed in each of said lateral seats (1a,1b,1c) and aimed at moving wheeled elements (72) from said lateral seats to said central seat (1), and vice versa, said wheeled elements (72) being equipped with housings (73), into which said linking elements (35) of said platforms (34) are introduced; the connection between the wheeld elements (72) and platforms (34) allowing translation of said groups formed by the platforms and the containers from said lateral seats (1a,1b,1c) to said central seat (1) and vice versa. System according to claim 1, characterized in that said guiding means (5) include a plurality of pairs of wheels (53) carried by supports (52) fastened to the bottom of said central seat (1) and of said lateral seats (1a, 1b,1c), said wheels (53) of each pair being spaced out one from another in such a way as to engage with corresponding guideways (54) having complementary profile and fastened to the basis of at least one of the platforms (34); the coupling between the wheels (53) and guideways means (54) being aimed at guiding translation of at least one group formed by a platform and a container from one of said lateral seats (1a,1b,1c) to said central seat (1) and vice versa. System according to claim 3, characterized in that said guideways (54) include pairs of section bars (540), whose shape allows to receive said wheels (53) sliding within respective wings (541). System according to claim 1, characterized in that said guiding means (51) include second wheels (55) held by second supports (56), said second wheels (55) being aimed at sliding on the bottom of at least of said lateral seats (1a,1b,1c) and of said central seat (1), so as to move at least one of said groups formed by said platforms and containers from one of said lateral seats (1a,1b,1c) to said central seat (1) and vice versa. System according to claim 1, characterized in that said lifting device (D) includes: a lifting system for said container (3a,3b,3c) including a lifting working unit (10) equipped with relative cinematic means (11); a frame (4) moved alternately by sliding means along vertical guides (31) and including a pair of arms (42), said arms (42) being equipped with a plurality of engaging means (45) which engage with complementary seats (64) made in flanges (65) made integral with two parallel sides of said container (3a,3b,3c). System according to claim 1, characterized in that said lifting working unit (10) includes at least one pneumatic actuator, and in that said cinematic means (11) include at least one pair of pinions, which are rotatably supported by the top of said pneumatic actuator, and which engage with a related pair of chains. System according to claim 6, characterized in that said frame (4) includes a cross member (41), fastened to said cinematic means (11) and supporting said two arms (42), said cross member (41) featuring plates (43) at its ends, with said sliding means supported by said plates (43), said sliding means including rollers (44) aimed at rotating inside a groove (32) made in said vertical guides (31). System according to claim 1, characterized in that said lifting device (D) is situated in a recess (150) made lower than the bottom of said central seat (1). System according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes: a unit (81) for lifting a shutter (83) of the waste discharge mouth (B), said lifting unit (81) including an actuator (84), which drives a worm screw (85) arranged vertically closed to a side of said mouth (B); a first vertical rod (87), which is coupled, on one end with said worm screw (85) and, on the other end, fastened to the inner surface of said shutter (83); second vertical rods (88), which have one end slidably introduced into relative tubular columns (89) connected to the sides of said mouth (B), and another end fastened to the inner surface of the shutter (83). System according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes sealing device between said cover (C) and said embedded seat (S) and pavement surface (P), said sealing device including a first seal (93) between said cover (C) and the walls (90) of said central seat (1), and a second seal (94) equipped with a plurality of lips (95) which ensure perfect sealing between outer edges of said cover (C) and pavement surface (P). System according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes at least two I-beams (59), situated under the cover (C), arranged parallel to the longer sides of the latter and in such a way as to give a shape to the profile of two corresponding opposite sides of the lower aperture (E) of said mouth (B), said two I-beams (59) supporting a leveling system (60), which slides parallel and inside with respect to the heads of said I-beams (59), said leveling system (60) being aimed at avoiding a disorderly pyramidal accumulation of waste in said container (3a,3b,3c) situated in said central seat (1); said leveling system (60) including an actuator (75), fastened to the lower part of the cover (C), said actuator (75) acting on said leveling system (69) by driving means (76) cooperating with conveying elements (77), to drive said leveling system (60) between three different working positions: first working position (X), in which the leveling system covers the lower aperture (E) of the mouth (B); and second position (Y) and third position (Z), exactly opposite, in which the leveling system lets said aperture (E) free. System according to claim 12, characterized in that said leveling system (60) includes a base (61), whose dimensions are comparable with those of the lower aperture (E) of said mouth (B) and which features a scraping bar (63) rotatably fastened thereto by a fork (62) in the region of the lower surface of the base (61), and in that said conveying elements (77) include wheels (25), which are rotatably fastened to the bottom of the base (61), so that the rotation axis of the wheels (25) is perpendicular with respect to the base (61), each one of said wheels (25) including a groove (26) for engagement with corresponding rods (27) having complementary profile, said rods (27) being fastened to uprights (270) situated between the inner facings of the I-beams (59); and in that said driving means (76) include a lead nut (39), fastened to the base (61), which engages with a screw shaft (38), which is driven by said actuator (75). System according to claim 13, characterized in that a loading cell is connected to the base (61) to measure the weight of waste. System, according to claim 1, characterized in that a sensor for detecting smoke is provided inside said mouth (B).

Inventors: CURZIETTI TONINO, PROSPERI PAOLO, CURZIETTI, TONINO, PROSPERI, PAOLO
Applicants: ECOGEST S R L, ECOGEST S.R.L.
Application year: 2000
Main classification: B65F1
IPC codes: B65F1