Patent Publication Number: US-2013233186-A1

Title: Bottle compaction system and method

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/609,236 titled “Plastic Bottle Compressor” of Yann Morez filed on Mar. 9, 2012, which is hereby incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Bottles, such as those made from a recyclable plastic material, such as but not limited to polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and high-density polyethylene plastics (HDPE), are commonly employed in our society. These bottles are used, for example, to contain any of a wide variety of liquids ranging from bottled water and soft drinks for human consumption to various cleaning products. One drawback of such bottles is that, once emptied and ready for disposal, the empty bottles can occupy a significant amount of space, for example, in a trash or recycling container. The space needed to store empty bottles is particularly acute when one considers the storage space relative to the actual amount of plastic associated with a given bottle. That is, the volume of storage space is very large compared to the volume of plastic being stored, resulting in a high storage volume to recyclable material ratio. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1   a  is a perspective view of an example bottle compression system. 
         FIG. 1   b  illustrates an isometric, partially schematic view of the example bottle compression system shown in  FIG. 1   a.    
         FIG. 2  shows a front cross-sectional view of the example bottle compression system with a compressible bottle therein, prior to compression of the compressible bottle. 
         FIG. 3  is a front cross-sectional view of the example bottle compression system shown in  FIG. 2 , upon compression of the compressible bottle. 
         FIG. 4  is an isometric view of another example bottle compression system, without a compressible bottle therein. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The systems and methods described herein reduce the amount of space (or volume) occupied by an empty compressible bottle in a trash or recycling container. In an example, the systems and methods collapse, at least partially, the bottles prior to disposing of such bottles. 
     People may squeeze bottles using their hands (in a direction that is parallel to the length of a central axis of the bottle) to remove some of the air and thus partially collapse bottles. However, the partially collapsed compressible bottle still takes up a relatively large amount of space in a trash or recycling container because only the diameter of the bottle has been reduced. Further complicating matters is the reduction only reduces the midsection of the bottle, with the top and bottom tending to retain their initial respective shapes (and thus volume). As a result, a compressible bottle crushed in that manner stills occupy a fairly large amount of space in a trash or recycling container. 
     The systems and methods described herein promote efficient collapse of compressible bottles in a manner that greatly minimizes the volume occupied in a recycling or refuse container. Additionally, this collapse can be accomplished in just a matter of a few seconds. 
     In an example, a compressible bottle compaction system includes a housing, a gas port, a source of gas, and a movable platen. The housing is configured to receive a compressible bottle therein, with the compressible bottle defining an opening end. The gas port is defined within the housing, and the gas port is configured for engaging the opening end of the compressible bottle. The source of a gas is selectably communicable with the gas port. The movable platen is associated with the housing, with the movable platen being movable toward and away from the gas port. Further, the movable platen is capable of being initially positioned within the housing so as to permit receipt of the compressible bottle within the housing between the gas port and the movable platen. 
     In another example, a method of compressing a compressible bottle is provided. The compressible bottle has a bottle opening and a bottle length. A housing and a gas port and a movable platen associated with the housing is provided. During operation, the compressible bottle may be positioned at least partially within the housing such that the bottle opening is in fluid communication with the gas port, and such that the bottle is located between the gas port and the movable platen. A flow of a gas (e.g., heated or hot gas) is provided through the gas port into the compressible bottle through the bottle opening. The movable platen is driven toward the gas port after beginning a flow of gas into the bottle, causing the compressible bottle to partially or even fully collapse substantially along the bottle length (along a central axis of the bottle). 
     Before continuing, it is noted that as used herein, the terms “includes” and “including” mean, but is not limited to, “includes” or “including” and “includes at least” or “including at least.” The term “based on” means “based on” and “based at least in part on.” 
       FIG. 1   a  is a perspective view of an example bottle compression system.  FIG. 1   b  illustrates an isometric, partially schematic view of the example bottle compression system shown in  FIG. 1   a . The example bottle compression system  10  may be operated for compacting, crushing, or otherwise collapsing a compressible bottle  12  (e.g., as illustrated in  FIG. 2 ). In the illustrated version, the bottle compression system  10  is a small household appliance for crushing/compacting one bottle  12  at a time. However, it is to be understood that the system may be sized and configured for use with a plurality of compressible bottles  12  that can be simultaneously compacted (including, but not limited to, on an industrial scale). 
     In an example, the bottle compression system  10  includes a housing  14 , a gas port  16 , a gas source  18  (e.g., gas), and a movable platen  20 . The housing  14  is configured to receive the compressible bottle  12  therein, with the compressible bottle  12  defining an opening end  22 , a bottle length  24  (schematically indicated in  FIG. 2 ), and a bottle base  25 . The housing  14  includes at least a housing base  26  and two opposing housing walls or sides  28   a - b . The two housing walls  28   a - b  respectively extend substantially orthogonally from the same side and abut opposing edges of the housing base  26  (the side and edges not being labeled). 
     The gas port  16  is defined within the housing  14 , and the gas port  16  is configured for engaging the opening end  22  of the compressible bottle  12 . The gas port  16  is supplied with at least one port channel  29  that can serve as a gas pathway into the compressible bottle  12 . In an example, the housing base  26  includes the gas port  16 , with an opening of the gas port  16  extending therefrom to facilitate engagement with the opening end  22  of the compressible bottle  12 . In another example, the gas port  16  may take the form of a receiving bore (not shown) within the housing base  26 . 
     In either example, the gas port  16  may be sized (e.g., height, depth, and/or diameter) so as to facilitate stable positioning of the compressible bottle  12  within the housing  14  for the compression cycle. The gas port  16  may also allow gas escape from the compressible bottle  12  during the compression cycle so as not to create a complete seal with the compressible bottle  12 , or if a seal is formed, provide a gas exhaust path. 
     The gas port  16  is shown in the Figures having a frustro-conical shape, allowing the gas port  16  to engage a wide range of bottles (e.g., having different opening end diameters). It is understood, however, that other gas port shapes are also possible, including but not limited to a shape (not shown) which defines at least one inlet flow path and at least one exhaust flow path to enable gas flow both into and out of a given compressible bottle  12 . 
     The gas source  18  is selectably communicable with the gas port  16  via a piping or tubing  30 . The gas source  18  may be made selectably communicable with the gas port  16  (e.g., via presence of a valve  34  within the piping  30 ). The gas source  18  includes both a fluid tank or vessel  34  and a tank heater  36 . The fluid tank  34  may carry a gas and/or a readily evaporable liquid. In an example, the fluid tank carries water. The water can be converted to steam for delivery to the compressible bottle  12 . 
     The fluid tank  34  may have a re-sealable stopper or plug (not shown) or other similar mechanism to allow refilling of the fluid tank  34 , while preventing unwanted gas escape at other times. 
     The tank heater  36  (e.g., an electrical resistance-based, or other type of heating element) is configured to heat the fluid in the fluid tank  34  to an appropriate temperature. For example, a temperature capable of mollifying the plastic material from which the compressible bottle  12  is made and/or to promote evaporation and/or boiling of a liquid contained in the fluid tank  34  (e.g., water into steam). 
     For purposes of illustration, a gas (or the gas being generated within the fluid tank  34 ) is heated to a temperature above room temperature but below the melting temperature of the compressible bottle  12  (e.g., the melting temperature of PET being about 250 C-260 C). For example, the gas may be heated to a temperature in the range of about 50° C. to about 150° C. When steam is to be used as the gas, the temperature may be in the range of about 70° C. to about 100° C. 
     In an example, design parameters for temperature of the gas to be delivered through the gas port  16  include, but are not limited to the temperature being sufficiently high to reduce pressure inside the compressible bottle  12  relative to the surrounding air pressure, enough to ease the compression/collapse thereof and yet to be low enough so as to not promote melting or decomposition of the plastic. 
     In another example, design parameters for temperature of the gas to be delivered through the gas port  16  include, but are not limited to the temperature being sufficiently high to help mollify and/or structurally weaken the plastic of the compressible bottle  12  enough to ease the compression/collapse thereof and yet to be low enough so as to not promote melting or decomposition of the plastic. 
     In either example, the temperature/exposure time combination should, beneficially, be such that a given compressible bottle  12  could still be handled by a user shortly upon completion of the compression cycle. 
       FIG. 2  shows a front cross-sectional view of the example bottle compression system  10  with a compressible bottle  12  therein, prior to compression of the compressible bottle  12 .  FIG. 3  is a front cross-sectional view of the example bottle compression system  10  shown in  FIG. 2 , upon compression of the compressible bottle  12 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 2 , the positioning of the movable platen  20  within the bottle compression system  10  can be seen in a manner so as to receive the compressible bottle  12 , in its original, full-size form. The movable platen  20  is associated with the housing  14 , with the movable platen  20  being movable in a first or loading/unloading direction  38  away from the gas port  16  (i.e., allowing insertion/removal of a given compressible bottle  12 ). 
     With reference to  FIG. 3 , a second or compression direction  40  is illustrated as the movable platen moves toward the gas port  16 . The movable platen  20  may, for example, be slidably mounted between the housing sides  28   a - b  or separately aligned therebetween. 
     It is understood that the movable platen  20  can be moved manually (or driven automatically) by a pushing and/or a pulling action. For example, the user may use his or her foot to manually move the platent  20 . Or for example, the platen  20  may be driven via a motor (not shown). 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the movable platen  20  can be initially positioned within the housing  14  so as to permit receipt of the compressible bottle  12  within the housing  14 , between the gas port  16  and the movable platen  20 . Further, the movable platen  20  may be provided with a bottle end receiving concavity  42  for receipt of the bottle end  25  and thereby be able help to maintain alignment of the compressible bottle  12  during the compression cycle. 
       FIGS. 2 and 3  together illustrate a compression operation cycle using the bottle compression system  10 . In an example, the compressible bottle  12  is mounted within the housing  14  such that the opening end  22  of the compressible bottle  12  is in fluid communication with the gas port  16 . The compressible bottle  12  is located between the gas port  16  and the movable platen  20 . 
     A gas flow  44  is introduced through the gas port  16  into the compressible bottle  12  through the opening end  22  thereof, before moving the movable platen  20  in the second or compression direction  40 . After beginning the gas flow  44  into the compressible bottle  12 , the movable platen  20  is driven toward the gas port  16  with enough force to cause the compressible bottle  12  to collapse substantially along the bottle length  24 . 
     It is noted that the driving force to cause such collapse could be manually provided or that force could be generated by a motor (not shown), with the latter scenario being particularly useful if an automated and/or mass quantity crushing system were to be employed. Once the compressible bottle  12  is compressed or compacted, the movable platen  20  can be translated in the first direction  38  to facilitate removal of the now compressed compressible bottle  12  (step not illustrated). 
       FIG. 4  is an isometric view of another example bottle compression system  110 , without a compressible bottle therein. It is noted that similarly numbered parts (e.g., gas port  16 ,  116 ) are to be considered similar in construction and functionality unless otherwise described. Therefore, the description of each component may not be repeated in full again with reference to  FIG. 4 . 
     In this example, the bottle compression system  110  includes a housing  114 , a gas port  116 , a gas source  118 , and a movable platen  120 . The bottle compression system  110  is designed to be a kitchen countertop appliance. The housing  114  differs from housing  14  in that it has a front housing portion  150  in which the compression cycle is to be performed. A rear housing portion  152  is designed to carry the gas source  118 . Further, the front housing portion  150  includes a pair of opposing housing walls or sides  128   a - b , and those housing walls  128   a - b  are provided with a respective slide track  156  to facilitate the slide mounting of the movable platen  120  within the front housing portion  150 . In the example shown, the movable platen  120  is further provided with a bottle end receiving concavity  142  operable by a pneumatic cylinder to automatically compress a bottle in the compression chamber. 
     The bottle compression system  110 , in the illustrated embodiment, is also provided with an on/off switch  156  that is able to control the gas flow  144  through the gas port  116 . In particular, the on/off switch  156  may activate a valve similar to the valve  32  and/or a heater similar to the tank heater  36  to permit a selected gas flow  144  to occur. 
     It is understood that other controls and/or gauges (not shown), such as a thermal regulator and/or thermometer for the tank heater  36  or an electronic flow control may also be provided as part of the system. Such controls and/or gauges are deemed to be within the scope of the present disclosure and can be readily implemented by those having ordinary skill in the art after becoming familiar with the disclosure herein. 
     It is also contemplated that a drive motor and related controls (neither shown) may be provided to automate the movement of the movable platen  20 ,  120  and to permit adjustment of the force applied to a given compressible bottle  12 . Again, drive motors and related controls are deemed to be within the scope of the present disclosure and can be readily implemented by those having ordinary skill in the art after becoming familiar with the disclosure herein. 
     It is noted that the examples shown and described are provided for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting. Still other examples are also contemplated.