WO2000021725A1

WO2000021725A1 - Apparatus for compressing empty thermoplastic bottles by steam

Info

Publication number: WO2000021725A1
Application number: PCT/IT1999/000318
Authority: WO
Inventors: Salvatore Apicella
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-10-12
Filing date: 1999-10-11
Publication date: 2000-04-20
Anticipated expiration: 2001-04-12
Also published as: IT1302368B1; AU1073500A; ITRM980639A1

Abstract

An apparatus that allows standard-size bottles of thermoplastic material to be squeezed to a cylindrical body with 10 cm height by using the heat generated by a little amount of steam.

Description

Apparatus for compressing empty thermoplastic bottles by steam

The present invention relates to the disposal of household rubbish and, more particularly, a device for compressing and compacting bottles of thermoplastic material, especially those for drinking liquids. The device described is specifically intended for domestic use, however, its function may also be extended to other uses such as commercial and/or industrial applications.

It is known that the problem of disposing rubbish has all the appearance of being a real emergency. In fact the amount of domestic rubbish increases beyond measure, thus putting in a critical position municipal government as well as personnel and users. A number of solutions have been proposed for reducing the overall dimensions of the materials to be wasted by providing mechanical devices capable of pressing domestic rubbish before collecting the same and also compacting apparatus for squeezing the rubbish before unloading. While the characteristics of the latter are not restricted, simplicity, cheapness, and overall dimensions of the domestic devices are indispensable features . Starting from the fact that the greater volume in the domestic rubbish bags is occupied by the bottles of thermoplastic material, especially those for drinking liquids, the Applicant seeks to provide a small-size home-apparatus capable of compressing empty bottles of thermoplastic material without the use of mechanical squeezing or cutting devices.

According to the invention, this is accomplished by providing an apparatus that allows standard-size bottles of thermoplastic material to be pressed by utilizing the heat generated by a little amount of steam and to be reduced to a cylindrical body with about 10 cm height. Such a compression permits a much higher number of bottles to be put into the standard- size rubbish bags that are more easily thrown into the municipal rubbish bins. In fact, as the bottles are reduced in height, it is avoided that the same protrude from the bags unlike what happens today. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the apparatus consists essentially of a little steam generator capable of providing steam very quickly after its switching on and an output nozzle from which the steam flows into a bottle of thermoplastic material . The latter can be compacted immediately to a cylindrical body with about 10 cm height because of the quick increase in the temperature and by a weak manual thrust .

In order to avoid that the user's hand comes in touch directly with the hot surface of the bottle heated by the steam upon pressing the same, a removable holding pot is advantageously provided under the apparatus for containing the bottom of the bottle .

Further features and advantages of the present invention will be more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings that shows a preferred embodiment thereof . In the drawings :

Fig. 1 is a front elevation view of the steam generator device and the holding pot;

Fig. 2 is a schematic view of the hydraulic system of the invention showing the steam circuit.

Fig. 3 shows schematically the electric system of the apparatus ;

Fig. 4 shows the apparatus with a bottle in operation.

With reference to Figures 1 and 2, the apparatus according to the present invention essentially includes a small water tank 6 that is screwed, with the interposition of a water filter 8, to a casing 10 of plastic material having a double insulation and including a water pump 12, a safety valve 14, a watertight boiler 16, and a steam output nozzle 18. A two-position selector 20 for switching on/off the apparatus, a control button P for delivering steam and a warning light L are provided outside casing 10. The whole apparatus assembly has the shape of an essentially cylindrical column with a tapered end toward nozzle 18. The apparatus also includes a removable pot 8 of plastic material for holding the bottle to be pressed. Both the diameter of the apparatus assembly and that of pot 8 are compatible with the size of an ordinary bottle such as about 11 cm. As can be seen in Fig. 3, after the mains cable is connected to 220V electric system and control selector 20 is switched to position 1, the apparatus is in operation and accordingly a voltage is applied to one or more resistances R which heat the water in the boiler. The inside temperature of the boiler is kept constant by a thermostat Tl that connects or disconnects such resistances R whenever the water temperature gets off the predetermined values. A second thermostat T2 having a normally open electric contact closes automatically when the water within the boiler reaches the maximum temperature. The closure of such second thermostat T2 causes warning light L to switch on so that the apparatus is ready to deliver steam and water pump 12 is operated. As can be seen particularly in Fig. 2, the water contained in tank 6 flows to boiler 16 through filter 8 and pump 12 and rubber pipe fittings 21 and nylon pipes 22 where safety valve 14 is located. When warning light L is lighting, pump 12 is operated by depressing button P of selector 20 so that cold water is delivered from tank 6 to boiler 16. The thrust of cold water to the hot water in the boiler causes steam to be sprayed out of nozzle 18. It is significant to point out that the power of resistance R and the small size of boiler 16 cause the water to reach the operating temperature in a few seconds from the switching on of the apparatus . It is self-evident from the foregoing that the use of the apparatus is very service-friendly and easy. 1) Tank 6 is unscrewed, filled up with water, and screwed again. During such operation water is prevented from flowing out by a check valve in the tank .

2) Selector 20 is switched to position 1. Warning light L will be switched on after some seconds, with the plug into the electric socket, to show that the apparatus is ready to use.

3) The bottle of thermoplastic material to be pressed designated by 26 in Fig. 4 is put into holding pot 8 taking care that the neck of the bottle is inserted into conical fitting 18.

4) Button P is depressed. The steam from the apparatus will enter thermoplastic bottle 26. At the same time a pressure directed upwards (according to the position shown in the figure) or downwards (if the nozzle of the apparatus is directed upwards) is exerted on the bottle so that pot 8 is pushed toward the apparatus. The heat of the steam and the pressure exerted will deform the bottle on the spot and compress it to a squeezed plastic body contained in pot 8.

5) After the end of the operation, selector 20 is switched to position 0 so as to switch the apparatus off.

In order to provide a greater safety for the user and to avoid that the steam may flow out because of a careless depression of button P without the presence of a bottle to be squeezed, the steam may be delivered only when the mouth of the bottle presses a ring coaxial to nozzle 18. The present invention has been described and illustrated according to a preferred embodiment, however, it should be understood that those skilled in the art can make equivalent modifications and/or replacements without departing from the scope of the present industrial invention.

Claims

1. An apparatus for compacting empty thermoplastic bottles, characterized in that it consists essentially of a little steam generator capable of providing steam very quickly after its switching on and an output nozzle from which the steam flows into a bottle of thermoplastic material to be pressed so that the latter can be compacted immediately to a body with very reduced height because of the quick increase in the temperature and by a weak manual thrust .

2. The apparatus of claim 1, characterized in that it includes a little water tank (6) that is screwed, with the interposition of a water filter (8) , to a casing (10) of plastic material having a double insulation and including a water pump (12) , a safety valve (14) , a watertight boiler (16) , and a steam output nozzle (18) able to be inserted into the mouth of a bottle.

3. The apparatus of the preceding claims, characterized in that a removable holding pot (8) is advantageously provided for containing the bottom of the bottle in order to avoid that the user's hand comes in touch directly with the hot surface of the bottle heated by the steam upon pressing the same.

4. The apparatus of the preceding claims, characterized in that a two-position selector (20) for switching on/off the apparatus, a control button (P) for delivering steam and a warning light (L) are provided outside casing (10) .

5. The apparatus of the preceding claims, characterized in that the whole apparatus assembly has the shape of an essentially cylindrical column with a tapered end toward nozzle (18) .

6. The apparatus of the preceding claims, characterized in that selector (20) in position 1 causes a voltage to be applied to one or more resistances (R) which heat the water in the boiler (16) , the inside temperature of the boiler being kept constant by a thermostat (Tl) that connects or disconnects such resistances (R) whenever the water temperature gets off the predetermined values.

7. The apparatus of the preceding claims, characterized in that a second thermostat (T2) having a normally open electric contact closes automatically when the water within the boiler (16) reaches the maximum temperature, the closure of such second thermostat (T2) causing warning light (L) to switch on so that the apparatus is ready to deliver steam and water pump (12) is operated.

8. The apparatus of the preceding claims, characterized in that, when warning light (L) is lighting, pump (12) is operated by depressing button (P) of selector (20) so that cold water is delivered from tank (6) to boiler (16) , the thrust of cold water to the hot water in the boiler causing steam to be sprayed out of nozzle (18) .

9. The apparatus of the preceding claims, characterized in that in order to avoid the inadvertent flowing out of steam without inserting the nozzle into a bottle, there is provided a control means allowing the steam to be delivered only when the mouth of the bottle presses the base of nozzle (18) .