WO2008150059A1

WO2008150059A1 - Food waste disposal machine

Info

Publication number: WO2008150059A1
Application number: PCT/KR2008/000657
Authority: WO
Inventors: Donggak Choi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-06-08
Filing date: 2008-02-04
Publication date: 2008-12-11
Anticipated expiration: 2009-12-08
Also published as: KR20100025519A

Abstract

A food waste disposal machine is disclosed. The food waste disposal machine can efficiently perform a pulverizing process, a dehydrating process, and an agitating process, and prevents contamination caused by sewage which is produced in the machine during the disposal of the food waste, and enhances safety when the machine is in use.

Description

Description FOOD WASTE DISPOSAL MACHINE

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a food waste disposal machine, which is intended to efficiently dispose of food waste that is discarded from a home or a restaurant. Background Art

[2] Recently, as concern for environmental pollution caused by food waste increases, various disposal machines for disposing of food waste have been developed.

[3] As one example, there has been developed and used a food waste disposal machine which compresses food waste using a compression unit so as to eliminate water from the food waste, thus reducing bad odors which are caused by the water in the food waste, and reducing the weight of the food waste. Such a food waste disposal machine eliminates water from food waste and reduces the volume of the food waste, thus preventing bad odors and waste water from being generated due to the high water content and rotten state of leftovers, therefore reducing environmental pollution, in addition to reducing the cost of disposal of food waste. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[4] However, the conventional food waste disposal machine is problematic in that the volume thereof is large, a pulverization screw may malfunction due to impurities while food waste is pulverized in the machine, and bad odors may be given off by impurities that adhere to a screen net. Technical Solution

[5] Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a food waste disposal machine, which is safe and convenient, so that the disposal machine may be used in a restaurant or a home, and in addition, has a more efficient and simpler construction, thus affording easy installation.

[6] Another object of the present invention is to provide a food waste disposal machine, which has a pulverization screw structure for more efficiently pulverizing and treating food waste, and prevents bad odors from being emitted during the treatment of the food waste, thus increasing the convenience of use.

Advantageous Effects

[7] The present invention provides a food waste disposal machine, which is constructed so that drive force for pulverizing, drying, and fermenting food waste, produced in homes or large dining facilities, such as restaurants, is transmitted from one drive motor, thus achieving miniaturization of the machine and saving energy. Brief Description of the Drawings

[8] FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing the construction of a food waste disposal machine, according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

[9] FIGS. 2 and 3 are views showing the structure for coupling a pulverization screw with a wiper support of the food waste disposal machine, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 2 is a side view showing the construction of the pulverization screw, and FIG. 3 is a side view showing the construction of the wiper support;

[10] FIGS. 4 and 5 are views showing the coupling structure of a first washing wiper of the food waste disposal machine, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 4 is a schematic side view showing the construction of the first washing wiper, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the construction of the first washing wiper;

[11] FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing the construction wherein the pulverization screw of the disposal machine according to the first embodiment of this invention is eccentrically mounted;

[12] FIG. 7 is a cutaway view showing the internal construction of a water condenser of the disposal machine, according to the first embodiment of this invention;

[13] FIG. 8 is a plan view showing the pulverization screw of the disposal machine, according to the first embodiment of this invention;

[14] FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a dual compression unit of the disposal machine, according to the first embodiment of this invention;

[15] FIGS. 10 to 12 are views showing the operation of the dual compression unit of the disposal machine, according to the first embodiment of this invention;

[16] FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view showing a food waste disposal machine, according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

[17] FIG. 14 is an exploded sectional view showing the food waste disposal machine, according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

[18] FIG. 15 is a view showing the state in which a pulverization screw and a screen net of the disposal machine, according to the second embodiment of this invention, are separated from each other;

[19] FIGS. 16 to 18 are views showing the construction of parts of the disposal machine, according to the second embodiment of this invention, in which FIG. 16 is a bottom view showing the construction of the pulverization screw, FIG. 17 is a plan view showing the construction of a pressure impeller, and FIG. 18 is a plan view showing the state in which wipers are coupled to the screen net; [20] FIG. 19 is a sectional view showing the assembled state of the food waste disposal machine, according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

[21] FIG. 20 is a side sectional view showing the construction of a food waste disposal machine, according to the third embodiment of the present invention;

[22] FIG. 21 is a schematic view showing the construction of a garbage input part of the disposal machine, according to the third embodiment of the present invention;

[23] FIG. 22 is a plan view showing the construction of a crushing cutter of the disposal machine, according to the third embodiment of the present invention;

[24] FIG. 23 is a view showing the disposal machine according to the third embodiment of the present invention, in which a fermenting collection bin is separated from the disposal machine; and

[25] FIGS. 24 and 25 are views showing the construction of the fermenting collection bin of the disposal machine, according to the third embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 24 shows the state in which a lid of the fermenting collection bin is open, and FIG. 25 shows the state in which the fermenting collection bin is removed. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[26] In order to accomplish the above-mentioned objects, the present invention provides a food waste disposal machine, which is constructed as follows.

[27]

[28] [First Embodiment]

[29] The entire construction of a food waste disposal machine, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, is shown in FIGS. 1 through FIGS. 10 to 12. As shown in the drawings, the disposal machine includes a housing hopper 10 which is coupled to an upper plate (not shown) of a kitchen counter. A hopper bracket 17 is coupled to an inlet side of the housing hopper 10. A lid, including an upper lid part 12, a middle lid part 13, and a lower lid part 14, and a filter net 15 are seated on the upper portion of the hopper bracket 17.

[30] The upper lid part 12, the middle lid part 13, and the lower lid part 14 of the lid are constructed such that they are movable up and down by guide rods 12a and 13a, the removal of which is prevented by bridges (not shown). Inlet holes 13b and 14b are formed, respectively, in the central portions of the middle and lower lid parts 13 and 14. Fitting protrusions 14' are provided on the outer circumference of the lower lid part 14 at regular intervals. Reference numeral 11 denotes a handle.

[31] Fitting holes 16 are formed in the hopper bracket 17 in such a way that the fitting protrusions 14' of the lower lid part 14 are slidably and detachably fitted into the fitting holes 16.

[32] A dual compression unit 20 is provided in the housing hopper 10 and compresses food waste, which is put into the housing hopper 10, in the direction of a pulverization screw 30 which is located under the dual compression unit 20. A rotating force is transmitted from a sub motor 23 to the dual compression unit 20. A safety clutch 21 is mounted to a rotating shaft, and is elastically biased by an elastic spring 22 to selectively transmit the rotating force, thus preventing an accident from occurring, and preventing a load from being imposed on the sub motor 23.

[33] Particularly, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 to 12, the dual compression unit 20 includes two compression parts 20a and 20b, which pair with each other and rotate symmetrically. Each compression part 20a or 20b has an eccentric cam 26 which is mounted to the middle portion of a post 24. A shaft pin 25 is eccentrically coupled to the eccentric cam 26. Further, a longitudinal hole 27 is formed in the lower end of the post 24 in a vertical direction thereof. A support pin 29, which is secured to the inner circumferential surface of the housing hopper 10, is inserted into the longitudinal hole 27, thus supporting the lower portion of the compression unit 20 when it moves.

[34] Further, the pulverization screw 30 is installed in a main body 1, and forcibly feeds food waste, which is put through the housing hopper 10, to one side, in addition to dehydrating the food waste. As shown in FIG. 8, the pulverization screw 30 is provided with a pair of screws, that is, a main screw 30' and a sub screw 30". The main screw 30' includes a feeding screw part 31, which is provided on one end of the main screw 30', a dehydration screw part 32, which is provided on the other end of the main screw 30', and a cutter part 37, which is provided on the middle portion of the main screw 30'. The main screw 30' is rotated by power, which is transmitted from a drive motor 71 through a screw drive gear 34 to the main screw 30' . Further, a wiper support 51 is coupled to an end of the main screw 30' in such a way as to rotate therewith. Second washing wipers 55 are supported by the wiper support 51 in such a way that the wipers 55 are in close contact with the outer circumferential surface of a dehydration screen 50. The dehydration screen 50 is mounted to surround the dehydration screw part 32.

[35] Further, a sewage screen net 40 is provided to surround the bottom of the feeding screw part 31 in a semi-circular form, and is inclined so as to discharge sewage generated in a process of feeding the food waste to a sewage drain pipe 2. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a first washing wiper 45 is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the sewage screen net 40 so as to wash it, and is constructed to rotate around a wiper rotating shaft 44. A wiper drive gear 41 is mounted to the wiper rotating shaft 44 and engages with a segment gear 35 which is arranged to be coaxial with the screw drive gear 34. A restoring spring 42 is provided at a predetermined position on the wiper rotating shaft 44, so that the wiper rotating shaft 44, which has rotated at a predetermined angle, is restored to an original position thereof. An arc adjustment spring 43 is provided at a predetermined position around the wiper rotating shaft 44 to adjust the rotating radius of the first washing wiper 45 according to the radius of the sewage screen net 40.

[36] At an end of the pulverization screw 30 is provided a discharge cap 60. The discharge cap 60, which has a discharge duct 61 to discharge food waste downwards, is fastened to the main body 1 using a taper pin bolt 63. A center rotary cam 62 is provided on the discharge cap 60. The pulverization screw 30 is provided with a cam insert seat 30a and protrusion fastening holes 30b, as shown in FIG. 2. After the center rotary cam 62 is inserted into the cam insert seat 30a, the center rotary cam 62 is fastened to the cam insert seat 30a via a fastening pin (not shown). Support protrusions 52 of the wiper support 51 are fastened to the protrusion fastening holes 30b. Thus, when the pulverization screw 30 rotates, the wiper support 51 rotates along with the pulverization screw 30, and the second washing wipers 55 wash the surface of the dehydration screen 50. At this time, the center rotary cam 62 is also rotated.

[37] Further, a jet nozzle 53 is provided at a position above the dehydration screen 50, and sprays washing water onto the dehydration screen 50 with strong pulses of water pressure, numbering about 1200 times or more per minute.

[38] The food waste disposal machine includes an agitating tub 70. Agitating blades 72 are provided in the agitating tub 70, and are rotated by rotating force which is transmitted from the drive motor 71. Clutch joints 77 are provided on a rotating shaft for the agitating blade 72 so as to control power transmission. Pulverizing projections 79 are provided in the agitating tub 70, and pulverize the food waste in cooperation with the agitating blades 72. A tub-mounting-detection sensor 74 is installed on a side of the agitating tub 70.

[39] Further, the agitating tub 70 is constructed to slide forwards and backwards. A tub- access-detection sensor 73 is installed in the agitating tub 70, and functions to detect whether the agitating tub 70 is open or closed.

[40] That is, when the tub-access-detection sensor 73 detects the access of the agitating tub 70, a signal is applied to the drive motor 71. Thereby, the drive motor 71 is driven to rotate the clutch joint 77, provided on the motor side, in one direction two or three times. Thus, the clutch joint 77 of the motor side naturally engages with the clutch joint 77 of the agitating tub's side.

[41] Further, carbon halogen heaters 88 and a reflective plate 87 are provided at the upper position in the agitating tub 70, thus promoting drying efficiency in the agitating tub 70 using momentary high temperature light and heat. A platinum catalytic metal net 86, which is coated with nano silver, is mounted on the reflective plate 87. Thus, while the air passes through the platinum catalytic metal net 86, which is heated together with the reflective plate 87 by high temperature heat of the halogen heaters 88, the water and odors contained in the air can be primarily eliminated. A circulation fan 89 is provided at a position around the reflective plate 87, thus causing some of the air, which has passed through the platinum catalytic metal net 86, to flow into the agitating tub 70 again. An induction heater 78 is provided on the bottom of the agitating tub 70, and increases drying efficiency through electromagnetic induction heating.

[42] An upper door 75 is provided at a predetermined position on the agitating tub 70.

Thus, when food waste is too bulky to be pulverized, or a small amount of food waste is treated, the food waste is put directly into the agitating tub 70 through the open upper door 75, without being subjected to pulverization or dehydration.

[43] An electronic scale 75' is further provided on the outer surface of the upper door 75.

When the food waste is placed on the electronic scale 75' before being put into the agitating tub 70, the temperature and time are automatically set by a control program of the disposal machine. Further, the food waste is rapidly dried both by high temperature heat, which is generated by the magnetic force of the agitating tub 70 by the induction heater 78 which performs a drying operation in the electromagnetic induction heating method, and by the operation of the carbon halogen heaters 88, thus reducing power consumption.

[44] Further, the food waste disposal machine is provided with a water condenser 80, which removes odor-containing water from the food waste, before the odors are secondarily eliminated by a catalytic purifying unit 90. The water condenser 80 is provided with a thermoelectric module 84, which partitions the interior of the water condenser 80 into a heating side and a cooling side through a Peltier effect.

[45] The internal construction of the water condenser 80 will be described in detail below.

As shown in FIG. 7, cooling fins 85, each having a plurality of perforations which permit the passage of the air, are provided on the cooling side of the thermoelectric module 84. The cooling fins 85 are radially arranged to cool water contained in the air at high temperature, which is generated in the agitating tub 70. Meanwhile, heat radiation fins 82 are installed at the heating side of the thermoelectric module 84 in such a way as to be supported by a heat radiation block 83 having air circulation holes 83a. A circulation fan 81 is mounted at a predetermined position in the water condenser 80, and functions to circulate some of the air in the agitating tub 70 and forcibly discharge the air to the catalytic purifying unit 90, thus preventing the loss of heat.

[46] Reference numeral 3 is an exhaust fan, reference numeral 4 denotes an air backflow prevention cap, which is rotatably mounted to the agitating tub 70 via a hinge so as to prevent exhausted air from flowing backwards, and reference numeral 76 denotes a transmission gear which functions to transmit power to the screw drive gear 34 via a chain.

[47] The operation of the food waste disposal machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

[48] After a user grasps the handle 11 and pulls the lid, food waste is put into the machine of the present invention.

[49] That is, the lid parts 12, 13, and 14 have different heights, so that food waste is input through space which is defined by the height difference between the lid parts 12, 13, and 14. At this time, food waste having a size exceeding the height difference is not passed through the space, but is caught by the lid parts. Therefore, large pieces of food waste can be separated beforehand and treated safely.

[50] Further, the food waste, which is input through the lid, is filtered by the filter net 15, so that solid particles are accumulated in the filter net 15.

[51] Meanwhile, the lid is turned so that the fitting protrusions 14' are removed from the fitting holes 16. Thereby, the lid is separated from the main body 1. Thereafter, among the food waste filtered by the filter net 15, food waste that could not be put into the housing hopper 10 is visually checked and removed. The remaining waste is input into the housing hopper 10 by turning the filter net 15 upside down.

[52] The food waste, which is put into the housing hopper 10 in this way, is compressed towards the pulverization screw 30 by the dual compression unit 20.

[53] That is, as the shaft pin 25 is rotated by rotating force transmitted from the sub motor

23, as shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, the pair of compression parts 20a and 20b symmetrically perform compression action by the operation of the respective eccentric cams 26. Thus, impurities do not fall down, but are placed on the compression parts 20a and 20b by the repeated vertical movement of the compression parts 20a and 20b. Therefore, the food waste can be safely and selectively compressed.

[54] Meanwhile, the food waste, which is continuously compressed downwards, is forcibly fed to one side by the pulverization screw 30 and is cut.

[55] At first, the pulverization screw 30 executes a feeding operation using the feeding screw part 31, which is provided on one end of the pulverization screw 30. The food waste which is fed to the middle portion is cut into small pieces by the cutter part 37. Thereafter, the dehydration operation is executed by the dehydration screw part 322, which is provided on the other end of the pulverization screw 30.

[56] In particular, according to the present invention, the cutter part 37 is integrally provided on the middle portion of the pulverization screw 30. Blades of the cutter parts 37 of the main screw 30' and the sub screw 30" rotatably engage with each other, thus cutting and crushing the food waste.

[57] Water removed after the pulverizing operation is separated by the dehydration screen

50, and is discharged through the sewage screen net 40 to the sewage drain pipe 2.

[58] The food waste, which undergoes the pulverizing process and the dehydration process, is discharged through the discharge duct 61, prior to dropping into the agitating tub 70, which is located in the lower portion of the main body 1.

[59] Meanwhile, during the operation of the pulverization screw 30, the first and second wipers 45 and 55 are in close contact with the respective outer surfaces of the sewage screen net 40 and the dehydration screen 50, and are rotated, thus preventing the screen net and the screen from being clogged with impurities generated during the dehydration process.

[60] Especially in the case of the first wiper 45, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, part of the segment gear 35 for transmitting rotating force has a toothed part. Thus, after the first wiper 45 is periodically rotated in one direction within a predetermined angular range, the first wiper 45 is restored to its original position by the restoring spring 42, which is wound around the wiper rotating shaft 44. By repeating the operation, the semicircular sewage screen net 40 can be washed. Each section of the sewage screening part 40 has a different diameter, affecting this process. This difference in arc can be overcome by the arc adjustment spring 43.

[61] Further, in the case of the second wipers 55, as shown in FIG. 2, in the state in which the support protrusions 52 are engaged in the protrusion fastening holes 30b, the wiper support 51 is rotated. At this time, the dehydration screen 50 is washed by the second wipers 55, and washing liquid is sprayed by the jet nozzle 53, thus preventing the dehydration screen 50 from clogging.

[62] Meanwhile, damp and warm air, which is produced during the drying process, flows upwards together with bad odors and then passes through the metal net 86, which is heated by light and heat of the halogen heaters 88, and the water condenser 80. At this time, primary and secondary condensing operations are executed. Next, bad odors are eliminated from the air by the catalytic purifying unit 90 before the air is discharged to the outside.

[63] In particular, the air is kept cool by the cooling surface of the thermoelectric module

84 in the water condenser 80. Thus, while damp and bad-smelling air flowing upwards in the agitating tub 70 passes through the cooling fins 85, the air is condensed and water is removed from the air. Such a construction prevents water from affecting the catalytic purifying unit 90. Further, the heating surface, provided on the other side of the thermoelectric module 84, emits heat through the radiation fins 82.

[64] Subsequently, various contaminants and harmful elements are removed from the air in the catalytic purifying unit 90. The purified air is forcibly discharged outside by the exhaust fan 3. Mode for the Invention

[65] [Second Embodiment]

[66] FIGS. 13 to 19 show the construction of a food waste disposal machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The machine includes an outer housing having an upper hopper 170 which is coupled to a kitchen counter 100, and a casing 180 which is coupled to a lower casing mounting part 101. A lid 110, a first filter 120, and a second filter 130 are sequentially seated in the upper portion of the upper hopper 170. The casing mounting part 101 forms an upper body of a treatment unit (not shown), which dries and ferments a product discharged from the disposal machine. Further, the first filter 120 is supported by a hopper bracket 125.

[67] The lid 110 has a three-layered structure, which includes an upper lid part 112, a middle lid part 113, and a lower lid part 114. Inlet holes 113b and 114b are formed in respective central portions of the middle lid part 113 and the lower lid part 114, so that the inlet holes 113b and 114b are opened or closed by the upper and middle lid parts 112 and 113. Fitting protrusions 114' are provided around the outer circumference of the lower lid part 114 at regular intervals. Reference numeral 111 denotes a handle.

[68] The hopper bracket 125 is provided with protrusion fitting seats 121, so that the fitting protrusions 114' of the lid 110 are detachably fitted into the protrusion fitting seats 121. As shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 13, each protrusion fitting seat 121 is inclined at a predetermined inclination angle θ such that its height is reduced in a direction from an outer end to an inner end thereof. A sensor 122 is provided in each protrusion fitting seat 121 so as to detect the seating state of the lid 110. An external threaded part 124 is provided on the outer circumference of the hopper bracket 125. Only when the sensor 122 detects the safety seating state of the lid 110, power is supplied to the machine, thus preventing accidents from occurring.

[69] Meanwhile, a locking ring 172 protrudes from the inner circumference of the upper hopper 170, so that the second filter 130 is seated on the locking ring 172. An internal threaded part 174 is provided on the inner circumference of the upper hopper 170 in such a way as to engage with the external threaded part 124 of the hopper bracket 120 through a screw-type fastening method. A guide ring 171 is provided on the outer circumference of the lower portion of the upper hopper 170.

[70] A guide part 181 is provided on the upper end of the casing 180 so as to guide the guide ring 171 along the inner wall of the casing 180. A drain pipe 183, which has on the inner wall thereof a non-adhesive coating layer 183a, and a discharge duct 166, which discharges compressed and dehydrated food to the outside, are provided on the lower portion of the casing 180.

[71] A packing cover 190 is provided on a junction of the guide ring 171 and the guide part 181, and maintains airtightness, thus preventing bad odors and sewage from flowing backwards.

[72] Further, a screw housing 140 is installed in the casing 180, with a pulverization screw 150 vertically installed in the screw housing 140. [73] As shown in FIG. 15, the pulverization screw 150 includes an eccentric shaft 151, which forms a central axis of the pulverization screw 150, a feeding screw part 152, which forcibly feeds food waste at first, an impeller coupling part 153, which is provided on the upper portion of the pulverization screw 150 and is coupled to a compression impeller 155, and a dehydration screw part 154, which is provided on the lower portion of the pulverization screw 150.

[74] The compression impeller 155 rotates along with the pulverization screw 150, and compresses food waste, which is put into the disposal machine, through pulverizing and dehydrating processes, thus evenly dispersing the food waste. A bolt hole 155a is formed in the center of the compression impeller 155, so that a fastening bolt 168 is inserted into the bolt hole 155a.

[75] In particular, since the eccentric shaft 151 is biased to one side, the eccentric shaft

151 rotates eccentrically. As shown in FIG. 16, a cross-shaped power transmission key groove 156 is provided on the lower portion of the eccentric shaft 151 in such a way as to be positioned around a shaft fastening groove 157. Reference numeral 155a' denotes a bolt hole into which the fastening bolt 168 is inserted.

[76] Further, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 18, rotary wipers 161a are closely provided, at regular intervals, on the outer surface of a dehydration screen net 160, which is provided at a lower position in the casing 180. A gear part 161b is provided along the outer circumference of a wiper support 161, which supports the wipers 161a, and engages with a drive gear 162, so that rotating force is transmitted to the wiper support 161. A gear drive shaft 163 is connected to a time pulley 159a of a power transmission shaft 158 via a time belt 159, so that rotating force is transmitted to the gear drive shaft 163. Further, a bevel gear 159b is provided on the lower end of the power transmission shaft 158, so that power is transmitted from a main drive motor (not shown) to the power transmission shaft 158. A brush 167 is secured at a predetermined position on the wiper support 161, and is rotated to remove impurities from the gear part 161b.

[77] Reference numeral 158a denotes a bolt fastening hole, to which the fastening bolt

168 is screwed, reference numeral 165 denotes a shaft support, and reference numeral 182 denotes jet nozzles for spraying washing water.

[78] The operational effect of the food waste disposal machine, according to the second embodiment, which is constructed as described above, will be described below.

[79] In order to install the disposal machine at a desired position, first, as shown in FIG.

19, the upper end of the upper hopper 170 is secured to the kitchen counter 100, and the lower end of the casing 180 is mounted to the casing mounting part 101. At this time, the guide ring 171, provided on the upper hopper 170, is guided along the inner wall of the guide part 181, as shown in the detailed view of FIG. 14, so that the position of the upper hopper 170 is adjusted vertically and horizontally. When the height of the upper hopper 170 has been adjusted, the junction of the guide ring 171 and the guide part 181 is covered with the packing cover 190. Thereby, the gap between the guide ring 171 and the guide part 181 is air- tightly sealed.

[80] When the disposal machine has been installed in this way, the lid 110 is normally pushed downwards to close the garbage input side of the machine, as shown in FIG. 19. Meanwhile, when a user desires to put food waste into the machine, the user grabs the handle 111 and pulls the lid 110. As in the first embodiment, when the lid 110 is pulled, the lid parts 112, 113, and 114 have different heights, so that food waste may be put into the machine of the invention.

[81] The food waste, which is fed into the machine through the lid 110, is filtered by the first filter 120 again, so that solid particles are accumulated in the filter 120.

[82] Subsequently, the food waste, which is continuously fed to the lower portion of the machine, is compressed down and evenly dispersed by the compression impeller 155, which rotates along with the pulverization screw 150, prior to being fed and pulverized by the pulverization screw 150.

[83] Water, which is removed during the above process, passes through the dehydration screen 160, and is drained through the drain pipe 183.

[84] Further, after the pulverizing and dehydrating processes have been performed, the remaining waste is discharged through the discharge duct 166, and drop into an agitating tub (not shown), which is provided under the casing 180, namely, the casing mounting part 101.

[85] Meanwhile, while the pulverization screw 150 is driven, the wipers 161a are in close contact with the outer surface of the dehydration screen net 160, and are rotated. At this time, washing liquid is sprayed by the jet nozzles 182. Thus, the dehydration screen net 160 is not clogged.

[86] Further, the gear part 161b, which is provided along the outer circumference of the wiper support 161, passes through the brush 167 during rotation, thus preventing impurities from adhering to a gap between teeth of the gear part 161b.

[87]

[88] [Third embodiment]

[89] The entire construction of a food waste disposal machine, according to the third embodiment of the present invention, is shown in FIGS. 20 to 24 and 25. Referring to the drawings, the disposal machine of this invention is mounted to a position under a sink 201 having a faucet 202. As shown in FIG. 20, the disposal machine includes crushing cutters 220, which function to primarily cut food waste input through the sink 201, and a compression unit 210, which compresses the food waste and pushes it towards the crushing cutters 220.

[90] The crushing cutters 220 comprise a pair of cutters. Each cutter 220 includes a cutter rod 221 having a predetermined length, and a plurality of cutter blades 222, which are provided on the cutter rod 221 at regular intervals. As shown in FIG. 22, an end of each cutter blade 222 and a portion of the cutter rod 221 corresponding to the end of the cutter blade are curved with the same curvature.

[91] Meanwhile, a pulverization screw 230 is horizontally mounted under the crushing cutters 220 so as to pulverize and feed the food waste. A screen net 240 is installed to surround the lower portion of the pulverization screw 230 in a semi-circular form. A drain hole 250 is formed at a position around the pulverization screw 230, and guides water discharged through perforations 241 of the screen net 240. A jet nozzle 231 is provided above the pulverization screw 230, and sprays high pressure water so as to wash residue and impurities from the dehydration screen net 240.

[92] Further, for the selection of power, an electronic clutch 232 is provided on one end of the pulverization screw 230, and a safety clutch 235 is provided on an end of the compression unit 210. Pulleys 233 are provided on the pulverization screw 230, the compression unit 210, and the crushing cutters 220, so that power is transmitted from a drive motor (not shown) through belts 234 to the pulleys 233, in a general power transmission method.

[93] Meanwhile, a drying/fermenting collection bin 260 is installed in a bin housing 270, which is provided on the lower portion of the machine. An agitating motor 276 is mounted under the bin housing 270, and transmits power to a main agitating rod 261 in the drying/fermenting collection bin 260. The bin housing 270 is detachably installed in a main body 200 of the disposal machine in such a way as to slide along a guide rail 280.

[94] Particularly, a main lid 271 is mounted to the upper portion of the bin housing 270 in such a way as to rotate about a hinge 27 Ib, thus opening or closing the upper portion of the bin housing 270. A hole 271 a is formed in the main lid 271 at a position at which food waste pulverized by the pulverization screw 230 drops. A subsidiary lid 272 is further provided, to open or close the hole 271 a of the main lid 271.

[95] Further, a halogen heater 273' , a heater fan 273, an exhaust fan 275, and a deodorizing catalytic unit 274 are installed in the bin housing 270. The halogen heater 273' and the heater fan 273 supply light and heat at a high temperature into the drying/ fermenting collection bin 260. The exhaust fan 275 functions to forcibly discharge air out of the drying/fermenting collection bin 260. The deodorizing catalytic unit 274 functions to purify the exhausted air.

[96] A plurality of subsidiary agitating rods 261a and 261b having different heights is asymmetrically provided around the main agitating rod 261, which is mounted at the center of the drying/fermenting collection bin 260. An inclined part 261 ' having a predetermined inclination angle is provided on the upper end of each agitating rod 261, 261a, or 261b. As shown in FIG. 25, an induction heater 263 may be further mounted on the bottom of the drying/fermenting collection bin 260 so as to enhance drying efficiency through electromagnetic induction heating.

[97] Reference numeral 277 denotes a power jack, which is connected to a power terminal of the main body 200 of the disposal machine, and reference numeral 278 denotes a handle.

[98] The operational effect of the food waste disposal machine, which is constructed as described above, will be described below.

[99] First, when food waste is put into the disposal machine through the sink 201 in the kitchen counter, the compression unit 210 compresses the food waste toward the crushing cutters 220. Thereby, the food waste is primarily cut by the crushing cutters 220.

[100] While the food waste cut primarily is continuously forced to one side by the pulverization screw 230, high-pressure water is sprayed by the jet nozzle 231, so that the food waste is secondarily pulverized. Water produced during the feeding operation passes through the screen net 240, and is drained through the drain hole 250.

[101] Meanwhile, the residue produced after the food waste is secondarily pulverized drops and is accumulated in the drying/fermenting collection bin 260. The residue is mixed with microorganisms in the drying/fermenting collection bin 260, so that drying and fermenting processes are executed. Further, the residue may be rapidly dried by heat of high temperature and light including far and near infrared rays, which are briefly generated by the carbon halogen heater 273' according to the selected program.

[102] In a detailed description, the main agitating rod 261 is rotated in the drying/ fermenting collection bin 260 by power which is transmitted from the agitating motor 276. Since the subsidiary agitating rods 261a and 261b are asymmetrically provided on opposite sides of the main agitating rod 261 while being spaced apart from the main agitating rod 261 at different intervals, the residue in the drying/fermenting collection bin 260 can be evenly agitated.

[103] During the drying and fermenting processes, the heater fan 273 and the carbon halogen heater 273', which are mounted to the main lid 271, are operated so that air at a high temperature is fed into the fermenting collection bin 260. While the air passes through the deodorizing catalytic unit 274, bad odors emitted during the drying process are removed. After the bad odors are eliminated, the air is discharged to the outside by the exhaust fan 275.

[104] When the drying and fermenting processes have been completed in the drying/ fermenting collection bin 260, a user inserts the subsidiary lid 272 into the hole 271a of the main lid 271. Next, as shown in FIGS. 24 and 25, the handle 278 of the bin housing 270 is pulled, so that the bin housing 270 slides along the guide rail 280. Thereby, the bin housing 270 is removed from the main body 200 of the disposal machine.

[105] Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 24, the main lid 271 is rotated around the hinge 271b, and then a handle 262 of the collection bin 260 is pulled. At this time, the fermenting collection bin 260 is removed from the bin housing 270, and the collected waste can be dumped.

[106] Therefore, the food waste disposal machine according to the present invention is constructed so that food waste input through the sink 201 continuously undergoes the pulverizing operation, the compressing operation, and the drying operation, and makes the treatment of fermented and dried residue easy, thus allowing food waste produced in restaurants or homes to be efficiently treated. Industrial Applicability

[107] As described above, the present invention provides a food waste disposal machine, which is constructed so that drive force for pulverizing, drying, and fermenting food waste, produced in homes or large dining facilities, such as restaurants, is transmitted from one drive motor, thus achieving miniaturization of the machine and saving energy.

[108] According to the present invention, treated garbage can be fermented using microorganisms, according to the selected program. The food waste disposal machine of the invention adopts a carbon halogen heater, which momentarily emits heat when power is applied to the heater, and radiates far and near infrared rays, present within a visible ray wavelength range, which is near a wavelength of solar radiation of high temperature, thus irradiating both the interior and exterior of the food waste, therefore allowing the garbage to be rapidly dried, and saving energy.

[109] Further, the present invention provides a food waste disposal machine, in which an upper hopper has an improved structure to allow food waste to be easily put into the machine at first, thus preventing impurities from entering the machine beforehand, and in which a compression unit comprises a pair of dual compression parts that are symmetrically operated, thus preventing materials that are difficult to pulverize and thereby may cause injury to a user' s fingers or cause the machine to malfunction, from being drawn into the machine through the hopper, and allowing the food waste to be more efficiently fed to a pulverization screw.

[110] Furthermore, the present invention provides a food waste disposal machine, in which a rotary wiper is provided on the outer surface of a coated dehydration screen net, thus periodically cleaning the outer surface of the dehydration screen net, in cooperation with a jet nozzle which sprays water under strong pulses of water pressure, therefore preventing the screen net from clogging, in addition to allowing the screen net to be kept clean. Sequence Listing food, waste, dispose

Claims

Claims A food waste disposal machine, comprising: a dual compression unit installed in an inlet of a housing hopper, and comprising two parts to compress food waste which is put into the housing hopper, when rotation drive force is transmitted from a sub motor through a safety clutch which is supported at one end thereof by an elastic spring; a pulverization screw having on a first portion thereof a feeding screw part for forcibly feeding the food waste, which is compressed by the dual compression unit and is put into a main body, and having on a second portion thereof a dehydration screw part for dehydrating the food waste, the pulverization screw being horizontally installed such that it is rotated by drive force which is transmitted from a drive motor through a screw drive gear; a sewage screen net provided to surround a bottom of the feeding screw part of the pulverization screw in a semi-circular form, and inclined so as to discharge sewage, generated in a process of feeding the food waste to a sewage drain pipe; a dehydration screen provided to surround the dehydration screw part, and discharging water generated in a screw compression process to the sewage drain pipe; first and second washing wipers closely provided on the sewage screen net and the dehydration screen, respectively, and rotated by rotary means so as to wash outer circumferential surfaces of the sewage screen net and the dehydration screen; a jet nozzle for spraying high-pressure washing water onto the dehydration screen; a discharge cap having a discharge duct for discharging food waste, which is dehydrated and fed to a predetermined position by the pulverization screw, to a lower position; an agitating tub for evenly agitating the food waste, transmitted through the discharge duct, by agitating blades which are rotated by drive force transmitted from the drive motor; a halogen heater and an induction heater, the halogen heater provided at an upper position in the agitating tub together with a high-temperature reflective plate and promoting a drying operation, and the induction heater provided on a bottom in the agitating tub and performing an electromagnetic induction heating operation; and a platinum catalytic metal net provided above the halogen heater, and eliminating water and bad odors from the air.

[2] The food waste disposal machine according to claim 1, wherein the pulverization screw comprises a main screw and a sub screw paired with each other, the screws having on respective middle portions thereof cutter parts which each have a spirally tapered blade in a rotating direction and engage with each other, and a wiper support is rotatably coupled to an end of an eccentric shaft of the main screw, and supports the second washing wiper such that it is in close contact with the outer circumferential surface of the dehydration screen.

[3] The food waste disposal machine according to claim 1, wherein the first washing wiper is in close contact with the outer circumferential surface of the sewage screen net in such a way as to rotate around a wiper rotating shaft, and a wiper drive gear, serving as rotary means, is mounted to the wiper rotating shaft and engages with a segment gear which is arranged to be coaxial with the screw drive gear, and a restoring spring is provided at a predetermined position on the wiper rotating shaft so that the wiper rotating shaft, which has rotated at a predetermined angle, is restored to an original position thereof, and an arc adjustment spring is provided at a predetermined position around the wiper rotating shaft to adjust a rotating radius of the first washing wiper in consideration of a radius of the sewage screen net.

[4] The food waste disposal machine according to claim 1, wherein the second washing wiper comprises a plurality of wipers provided on the ring-shaped wiper support at regular intervals, and support protrusions protrude inwards from the wiper support, and protrusion fastening holes are formed in an end of the pulverization screw so that the support protrusions are inserted into the corresponding protrusion fastening holes, whereby the wiper support is rotated along with the pulverization screw by rotating force transmitted therefrom.

[5] The food waste disposal machine according to claim 1, wherein the dual compression unit comprises two compression parts, which pair with each other and rotate symmetrically, each of the compression parts having an eccentric cam which is provided on a middle portion of a post of the compression part, with a shaft pin being eccentrically coupled to the eccentric cam to serve as a rotating shaft, and a longitudinal hole is formed vertically in a lower end of the post of each of the compression parts, and a support pin, secured to an inner circumferential surface of the housing hopper, is inserted into the longitudinal hole, and supports a lower portion of each of the compression parts when the post moves.

[6] The food waste disposal machine according to claim 1, wherein clutch joints are provided on an end of a rotating shaft of the agitating blades and a shaft of the drive motor, respectively, and are detachably connected to each other, and a tub- access-detection sensor is provided so as to detect whether the agitating tub is slidably mounted to the main body and apply a drive signal to the drive motor.

[7] A food waste disposal machine, comprising: an upper hopper seated in an upper portion of a casing, and mounted to a kitchen counter; a lid for opening or closing an upper inlet of the upper hopper; first and second filters for sorting food waste which is put into the upper hopper; a pulverization screw installed vertically in the casing so as to dehydrate and pulverize food waste passing through the filters, prior to forcibly feeding the food waste to a lower position, the pulverization screw having on an upper portion thereof a feeding screw part for forcibly feeding the food waste to the lower position, and having on a lower portion thereof a dehydration screw part for dehydrating the fed food waste; a screw housing surrounding the pulverization screw and guiding the food waste, dehydrated and pulverized by the pulverization screw, to the lower position; a power transmission shaft fastened to a shaft fastening groove formed in a bottom of the pulverization screw, held by a power transmission key groove and a power transmission key, and mounted to a bottom of the casing so as to transmit rotating force; a dehydration screen net surrounding the dehydration screw part, and separating water from the food waste by dehydrating operation of the dehydration screw part of the pulverization screw, prior to discharging the water through a drain pipe; a coating layer formed on an inner surface of the drain pipe for guiding water, flowing through the dehydration screen net, to an outside, and made of non- adhesive Teflon or a ceramic material; and a discharge duct provided on a lower portion of the casing, and discharging food waste, which is dehydrated and is fed to a predetermined position by the pulverization screw, to a lower position.

[8] The food waste disposal machine according to claim 7, wherein a guide ring protrudes out from an outer circumferential surface of the upper hopper, and a guide part is provided on an upper end of the casing so as to guide the guide ring during movement of the upper hopper, and a packing cover is provided at a junction of the upper hopper and the casing, and air-tightly seals a gap therebetween, thus preventing bad odors and sewage from flowing backwards.

[9] The food waste disposal machine according to claim 7, wherein a rotary wiper is closely provided on an outer surface of the dehydration screen net and functions to wash the dehydration screen net when washing liquid is sprayed by a jet nozzle, a gear part is provided along a periphery of a wiper support for supporting the rotary wiper, a drive gear is provided on an outer circumference of the gear part and engages with the gear part, thus transmitting power, and a brush is provided on the outer circumference of the gear part for removing impurities.

[10] The food waste disposal machine according to claim 7, wherein the lid comprises an upper lid part, a middle lid part, and a lower lid part, which are connected to each other by guide rods each having a predetermined length, and are pushed or pulled in stages to be connected to or separated from each other, with inlet holes being formed in the middle and lower lid parts to open or close the middle and lower lid parts by pulling or pushing the lid parts, and fitting protrusions are provided on an outer edge of the lower lid part at regular intervals, and protrusion fitting seats are formed in a hopper bracket for supporting the first filter such that the fitting protrusions are slidably fitted into the corresponding protrusion fitting seats, each of the protrusion fitting seats being inclined at a predetermined angle in such a way that a height thereof decreases in a direction from an outer end of the seat to an inner end, and a sensor is provided inside each of the protrusion fitting seats so as to detect insertion of an associated fitting protrusion.

[11] A food waste disposal machine mounted to a lower portion of a kitchen counter, the machine comprising: a compression unit for compressing food waste which is input through a sink of the kitchen counter; a pair of crushing cutters for primarily crushing food waste which is compressed by the compression unit; a pulverization screw eccentrically installed to compress the food waste which is primarily crushed by the crushing cutters, and to feed the food waste to a predetermined position; a screen net mounted to surround a bottom of the pulverization screw, and separating water generated during a feeding operation by the pulverization screw; a drain hole for discharging the water separated by the screen net; a drying/fermenting collection bin having at a center thereof an agitating rod so as to dry and ferment food waste which drops down after the food waste is forcibly fed to a predetermined position by the pulverization screw; and a bin housing sliding along a guide rail to be separated from a main body of the machine, the drying/fermenting collection bin being detachably accommodated in the bin housing, and having an agitating motor which is mounted to a lower portion in the bin housing and functions to transmit power to the agitating rod.

[12] The food waste disposal machine according to claim 11, wherein a main lid is rotatably coupled to the bin housing via a hinge, and rotates about the hinge, thus opening or closing an upper portion of the bin housing, with a hole being formed in the main lid at a position at which food waste, treated by the pulverization screw, drops, and a subsidiary lid is further provided on the bin housing so as to open or close the hole.

[13] The food waste disposal machine according to claim 11, wherein a halogen heater and a heater fan for feeding warm air into the drying/fermenting collection bin, an exhaust fan for forcibly discharging air from the drying/fermenting collection bin, and a deodorizing catalytic unit for purifying exhausted air are installed in the bin housing, and an induction heater is mounted to a bottom of the drying/fermenting collection bin, and performs an electromagnetic induction heating operation.