TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to containers for the collection of used household
oil, and more specifically to containers that are designed to supply a receptacle
outside, when collecting said oil.
PRIOR ART
[0002] The used oil generated in households following its use, hereinafter referred to as
used household oil, is a pollutant. As a consequence, if said oil is disposed of in
a household wastepipe, for example, said oil contributes to the contamination of water
and the subsoil. In response to this problem, the collection of this type of oil is
being is increasing, different methods being used for this purpose.
[0003] One of the methods used is by means of a service provided by a number of local councils
and which involves the collection of used household oil at specific times and places.
This method is not always convenient for the user as it is not always possible to
reach the specified locations on the specified dates and, furthermore, the amount
of used household oil stored in the home between collection dates may present an inconvenience.
[0004] To address these drawbacks there is another known method of locating different containers
in different places, thus allowing the user to dispose of used household oil in said
containers at their convenience. Some of these containers are designed to receive
used household oil directly, and not in receptacles, which may prove awkward for the
user, as they have to pour the oil contained in a receptacle into the container. Due
to the properties of oil, this may be an untidy and awkward operation. Other types
of these containers are designed to collect the receptacle directly without the user
having to pour the oil directly, although they do have the drawback of leaving the
user without a receptacle in which they may store the oil generated at home.
[0005] These drawbacks are solved in the container disclosed in the application
ES 2303425 A1, said container beind adapted to return an empty receptacle to the user after he
has placed a receptacle inside said container. To achieve this, the container comprises
a mechanism consisting of a series of elements, the user having to cause the rotation
of an axis of rotation of said mechanism to generate the supply of the empty receptacle.
The possible dirt generated over time and with use by, for example, an improperly
closed receptacle containing oil and placed inside the container may, for example,
impede the rotation of said axis of rotation, thereby requiring greater effort on
the part of the user to cause it to rotate.
BRIEF DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is an object of the invention to provide a container for the collection of used
household oil as disclosed in the claims.
[0007] The container of the invention is designed to collect used household oil, and comprises
an input window through which receptacles containing used household oil may be placed
in the container, a receptacle compartment in which said receptacles are stored, an
output window through which empty receptacles may be supplied outside, and at least
one receptacle storage compartment where empty receptacles are stored for their supply
through the output window. The container also comprises actuating means, which, when
are actuated, may cause the receptacle introduced through the input window to be deposited
in the receptacle compartment and maty cause a receptacle stored in the receptacle
storage compartment to be supplied through the output window.
[0008] The actuating means comprise an actuator that the user acts on, and control means
in order to detect said action and, when they detect said action, to cause the receptacle
introduced through the input window to be deposited in the receptacle compartment
and a receptacle stored in the receptacle storage compartment to be supplied through
the output window.
[0009] Hence, the user may dispose the used receptacle in the container and receive an empty
receptacle for its subsequent use in a simple and convenient way, without this involving
any effort on their part or inconvenience, as it is the control means which have the
task of generating the supply of an empty receptacle and not the user directly. In
addition, the use of a smaller number of elements and interactions between them is
required, thereby enabling both the assembly and possible repair of the container.
[0010] These and other advantages and characteristics of the invention will be made evident
in the light of the drawings and the detailed description thereof.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011]
Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the container of the invention.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the interior of the container of Figure 1, without
a casing covering it.
Figure 3 shows an input housing of the container of Figure 1, without an input cover.
Figure 4 shows an input housing of Figure 3, with the input window opened.
Figure 5 is a rear view of the input housing of Figure 3.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of a receptacle storage compartment of the container
of Figure 1.
Figure 7 is a rear view of the receptacle storage compartment of Figure 6.
Figure 8 is a perspective view of an output housing of the container of Figure 1.
Figure 9 is an exploded view of the output housing of Figure 8.
Figure 10 is a perspective view of the interior of the container of Figure 1, without
the casing covering it and with a platform in a folded position.
DETAILED DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0012] Figures 1 and 2 show an embodiment of the container 100 of the invention, which is
designed to be used to collect used household oil. The container 100 comprises an
input window 1 through which a user may introduce a receptacle, preferably full of
used household oil, in the container 100, a receptacle compartment 2 where the receptacles
placed in said container 100 are deposited through the input window 1, an output window
3 through which a receptacle stored beforehand in said container 100 may be supplied
outside, and at least one receptacle storage compartment 4 where said receptacles,
preferably empty, may be stored inside the container 100 so that they may be supplied
outside through the output window 3. Said container 100 also comprises actuating means,
which, when are actuated by a user, may cause the receptacle introduced through the
input window 1 to be deposited in the receptacle compartment 2 and an empty receptacle
stored in the storage compartment 4 to be supplied through the output window 3. The
inside of the container 100 is covered and protected by a casing 120.
[0013] The actuating means comprise an actuator that the user acts on when he wishes to
place a receptacle in the container 100, and control means (not shown in the figures)
adapted to detect said action and to cause, when said action is detected, the receptacle
introduced through the input window 1 to be deposited in the receptacle compartment
2 and the supply outside of a receptacle stored in the storage compartment 4 through
the output window 3. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the container 100
comprises first detection means 130, communicated with the control means, for detecting
whether the user has introduced a receptacle through the input window 1 or not, said
control means being capable of allowing said receptacle to be deposited in the receptacle
compartment 2 and a receptacle stored in the storage compartment 4 to be supplied
through the output window 3 only if said introduction has been detected. In the preferred
embodiment, said container 100 also comprises second detection means (not shown in
the figures), communicated with the control means, for detecting the absence or presence
of receptacles in the storage compartment 4, said control means preventing a receptacle
from being deposited in the receptacle compartment 2 when no receptacle is detected
in said storage compartment 4, with the result that the control means enable receptacles
to be deposited in the receptacle compartment 2 and an empty receptacle to be supplied
through the output window 3 only if, when they detect that a user acts on the actuator,
they also detect that said user has introduced a receptacle into the container 100
through the input window 1 and that there is at least one receptacle stored in the
storage compartment 4. As a result, a user will always have access to a receptacle
in which they may dispose the used household oil he generates, as when he deposits
a used receptacle in the container 100 they receive an empty receptacle for its subsequent
use, said used receptacle not being deposited when the container 100 is unable to
supply an empty receptacle. Both detection means may be the same or may be different
from each other, and may comprise, for example, presence sensors or any other type
of conventional sensor that serves for that purpose.
[0014] The container 100 of the invention is designed to house receptacles containing used
household oil to enable the subsequent treatment of said oil, and to return another
empty receptacle to the user. However, it is evident that said container 100 may also
be used to house other types of contents, such as car oil or any type of paint.
[0015] The container 100 comprises a first actuator (not shown in the figures) that preferably
comprises an electric motor and which, controlled by the control means, may cause
the receptacle introduced by the user through the input window 1 to be deposited in
the receptacle compartment 2. Said container 100 also comprises a second actuator
(not shown in the figures) that preferably comprises an electric motor and which,
controlled by the control means, may generate the supply of a receptacle stored in
the storage compartment 4 through the output window 3. It is thus the control means
that have the function of generating the supply of an empty receptacle through said
output window 3 and not the user, thus making the operation simple and convenient
for the user.
[0016] The container 100 also comprises an input housing 16 shown in figures 3 to 5, where
a user disposes the receptacle they introduce in said container 100 through the input
window 1, the first detection means 130 being capable of detecting that a receptacle
has been introduced through said input window 1, preferably detecting the presence
of said receptacle in the input housing 16. In the preferred embodiment the actuator
comprises an input cover 5 that covers the input window 1, preventing access to the
input housing 16 unless acted on by a user, although it may also be the case that
said actuator comprises a push-button, for example, and the control means detect if
it is pressed and cause, then, the input window 1 to be opened. A user causes the
input cover 5 to move by acting on it and thus opens the input window 1, the control
means being capable of detecting said movement by means of a sensor (not shown in
the figures) preferably disposed in the vicinity of said input window 1 for such a
purpose. Said input cover 5 preferably moves longitudinally, being displaced on guides
(not shown in the figures). The user disposes the receptacle on a movable base 8 of
the input housing 16, which acts as a support for said receptacle when it is in said
input housing 16. In order to cause the receptacle disposed on the movable base 8
to be deposited in the receptacle compartment 2, the first actuator 130 causes the
movement of said movable base 8 with the result that the receptacle loses its support
and falls into said receptacle compartment 2, preferably via a ramp 15 that connects
the input housing 16 to the receptacle compartment 2. Furthermore, in the preferred
embodiment the movement of the movable base 8 is rotational, said movable base 8 pivoting
in relation to a shaft (not shown in the figures) fixed on the container 100 when
it is moved. When the first actuator 130 stops acting on the movable base 8, said
movable base 8 may return to its original position due to the force of the spring
(not shown in the figures), for example, although preferably it is linked to the first
actuator by means of a connecting-rod mechanism 9, with the result that it is the
actuator that causes said return. The container 100 may also comprise a receptacle
sensor (not shown in the figures), preferably disposed in the vicinity of the input
window 1, for detecting when a user brings a receptacle up to said input window 1.
The control means are communicated with said receptacle sensor, enabling the movement
of the input cover 5 only if they detect the presence of said receptacle, thereby
reducing or eliminating the risk of foreign objects being introduced into the input
housing 16. The actuator may also be disposed at such a height that because of its
weight and size etc and said height, a handicapped user may be able to reach it and
operate it easily.
[0017] As it is shown in figures 6 and 7, the storage compartment 4 comprises a storage
compartment housing 40 where a receptacle is disposed in order to be supplied, and
at least one fastening member 11 to hold said receptacle in the storage compartment
housing 40 before it is supplied, the second actuator, controlled by the control means,
causing a movement of said fastening member 11 in order to release said receptacle
and to enable it to be supplied outside. The storage compartment housing 40 comprises
at least one side cavity 40a through which said receptacle exits the storage compartment
4 when it is supplied, the fastening member 11 preventing said exit when it holds
said receptacle in said storage compartment housing 40. The storage compartment housing
40 also comprises a storage compartment base 12 on which the receptacle housed in
said storage compartment housing 40 is disposed, said storage compartment base 12
comprising at least one sloping surface 12a on which said receptacle slides when it
is supplied, it then exiting through the side cavity 40a. The storage compartment
base 12 preferably comprises a substantially triangular shape, comprising two opposing
sloping surfaces 12a, with the receptacle being disposed on a vertex 12b of said sloping
surfaces 12a, it being capable of sliding on one of the sloping surfaces 12a when
it is released from the fastening members 1. Thus, the storage compartment housing
40 preferably comprises two opposing side cavities 40a, the receptacle being capable
of exiting via one of the side cavities 40a depending on which sloping surface 12a
it slides down. The fastening member 11 preferably comprises a rod for each side cavity
40a to prevent the receptacle from exiting through the corresponding side cavity 40a,
both rods moving in conjunction with each other. Each rod is connected at both ends
to two facing walls 41 of the storage compartment housing 40, extending all the way
along the side cavity 40a and thus preventing the receptacle from exiting through
said side cavity 40a, the control means causing said rod to slide in order to free
said side cavity 40a when an external receptacle is to be supplied. Each of the walls
41 comprises at least one groove 41 a to guide the displacement of said rod.
[0018] The container 100 may also comprise an output housing 105, shown in Figures 8 and
9, where the receptacle originating from the storage compartment 4 is disposed for
its supply outside, and a ramp 13 that connects said storage compartment 4 to said
output housing 105. The user may access said output housing 105 through the output
window 3 to collect said receptacle. The container 100 also comprises an output cover
104 to cover the output window 3, the control means preventing the opening of said
output cover 104 and, therefore, the access to the output housing 105 if the supply
of a receptacle outside is prevented. As a result, the output housing 105 can only
be accessed when a receptacle has been introduced into said container 100 beforehand
and supply has been enabled due to the detection of the presence of at least one receptacle
in the receptacle storage compartment 4, thereby eliminating or reducing the risk
of foreign objects being introduced into the output housing 105. The output cover
104 may, preferably, tilt in relation to a shaft (not shown in the figures) acted
on by a user wishing to collect a receptacle deposited in the output housing 105,
the control means being capable of preventing or enabling said tilting. The second
detection means may be disposed in the storage compartment housing 40 of said storage
compartment 4, or they may also be disposed on the ramp 13. In this case, the control
means may comprise, for example, a counter in order to count the receptacles being
supplied, and are thus capable of detecting when the receptacle being supplied at
each moment is the last one, thus being able to determine whether there are more receptacles
in said receptacle storage compartment 4 or not. It is evident that in this case,
the control means also compare the result of the counting with the number previously
stored in a memory (preferably included in said control means or external to them)
and which corresponds with the number of receptacles stored initially in said receptacle
storage compartment 4.
[0019] The output housing 105 preferably comprises a housing piece 105b where the receptacle
is housed when it reaches said output housing 105 and where the user may access to
collect a supplied receptacle, a conduit 105a through which the receptacle reaches
the housing piece 105b and which is connected to the ramp 13, and a support piece
105c joined to the housing piece 105b and disposed beneath said housing piece 105c.
The housing piece 105b comprises a plurality of holes 105b', with the result that
if dirt (e. g. oil) reaches the output housing 105, said dirt falls on the support
piece 105c through said holes 105b', thereby reducing the risk of the user encountering
dirt when they access to collect the receptacle. The housing piece 105b is joined
to the conduit 105a by means of a clip-type joint, for example, with the result that
it may easily be released from and joined to said conduit 105a for its replacement
and/or cleaning, for example. Similarly, the support piece 105c may also be joined
to said housing piece 105b by means of a clip-type or an equivalent joint, with the
result that it may easily be released from and joined to said housing piece 105b.
[0020] The storage compartment 4 also comprises a substantially rectangular shape and is
disposed in a substantially vertical manner on the container 100. The receptacles
are disposed in said storage compartment 4 in a substantially horizontal manner, said
storage compartment 4 being capable of housing a number of receptacles depending on
the length of the storage compartment 4, said receptacles being stacked in said storage
compartment 4 in a vertical manner, one on top of the other. In the preferred embodiment,
the rods of the fastening member 11 are disposed in a substantially horizontal manner,
being displaced vertically in order to release the receptacle to be supplied.
[0021] The receptacle storage compartment 4 is disposed on a folodable platform 108 that
comprises a perimeter surface 108a linked to a structure 110 of the container 100
in such a way that it is free to rotate. Said platform 108 preferably comprises a
square or rectangular shape, the perimeter surface 108a corresponding to one of the
sides of said square or rectangle. The opposite side 108b of said platform 108 is
connected to the structure 110 by means of connection means (not shown in the figures),
said connection being capable of being disconnected, in order to effect manually the
rotation of the platform 108, said platform 108 ending in a folded position, as shown
in Figure 10. This thus enables the reloading of the storage compartment 4 as access
may easily be gained to a reloading aperture 4a that comprises the storage compartment
4 in the upper section, empty receptacles being introduced into said storage compartment
4. The container 100 also comprises at least one hydraulic cylinder 111 or equivalent
means, that cause the platform 108 to return to its original position automatically
when, once the platform 108 rotates, said platform 108 is released.
[0022] The container 100 preferably comprises a plurality of storage compartments 4, each
storage compartment 4 comprising a substantially rectangular shape, at least one second
actuator and at least one fastening member 11, said storage compartment 4 also being
disposed in a substantially vertical manner on the container 100. In this case, the
second detection means are preferably disposed on the ramp 13, a sensor (or equivalent
means) being sufficient to detect the presence of the container 100 in all the storage
compartments 4. The supply process may thus be as follows: firstly, the control means
act on the same second actuator to cause the supply of a receptacle stored in a storage
compartment 4 when required. When said control means detect that the last receptacle
corresponding to a storage compartment 4 has been supplied, the next time they are
required for such a purpose they act on the second actuator corresponding to the next
storage compartment 4, the counting process beginning again. Finally, when they detect
that the last receptacle of the last storage compartment 4 has been supplied, said
control means determine that there are no receptacles left in the container 100 to
be supplied and thus prevent receptacles from being deposited in the receptacle compartment
2 until at least one of the storage compartments 4 is refilled. When the person incharge
of refilling the receptacles carries out his task, he must, of course, indicate this
operation to the control means. The receptacle compartment 2 is adapted to be removed
easily from the container, thus allowing the receptacles filled with used household
oil deposited in it to be collected easily.
[0023] The control means, the actuators and the possible detection means and/or sensors
used in the container 100 need electrical energy to operate. As a result, said container
100 may comprise connection means (not shown in the figures) in order to connect it
to the mains supply and thus supply electrical energy to said control means and said
actuators, although it preferably comprises at least one battery (not shown in the
figures), whose function is to supply said electrical energy. The drawback with using
a battery is that the electrical energy stored in it is limited, the battery having
to be charged regularly or replaced by another one. However, it does offer the advantage,
for example, of allowing the container 100 of the invention to be positioned anywhere,
thereby obviating the need to check whether there is a mains supply or mains socket
in the vicinity.
[0024] The container 100 may also comprise display means 150 shown in Figure 1, by means
of which it can be indicated if receptacles are present or not in the storage compartment
4 and, therefore, whether said container 100 is operative or not, and may even indicate
the number of receptacles stored in said storage compartment 4 at each point in time,
for example. The display means 150 may comprise a screen, for example, and the control
means may be responsible for showing the information on said screen.
1. Container for the collection of used household oil, comprising
an input window (1) through which receptacles may be introduced into the container
(100),
a receptacle compartment (2) where said receptacles are deposited,
an output window (3) through which receptacles may be supplied outside,
at least one receptacle storage compartment (4) where the receptacles to be supplied
outside are stored, and
actuating means, which, when acted on, may cause a receptacle to be deposited in the
receptacle compartment (2) and another receptacle to be supplied outside,
characterised in that
the actuating means comprise
an actuator that a user acts on, and
control means designed to detect said action and to cause, when said action is detected,
the receptacle introduced through the input window (1) to be deposited in the receptacle
compartment (2) and the supply of a receptacle stored in the storage compartment (4)
outside through the output window (3).
2. Container according to claim 1, comprising a first actuator for causing, by means
of the control means, the receptacle introduced through the input window (1) to be
deposited in the receptacle compartment (2), and a second actuator for causing, by
means of said control means, the supply of a receptacle stored in the storage compartment
(4) outside through the output window (3).
3. Container according to claim 2, comprising an input housing (16) where the receptacle
is disposed when it is introduced into the container (100) through the input window
(1), said receptacle being disposed on a movable base (8) disposed in said input housing
(16), the first actuator causing a movement of said movable base (8) in order to deposit
said receptacle in the receptacle compartment (2).
4. Container according to claim 3, wherein the first actuator causes the rotary movement
of the movable base (8).
5. Container according to any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the storage compartment (4) comprises
a storage compartment housing (40) where a receptacle is disposed in order to be supplied,
and at least one fastening member (11) to hold said receptacle storage compartment
housing (40), the second actuator causing a movement of said fastening member (11)
in order to release said receptacle so that it may be supplied outside.
6. Container according to claim 5, wherein the storage compartment housing (40) comprises
at least one side cavity (40a) through which said receptacle exits the storage compartment
(4) on being supplied, the fastening member (11) preventing said exit when it holds
said receptacle in said storage compartment housing (40).
7. Container according to claim 6, wherein the storage compartment housing (40) comprises
a storage compartment base (12) on which the receptacle housed is disposed in said
storage compartment housing (40), said storage compartment base (12) comprising at
least one sloping surface (12a) on which said receptacle slides when it is supplied.
8. Container according to claim 7, wherein the storage compartment base (12) comprises
a substantially triangular shape, comprising two opposite sloping surfaces (12a).
9. Container according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the actuator comprises an input
cover (5) to cover the input window (1), a user displacing said input cover (5) when
he acts on the actuator to open said input window (1), the control means being capable
of detecting said displacement.
10. Container according to claim 9, wherein the input cover (5) is designed to be displaced
longitudinally.
11. Container according to any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the storage compartment (4)
comprises a substantially rectangular shape and is disposed in a substantially vertical
manner on the container (100), the receptacles in said receptacle storage compartment
(4) being disposed in a substantially horizontal manner.
12. Container according to any of claims 1 to 11, comprising a platform (108) on which
the storage compartment (4) is disposed, said platform (108) being connected to a
structure (110) of the container (100) in such a way, that it may cause said platform
(108) to pivot.
13. Container according to claim 12, comprising at least one hydraulic cylinder (111)
in order to cause the platform (108) to return to its original position once it has
been pivoted.
14. Container according to any of claims 1 to 13, comprising a plurality of storage compartments
(4).
15. Container according to any of claims 1 to 14, comprising at least one battery for
powering the actuating means.