[0001] The present invention relates to the field of waste collection and in particular
to a device for collecting municipal waste.
[0002] These devices generally comprise a container that may be arranged under the ground
for its whole height and in this case a device is provided with a collecting column
protruding from the ground and suitable to receive waste.
[0003] The column is provided with a door, an opening lever and/or a board that opens or
closes the door through a suitable kinematic assembly arranged between the lever and
the door and operably connected thereto.
[0004] Devices of this type are disclosed e.g. in
CH 697438.
CH 697438 discloses a device for collecting waste comprising a container provided with a clamping
member that can make a predefined stroke (A) in order to cause opening or closing
of members forming the bottom of the container, the clamping member being restrained
to these members by way of connecting members and rods that form a kinematic assembly.
[0005] The applicant has observed that in known devices the aperture of the column must
be so configured that the outermost end of the door, i.e. the end closer to a user,
is arranged at least about 70 cm above the ground, or above a possible opening board,
in order to avoid that children may accidentally fall inside the waste collection
device.
[0006] The applicant has also observed that in known waste collection devices wherein the
door must be rotated in order to allow to access the column, the movement a user has
to do in order to introduce waste is uncomfortable, poorly ergonomic and requires
the user to bend towards the column and to push the bag containing waste in order
to make it enter the device.
[0007] The applicant has further observed that in traditional devices wherein the door is
rotated in order to allow to access the column and is driven by an opening board,
it is possible that the outermost edge of the door kicks the knee of the user pushing
on the board.
[0008] The applicant has found that the aforementioned problems can be overcome by way of
a waste collection device that features a rotation-translation movement of the door.
[0009] In a first aspect thereof the invention relates to a device for collecting waste
comprising a collecting column suitable to be associated with a container that is
at least partially arranged under the ground; the column comprising:
- at least one outer casing;
- at least one door which can be opened in order to introduce waste into the column;
- at least one opening lever actuatable from the outside of the column;
- at least a first kinematic assembly functionally associated with the opening lever
and the outer casing;
characterized by comprising:
- at least a second kinematic assembly functionally associated with the first kinematic
assembly and the door in order to move by substantially roto-translation the door
from a closed to an open position and vice versa.
[0010] The present invention, in said aspect, may comprise at least one of the preferred
features that are disclosed in the following.
[0011] Conveniently, the first kinematic assembly comprises:
- at least one rocker lever hinged to the outer casing; and
- at least a first connecting rod hinged to the rocker lever and to the at least one
opening lever.
[0012] Conveniently, the second kinematic assembly comprises a four-bar linkage.
[0013] The four-bar linkage preferably comprises:
- at least a second connecting rod;
- at least a portion of the door;
- at least a third connecting rod.
[0014] Conveniently, the second connecting rod is hinged at one end to the outer casing
and at another end to the door.
[0015] Conveniently, the third connecting rod is hinged at one end to the door and at the
other end to the outer casing.
[0016] Preferably, the third connecting rod has a length d3 measured along its prevailing
extension that is smaller than or equal to the length d4 of the second connecting
rod measured along its prevailing extension.
[0017] Conveniently, the relative distance d1 between the ends of the second and the third
connecting rod that are hinged to the door is greater than the relative distance d2
between the ends of the second and the third connecting rod that are hinged to the
outer casing.
[0018] The outer casing preferably comprises a vertical axis X-X;
- the second connecting rod being hinged to the outer casing at a distance 11 relative
to the vertical axis X-X;
- the third connecting rod being hinged to the outer casing at a distance 12 relative
to the vertical axis X-X, wherein 12 > 11.
[0019] Conveniently, in the closed position of the door, the second connecting rod is arranged
along a line inclined relative to the vertical axis X-X, so as to form an angle α
that is greater than or equal to 90°.
[0020] Conveniently, in the open position of the door the second connecting rod is arranged
along a line inclined relative to the vertical axis X-X, so as to form an angle α
that is smaller than or equal to 90°.
[0021] Further advantages and features of the present invention will become clearer from
the detailed disclosure preferred but non-limiting embodiments of a device for collecting
waste.
[0022] The disclosure will be set forth in the following with reference to the attached
drawings, which are provided for an illustrative and non-limiting purpose only, wherein:
- figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a device for collecting waste according
to the present invention;
- figure 2 is a lateral view partially showing a longitudinal section of a device for
collecting waste according to the present invention, wherein the door allowing to
access the column is in the closed position;
- figure 3 is a lateral view partially showing a longitudinal section of a device for
collecting waste according to the present invention, wherein the door allowing to
access the column is in the open position in order to allow to introduce waste into
the column;
- figure 4 is a lateral view partially showing a longitudinal section of a device for
collecting waste according to the present invention, wherein the door allowing to
access the column is in the closed position, the first kinematic assembly being shown
by way of a dashed line;
- figure 5 is a lateral view partially showing a longitudinal section of a device for
collecting waste according to the present invention, wherein the door allowing to
access the column is in the open position in order to allow to introduce waste into
the column, wherein the first kinematic assembly is shown by way of a dashed line.
[0023] Referring to figures 1 to 5, a device for collecting waste according to the present
invention is identified by the reference numeral 100.
[0024] The device 100 comprises a container, not shown in the drawings, that may be completely
or partially arranged underground in the direction of its length or height, and a
column 2 allowing to introduce waste, which protrudes from the ground.
[0025] The column 2 has a door 3, an opening lever 4, which is preferably in the form of
a board, that drives the door in order to open or close it through suitable kinematic
assemblies.
[0026] The opening lever 4 is hinged to the outer casing 1 at a pivot point 24.
[0027] The door 3 can move between a closed position, wherein it is substantially aligned
with an outer casing 1 of the column 2 and does not allow to introduce waste therein,
as shown in figure 2, and an open position, wherein the door is roto-translated relative
to the closed position and allows to introduce waste into the column as shown in figure
3.
[0028] In particular, the column 2 features a vertical axis X-X, which is preferably an
axis of vertical symmetry, and the door 3 has such a shape to form a concavity 21
facing the vertical symmetry axis X-X when the door is in the closed position (shown
in figure 2) and inclined relative to the vertical axis X-X when the door 3 is in
the open position (shown in figure 3).
[0029] In other words, the ends of the concavity 21 of the door 3 are arranged along a straight
line (not shown in the drawings) that is inclined relative to the vertical symmetry
axis X-X, the inclination being preferably suitable to define a substantially acute
angle.
[0030] Moreover, in figures 2 and 3 a first kinematic assembly 5 is shown suitable to open
and close the door 3. The first kinematic assembly 5 comprises at least one rocker
lever 10 hinged to the outer casing 1 of the column 2, in particular to a side wall
thereof, and at least a first connecting rod 11 hinged to the rocker lever 10 and
to the opening lever 4.
[0031] The first connecting rod 11 is longer than the rocker lever 10.
[0032] The rocker lever 10 is hinged at one end thereof to the first connecting rod 11 and
comprises a counterweight at the other end suitable to maintain the door 3 in the
closed position, which counterweight is integral with the rocker lever.
[0033] The rocker lever 10 is hinged to the outer casing of the column 2 at a substantially
intermediate position relative to its ends, and in particular at a point 19.
[0034] As better shown in figures 4 and 5, wherein the first kinematic assembly is shown
by way of a dashed line, the device for collecting waste 100 comprises a second kinematic
assembly 6 that is substantially made up of a four-bar linkage 12.
[0035] In the embodiment shown in figures 4 and 5, the four-bar linkage 12 comprises at
least a second connecting rod 13, at least a portion 15 of the door 3 and at least
a third connecting rod 14.
[0036] The second connecting rod 13 is hinged at one end to the outer casing 1 and at the
other end to the door 3.
[0037] Similarly, also the third connecting rod 14 is hinged at one end to the outer casing
1 and at the other end to the door 3.
[0038] The third connecting rod 14 has a length d3 measured along its prevailing extension
that is smaller than or equal to the length d4 of the second connecting rod 13 measured
along its prevailing extension.
[0039] In the frame of the present invention, the wording "along the prevailing extension"
indicates the size of a member, such as e.g. a connecting rod, measured along its
major dimension.
[0040] The relative distance d1 between the ends of the second connecting rod 13 and the
third connecting rod 14 that are hinged to the door 3 is greater than the relative
distance d2 between the ends of the second connecting rod 13 and the third connecting
rod 14 that are hinged to the outer casing 1.
[0041] In the embodiment shown in figures 4 and 5, the second connecting rod 13 is hinged
to the outer casing 1 at the pivot point 19 at a distance 11 relative to the vertical
axis X-X, while the third connecting rod 14 is hinged to the outer casing 1 at a pivot
point 25 at a distance 12 relative to the vertical axis X-X, wherein 12>11.
[0042] Still referring to the embodiment shown in the drawings, in the closed position of
the door 3 the second connecting rod 13 is arranged along a straight line inclined
relative to the vertical axis X-X so as to form an angle α that is greater than or
equal to 90° (figure 4), whereas in the open position of the door 3, the second connecting
rod 13 is arranged along a straight line inclined relative to the vertical axis X-X
so as to form an angle α that is smaller than or equal to 90° (figure 5).
[0043] In other words, when passing from the closed to the open position of the door 3,
the second connecting rod 13 rotates counterclockwise so as to reduce angle α.
[0044] Driving of the lever 4 by a user in order to introduce waste into the device 100
in fact causes the rocker lever 10 and the second connecting rod 13 to rotate counterclockwise.
Since distance d1 is fixed, this movement determines the rotation of the third connecting
rod 14 as well, which rotates clockwise at first and then counterclockwise in order
to reach the position shown in figure 5. The movement of the four-bar linkage 12 described
above, and in particular the movement of the second and the third connecting rod 13,
14 determines the roto-translation of the door 3.
[0045] In other words, the door 3 and in particular its proximal end 26 (from the user's
point of view) perform a roto-translation movement relative to its pivot points, thus
remaining at a predefined height relative to the ground and in particular relative
to the opening lever 4.
[0046] The present invention has been disclosed with reference to some embodiments thereof.
Several modifications may be made to the embodiments disclosed in detail, while remaining
within the scope of protection of the invention as defined in the following claims.
1. Device (100) for collecting waste, comprising a collecting column (2) adapted to be
associated with a container located at least partially underground; the column (2)
comprising:
- at least one outer casing (1);
- at least one door (3) which can be opened for introducing waste into the said column
(2);
- at least one opening lever (4) actuatable from the outside of the said column (2);
- at least one first kinematic assembly (5) functionally associated with the said
opening lever (4) and with the said outer casing (1);
characterized by comprising
- at least one second kinematic assembly (6) functionally associated with the first
kinematic assembly (5) and with the said door (3) for moving, substantially by roto-translation,
the said door (3) from a closed position to an open position and vice versa.
2. Device (100) for collecting waste according to claim 1,
characterized in that said first kinematic assembly (5) comprises:
- at least one rocker lever (10) hinged to said casing (1); and
- at least one first connecting rod (11) hinged to said rocker lever (10) and to said
at least one opening lever (4).
3. Device (100) for collecting waste according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said second kinematic assembly (6) comprises a four-bar linkage (12).
4. Device (100) for collecting waste according to claim 3,
characterized in that said four-bar linkage (12) comprises:
- at least a second connecting rod (13);
- at least a portion (15) of the said door (3);
- at least a third connecting rod (14).
5. Device (100) for collecting waste according to claim 4, characterized in that said second connecting rod (13) is hinged at one end to said outer casing (1) and
at another end to the said door (3).
6. Device (100) for collecting waste according to claim 4, characterized in that said third connecting rod (14) is hinged at one end to said door (3) and at another
end to said outer casing (1).
7. Device (100) for collecting waste according to claim 4, characterized in that said third connecting rod (14) has a length d3 measured along its prevailing extension
smaller than or equal to the length d4 of the said second connecting rod (13) measured
along the prevailing extension of the latter.
8. Device (100) for collecting waste according to claim 4, characterized in that the mutual distance d1 between the ends of the second (13) and third (14) connecting
rods that are hinged to said door (3) is greater than the mutual distance d2 between
the ends of the second (13) and third (14) connecting rods that are hinged to the
said outer casing (1).
9. Device (100) for collecting waste according to claim 4,
characterized in that the said outer casing (1) comprises a vertical axis X-X:
- the second connecting rod (13) being hinged to the said outer casing (1) at a distance
11 from the vertical axis X-X;
- the second connecting rod (14) being hinged to the said outer casing (1) at a distance
12 from the vertical axis X-X, wherein 12>11.
10. Device (100) for collecting waste according to claim 4, characterized in that in a closed position of the door (3) the said second connecting rod (13) is positioned
along a straight line inclined relative to the said vertical axis X-X so as to form
an angle α greater than or equal to 90°.
11. Device (100) for collecting waste according to claim 4, characterized in that in an open position of the door (3) the said second connecting rod (13) is positioned
along a straight line inclined relative to the said vertical axis X-X so as to form
an angle α smaller than or equal to 90°.