BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for collecting, processing, and recycling
kitchen scraps and, more particularly, to an apparatus configured for recycling and
processing kitchen scraps collectively.
2. Description of Related Art
[0002] Presently, kitchen scraps are usually treated as ordinary waste and thrown into a
waste disposer. The waste disposer shreds the kitchen scraps and discharges the shredded
kitchen scraps to a sewer along with added water. As oil and grease in the kitchen
scraps are also discharged to the sewer through pipes, the pipes tend to clog, and
the environment may be polluted. A more environment-friendly approach is to have kitchen
scraps stored in collection bins placed at fixed collection points so that the kitchen
scraps can be subsequently used to make compost or be discharged after water/oil separation.
However, as kitchen scraps are transported through public facilities or public spaces,
pollution is likely to occur. Furthermore, if stored in the collection bins for an
excessively long time, kitchen scraps will undergo fermentation, produce unpleasant
odor, attract mosquitoes and flies, and thereby pollute the surroundings. Besides,
the oil and grease in kitchen scraps are also a big problem. Since grease interception
devices are only used in large restaurants nowadays, household kitchen scraps are
directly discharged without grease interception and therefore become a source of pollution
in communities. Hence, it is of environmental importance to provide an easy and convenient
way to collect and recycle kitchen scraps and separate the water and oil contained
therein.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] It is a primary objective of the present invention to provide an apparatus for collecting,
processing, and recycling kitchen scraps, such that kitchen scraps thrown into a throw-in
conduit on each floor of a building are transferred to a delivery conduit by a flushing
device so as to reach a kitchen scraps collection device and be processed thereby.
Thus, kitchen scraps are collected and then processed collectively.
[0004] It is a secondary objective of the present invention to provide an apparatus for
collecting, processing, and recycling kitchen scraps, wherein a kitchen scraps collection
device is connected with a large grease interception device. The kitchen scraps collection
device processes kitchen scraps and removes a liquid therefrom. Then, water and oil
in the liquid are separated by the grease interception device. After the oil is collected,
the water is discharged to a sewer in favor of environmental protection.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] The invention as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives, and advantages
thereof will be best understood by referring to the following detailed description
of an illustrative embodiment in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an apparatus for collecting, processing, and recycling
kitchen scraps according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a partial schematic view of the apparatus according to the present invention;
FIG. 3 is another partial schematic view of the apparatus according to the present
invention;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is another perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a partial schematic view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
and
FIG. 7 is another partial schematic view of the preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3 for a schematic view and two partial schematic views
of an apparatus 1 for collecting, processing, and recycling kitchen scraps according
to the present invention, the apparatus 1 essentially includes at least one throw-in
conduit 2, a delivery conduit 3, at least one flushing device 4, a kitchen scraps
collection device 6, and a grease interception device 7.
[0007] Each throw-in conduit 2 is provided and extended on a certain floor of a building
so that kitchen scraps can be thrown into each throw-in conduit 2. Each throw-in conduit
2 is additionally provided with a shredder 5 for shredding kitchen scraps thrown into
the corresponding throw-in conduit 2.
[0008] The delivery conduit 3 is connected with a distal end of each throw-in conduit 2
and configured for delivering kitchen scraps thrown into each throw-in conduit 2.
[0009] Each flushing device 4 is provided at an end of a corresponding throw-in conduit
2 and is actuated manually, via automatic sensing, or intermittently so as to provide
a flushing function.
[0010] The kitchen scraps collection device 6 is connected to a distal end of the delivery
conduit 3 and configured for collecting and processing kitchen scraps thrown into
each throw-in conduit 2. The kitchen scraps collection device 6 mainly includes a
storage tank 61, a shredding and dewatering device 62, and a fermentative conversion
device 63.
[0011] The grease interception device 7 is connected to the kitchen scraps collection device
6. The grease interception device 7, for example, can be the 200L Grease Interceptor
of Taiwan K.B.L. Corp.; the 8A Grease Interceptor of Chien-Chan Technology Corp.,
Taiwan; the 1I03017 Grease Interceptor of Da Wel Long Enterprise Co., Taiwan; or the
OS-005~OS-100 Grease Interceptor of Bi-Best Engineering Co., Taiwan. The above-listed
models are for illustrative purposes only. The processing capacity as well as the
operation mode and control method of the grease interception device 7 may vary according
to practical needs.
[0012] Please refer to FIGS. 4 through 7 for a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in the drawings, fruit peels or kitchen scraps generated after a meal are
thrown into the throw-in conduit 2 mounted on a kitchen counter. The shredder 5, which
is installed at a connecting portion between the throw-in conduit 2 and the delivery
conduit 3, then shreds the peels or kitchen scraps. The shredded peels or kitchen
scraps are flushed along with water into the delivery conduit 3 by means of the flushing
device 4, thus allowing the delivery conduit 3 to deliver the shredded peels or kitchen
scraps to the kitchen scraps collection device 6 connected to the distal end of the
delivery conduit 3. The water provided by the flushing device 4 helps prevent the
shredded peels or kitchen scraps from remaining in the delivery conduit 3 and consequently
keeps the delivery conduit 3 clean. The peels or kitchen scraps are further shredded
and dewatered in the storage tank 61 and the shredding and dewatering device 62 of
the kitchen scraps collection device 6 and stored in the fermentative conversion device
63 so as to become organic fertilizer after fermentation.
[0013] The grease interception device 7 is connected to the shredding and dewatering device
62 of the kitchen scraps collection device 6. After the peels or kitchen scraps are
shredded and dewatered by the shredding and dewatering device 62, the liquid removed
from the peels or kitchen scraps is processed by the grease interception device 7
so that water and oil in the liquid are separated. Thus, the processing of kitchen
scraps in a community is automated to the benefit of environmental protection.
[0014] While the present invention is herein described by reference to the preferred embodiment,
it is understood that the embodiment is not intended to limit the scope of the present
invention. All equivalent structures which are based on the contents disclosed in
the present specification and the accompanying drawings and are applied directly or
indirectly to other related fields should be encompassed by the appended claims.
1. An apparatus for collecting, processing, and recycling kitchen scraps, essentially
comprising:
at least a throw-in conduit provided and extended on each floor of a building so that
kitchen scraps can be thrown into each said throw-in conduit;
at least a delivery conduit connected to a distal end of each said throw-in conduit
and configured for delivering kitchen scraps thrown into each said throw-in conduit;
at least a flushing device provided at an end of each said throw-in conduit;
a kitchen scraps collection device connected to a distal end of each said delivery
conduit; and
a grease interception device connected to the kitchen scraps collection device;
wherein kitchen scraps thrown into the throw-in conduit on each said floor of the
building are transferred to a corresponding said delivery conduit by a corresponding
said flushing device so as to reach the kitchen scraps collection device and the grease
interception device and be processed thereby.
2. The apparatus of Claim 1, wherein each said throw-in conduit is provided with a shredder
for shredding kitchen scraps thrown into the each said throw-in conduit and thus facilitating
discharge of the kitchen scraps through a corresponding said delivery conduit.
3. The apparatus of Claim 1, wherein each said flushing device is actuated manually,
via automatic sensing, or intermittently so as to provide a flushing function.
4. The apparatus of Claim 1, wherein the kitchen scraps collection device comprises a
storage tank, a shredding and dewatering device, and a fermentative conversion device.