This application is a national stage application under 35 U.S.C. 371 and claims the benefit of PCT Application No. PCT/EP2018/057748 having an international filing date of 27 Mar. 2018, which designated the United States, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The invention relates to a hand press for pressing a packaging, and in particular it relates to a hand press for pressing a food packaging.
For the efforts to further improve climate protection, an efficient collection, storage or also transport of used packaging, especially food packaging such as PET bottles or plastic containers, beverage cans, other metal packaging, composite and cardboard packaging is advantageous.
In this context, the object of the invention is to improve the pressing of packaging.
This problem is solved by a hand press for pressing a packaging according to the claim 1.
A hand press according to the invention for pressing a package, preferably a food packaging, more preferably a bottle or can, comprises a housing having at least one first opening for the insertion of the package and at least one second opening for the disposal of the package. Furthermore, the hand press comprises a pressing device, which is arranged essentially inside the housing and which has a first pressing surface, and an actuating device, which is connected via a rotation shaft to at least one lever, which is rotatably mounted with the pressing device.
Furthermore, the hand press has a flap device, which is arranged essentially inside the housing and which comprises a first part for closing the first opening of the housing and a second part having a second pressing surface
The flap device can be fixed by the pressing device in at least two positions, whereby in at least one starting position the packaging is held by the first part at least partially in the area of the first opening, and in at least one pressing position the first opening is at least partially closed by the first part, and the first and second pressing surfaces form a wedge-shaped pressing space, so that the packaging is brought into the housing during the transition from the starting position to the pressing position, it is at least partially held and compressible in the pressing position in the region of the tip of the wedge-shaped pressing space by the first and second pressing surfaces, and it can be ejected from the housing through the second opening during a subsequent transition from the pressing position to the starting position.
Furthermore, the pressing device can be moved during the transition from the starting position to the pressing position in such a way that the angle of the wedge-shaped pressing chamber is reduced and the pressing device is guided in a predetermined radial curved path by at least one journal arranged on the pressing device.
One aspect of the invention is based on the approach of pressing waste, which in uncompressed form requires a large surface area or space, in a simple manner by means of a hand press, so that a pressing force caused by the leverage effect of the hand press according to the invention is exerted on the packaging with the least possible muscular effort, so that it can be brought into a form compressed as possible. Thus, a space-saving storage of the waste can be already be made possible during the storage of the waste, for example in a waste sack or in a waste bin.
In addition, more waste can be transported to a collection point such as a landfill within a transport container even if this waste is transported to a collection point at a later date, while the size of the transport container remains the same. Furthermore, the collection point requires less space to store the waste produced.
In a preferred embodiment, the first pressing surface is curved and/or angled towards the second pressing surface in the area of the tip of the wedge-shaped pressing chamber. This arrangement ensures, that the risk of the packaging slipping when it is inside the wedge-shaped pressing chamber is reduced or prevented, in particular by slipping through the second opening of the housing.
In another preferred embodiment, the cam track is set up in such a way, so that the pressing device rotates more in a first area of the cam track than in a second area of the cam track when the journal traverses. This arrangement ensures that any shifting, in particular sliding up, of the packaging to be compacted during the pressing process is reduced to a greater extent and the pressing surfaces are thus preferably arranged almost parallel, in particular parallel, to each other when the packaging is more highly compacted.
In another preferred embodiment, the radial center of the cam track does not correspond to the axial center of the rotary shaft. This means that the lever action, which occurs when the actuating device is actuated, is transferred to the pressing device with a greater force. Thus, less force is required for the pressing process.
In another preferred embodiment, the journal has at least one roller, which is guided in the cam track. This reduces the frictional resistance of the roller of the journal within the cam track, so that the hand press needs not much maintenance in this respect.
In another preferred embodiment, the surface of the first and/or second pressing surface is at least partially uneven and/or has an anti-slip structure. This makes it possible to reduce or to prevent the packaging to be compacted from the shifting, especially from sliding up, when a force is applied to the pressing device and thus during the pressing process.
In another preferred embodiment, the second pressing surface is limited in the pressing position by at least one mechanical stop. Thus, a shift in the position of the pressing device due to an excessive force, which can lead to a damage of the components of the hand press, is limited in a simple way, so that the hand press is more reliable in operation.
In another preferred embodiment, the actuating device and the lever can be fixed non-rotatably at a predetermined angle to each other. This allows the lever action to be adjusted with the same force applied by the actuating device so that the hand press can be individually configured depending on the height of the hand press or the size of a user of the hand press.
In another preferred embodiment, the flap device is rotatably mounted in the transition area between the first part and the second part. This allows an easy movement of the flap device, so that the flap device can be transferred from the starting position to the pressing position and vice versa with little force.
In a further embodiment, the press device is reset automatically. This means that after the pressing process, the actuating device can be easily returned to its starting position without any additional force being applied by a user of the hand press.
In another preferred embodiment, the housing is arranged on a holding device, in particular on a height-adjustable holding device. This enables the hand press to be independent of the specifications, especially the height, of a waste container, which can be connected in particular to the second opening of the housing, so that a package compacted with the hand press enters the waste container when it exits from the second opening of the housing.
In another preferred embodiment, a tilting device is arranged at the holding device, by means of which the housing can be tilted from a horizontal position of use to an emptying position inclined to the horizontal. This makes it easier to empty or to change the waste container, as the container can be removed when the hand press is tilted away from the waste container without having to move the hand press to another position.
In another preferred embodiment, the housing can be locked on the holding device and/or the tilting device. This prevents the housing from being removed from the hand press, especially inadvertently or deliberately. The preferred embodiment reduces or prevents the risk of injury that could result from removing the housing during the operation of the hand press.
In another preferred embodiment, a fastening device is arranged on the housing, to which a waste container, in particular a waste bin, can be attached, so that the second opening of the housing leads into the waste container. This makes it easy to mount the waste container so that it can be permanently attached to the housing to accommodate compacted packaging.
Further features, advantages and possible applications of the invention are set out in the following description in connection with the figures in which the same reference signs are used throughout for the same or corresponding elements of the invention. It shows at least partially schematically:
The housing 8 is equipped with an actuating device 5, which in this embodiment is constructed as a hand lever. A packaging 9, in particular, as shown in this embodiment, a PET bottle, is arranged in or at a first opening 8a of the housing 8, whereby a second part 7b of a flap device 7 prevents the packaging 9 from entering into the housing 8.
In addition, the housing 8 has a locking device 10 with a locking bracket 6, so that the hand press 1 can be locked. A more detailed illustration of this arrangement is shown in the
In general, the hand press 1 can be integrated for or into various disposal systems. Due to the safe, lockable and hygienic features of the hand press 1, a maintenance-free handling of the hand press 1 is possible.
Furthermore, in this illustration, the first opening 8a of the housing 8 is closed by means of the first part 7a of the flap device 7, so that no packaging 9 can be placed in the housing 8. It also reduces or minimizes the risk that a user enters a body part into the housing 8 through the first opening 8a while using the hand press 1.
A second opening 8b of the housing 8 is also visible, which when the housing 8 is in the position of use, as shown in the
The actuating device 5, which is configured as a hand lever, leads to a rotation shaft 26, which is connected to a leaver 19, whereby this lever 19 is rotatably mounted with a pressing device 15. Preferably, the actuating device 5 and the lever 19 can be fixed non-rotatably at a predetermined angle to each other.
The pressing device 15 arranged on the lever 19 has a first pressing surface 15a, whereby this forms a wedge-shaped pressing space 42 with a second pressing surface 7b of the flap device 7, which represents the second part of the flap device 7. In the lower part of this wedge shaped pressing chamber 42 is a package 9, in particular, as shown in this example, a PET bottle which is at least partially held by the first pressing surface 15a and the second pressing surface 7b in the area of the tip of the wedge-shaped pressing chamber 42. By actuating the actuating device 5 by pressing the actuating device 5 downwards, a force effect is transmitted via the rotary shaft 26 to the lever 19, causing the pressing device 15 to tilt or move to the left in this illustration. As explained in more detail in the
Due to this mechanical movement of the pressing device 15 during the transition from the starting position to the pressing position, the angle of the wedge-shaped pressing chamber 42 is reduced. Furthermore, the pressing device 15 has at least one journal 27 arranged on the pressing device 15, which is guided in a, particular predetermined, radial cam track 28. This arrangement ensures in particular that the pressing device 15 rotates more strongly in a first area of the cam track 28 than in a second area of the cam track 28 when passing through the journal 27, so that the first pressing surface 15a and second pressing surface 7b in the pressing position are almost parallel, in particular parallel, to each other. Preferably on both sides of the actuating device 5, the lever 19 is arranged, which is arranged on the rotation shaft 26 and which is rotatably mounted with the pressing device 15.
An improved compaction performance is achieved by this double lever action, which can be achieved with the arrangement of the journal 27 according to the invention in conjunction with the position of the lever pivot points on the pressing device 15. This double lever action increases as the package 9 to be further compacted slides down in the pressing chamber 42. On the one hand, the manual force of the user is introduced into the package 9 to be compacted via the pressing device 15 via the lever 19, which acts as an angle lever, and on the other hand, the pressing device 15 is supported on the cam track 28 via the journal 27 during the entire feed movement, so that the pressing device 15, as a one-sided lever, additionally increases the manual force of the user even further.
In the lower part of the tip of the wedge-shaped pressing chamber, the first pressing surface 15a is preferably curved and/or angled towards the second pressing surface 7b. As can be seen in the
In a first position, the first part 7a of the flap device 7 is partially arranged outside the housing 8 so that a package 9 can be inserted into the first opening 8a of the housing 8, the position of the flap device 7 preventing the package 9 from moving downwards because the second pressing surface 7b of the flap device 7 is inclined upwards.
If the actuating device 5, which is not shown in this illustration, is pressed downwards, the pressing device 15 is tilted or moved to the left, whereby the flap device 7 rotates clockwise as indicated by the circled section. The first pressing surface 15a contacts the second pressing surface 7b in such a way that the second pressing surface 7b is also moved due to the rotary movement of the pressing device 15.
Thus, due to the double function of the flap device 7 on the one hand to transport the packaging 9 into the pressing chamber 42, and on the other hand to use the second part of the flap device 7 as a second pressing surface 7b when the first opening 8a of the housing is closed, it is no longer possible to open the pressing chamber 42 again during the pressing process, or that it is opened. In addition, the pressing chamber 42 is also not accessible for placing the packaging 9 at the first opening 8a of the housing 8. The flap device 7 remains blocked—for example in the case of a willful actuation of the actuating device 5 by a person for filling the pressing chamber by the pressing device 15 moving the pressing chamber 42. In addition, the first part 7a of the flap device 7 also blocks any movement of the pressing device 15 during the opening of the first opening 8a of the housing 8.
As can be seen in this illustration, the radial center of the cam track 28 does not correspond to the axial center of the rotation shaft 26. Furthermore, the journal 27 preferably has at least one roller, which is guided in the cam track 28.
Furthermore, the first pressing surface 15a and the second pressing surface 7b are preferably at least partially uneven and/or have an anti-slip structure. Likewise, the actuating device 5 is mechanically blocked in the opposite direction, as the lever 19 can not be turned any further due to the rear wall of the housing 25.
Additional devices for stripping from the wedged packaging 9 are the pressing-device guides 18 projecting from the side of the housing 8 and a pressing-space cover plate 24 located just above the pressing-device 15.
In summary, the package 9, which enters into the housing 8 via the first opening 8a, can be compacted by means of the flap device 7 and the pressing device 15, and when it passes from the pressing position to the starting position of the flap device 7, it can leave the housing 8 via the second opening 8b, so that the package 9 preferably enters the waste container 2.
In order to be able to unlock the locking pin 21, a locking pin drive 20 leads centrally into the interior of the housing 8 and is then guided out of the housing 8 again via a crossbar. Two tie rods 32 connected to the locking brackets 6 lead from the front side of the housing 8 to this cross rod. An adjustable connecting piece 30 closes the force flow on both sides from the locking pin 21 to the locking brackets 6.
The locking bracket 6 is additionally equipped with a locking pin in the middle, which is guided into the housing 8 via a guide tube connected to the front side of the housing 8. The locking device 10 is mounted below this central pin guide, which, after unlocking, enables the housing 8 to be folded up by pulling out the locking bow 6. The locking pin 21 is spring-loaded and re-engages in the desired position after the housing 8 has been folded up. The latching piece 34 on the tilting device 23 is constructed in such a way that, in the case of wall mounting 40, the housing 8 cannot come into contact with the wall. During disposal of the housing 9, the latching pin 21 can be locked again for safety reasons. In order to ensure the stability of the hand press 1, the hand press 1 can or must be detachably connected to the floor or the rear wall.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/EP2018/057748 | 3/27/2018 | WO |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
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WO2019/185120 | 10/3/2019 | WO | A |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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2665632 | Kawa | Jan 1954 | A |
5611270 | Harrington | Mar 1997 | A |
20110061548 | Monteith | Mar 2011 | A1 |
20180194554 | Cole | Jul 2018 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
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H0531598 | Feb 1993 | JP |
H05104292 | Apr 1993 | JP |
H07204900 | Aug 1995 | JP |
H11-77391 | Mar 1999 | JP |
3060659 | Sep 1999 | JP |
WO 9304956 | Mar 1993 | WO |
Entry |
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International Search Report and Written Opinion for International (PCT) Patent Application No. PCT/EP2018/057748, dated Feb. 4, 2019, 15 pages. |
Translation of the International Search Report for European Patent Application No. PCT/EP2018/057748, dated Feb. 4, 2019, 2 pages. |
Translation of the International Preliminary Report on Patentability for International (PCT) Patent Application No. PCT/EP2018/057748, dated Feb. 4, 2019, 7 pages. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20210101353 A1 | Apr 2021 | US |