EP2174716A1

EP2174716A1 - Grinding apparatus, in particular for recyclable materials, with one or more couples of rollers

Info

Publication number: EP2174716A1
Application number: EP09425397A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Pasquale De Maio
Original assignee: ESSEPI Srl
Current assignee: ESSEPI Srl
Priority date: 2008-10-09
Filing date: 2009-10-09
Publication date: 2010-04-14
Also published as: ITRM20080538A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus (1) for grinding materials comprising a containing frame (6) having a mouth for introducing said materials to be grinded; characterised in that it further comprises at least one inserting-crushing section (2) placed in said containing frame (6) comprising a couple of paired rolls (21, 22) arranged close to said mouth, which are distanced in order to receive and to crush said materials which pass between them; and at least one cutting section (4) after said inserting-crushing section (2) comprising one or more couples of paired rolls (41, 42 and 43, 44), suitable to receive said materials from said inserting-crushing section (2) in order to chop them.

Description

The present invention relates to a grinding apparatus, in particular for recyclable materials.
More specifically, the invention concerns an apparatus of the above kind, particularly studied and realised to be used in the domestic field, condominium, small commercial exercises, such as bar and restaurants, for disposal and managing every kind of material, such as recyclable materials, e.g. bottles, cans, paperboard, iron, plastics, as well as rubbish and like.
As it is well known, at present production of rubbish and other materials for each person is always growing. This implies a complicated managing of rubbish, which is accumulated within bags and thrown within containers, and then disposed by a public service.
A relevant problem for small commercial exercises, such bar, restaurants and like, producing in any case large amounts of rubbish is that of handling and placing produced rubbish before throwing it within the suitable containers. In facts, rubbish and generally speaking recyclable materials tends occupying a remarkable space obliging personnel to continuously dispose the same.
Moreover, it is always more felt the needing of introducing the differentiated collection with families, thus involving an increase of space necessary at home.
It is well evident that this implies an obstacle to introduction of a recycling procedure which is necessary and that cannot be delayed in all modern cities.
In view of the above, it is therefore object of the present invention that of suggesting a grinding apparatus that can reduce space occupied by rubbish, and that can be also employed in reduced spaces.
Another object of the invention is that of ensuring a high use safety.
It is therefore specific object of the present invention an apparatus for grinding materials comprising a containing frame having a mouth for introducing said materials to be grinded; characterised in that it further comprises at least one inserting-crushing section placed in said containing frame comprising a couple of paired rolls arranged close to said mouth, which are distanced in order to receive and to crush said materials which pass between them; and at least one cutting section after said inserting-crushing section comprising one or more couples of paired rolls, suitable to receive said materials from said inserting-crushing section in order to chop them.
Always according to the invention, said cutting section can comprise two couples of paired rolls arranged one after the other, the rolls of each couple being suitable to receive between them said materials in order to chop them.
Still according to the invention, each roll of said inserting-crushing section comprises longitudinal tabs tilted according to the rotation direction.
Furthermore, according to the invention, each couple of cutting rolls comprises a first roll provided with helicoidal grooves, realising cutting edges, and a second roll, paired to the respective first roll, made by a resilient deformable material, like iron-lead alloy (AVP).
Advantageously, according to the invention, said cutting edge has the couples of rolls arranged in such way that said first and said second rolls of each couple are in opposite position with respect to the rolls of the following couple.
Always according to the invention, said first rolls of each couple of rolls of said cutting section has different groove pitches.
Still according to the invention, said apparatus can comprise according electrical moving means, as a motor, of said rolls of said inserting-crushing section and of said cutting section.
Advantageously, according to the invention, said apparatus can comprise a mechanism having gear wheels, fixed to the rotating axes of said rolls, motion transmission means, as belts and/or chains, coupled to said gear wheels, and at least one reduction gear, which overall arrangement is such that it rotates the rolls of said inserting-crushing section and of said cutting section.
Furthermore, according to the invention, each roll can rotate according to a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the relevant opposed roll.
Always according to the invention, said apparatus can comprise a hopper in correspondence of said at least one introduction-crushing section, suitable to receive said material introduced within said mouth.
Still according to the invention, said apparatus can comprise a lid for closure and opening of said mouth, connected with a safety device, such as an electric switch, so as to prevent operation of said apparatus when in the opening position.
Furthermore, according to the invention, said apparatus can comprise a bulkhead mechanically connected with said lid by a plurality of levers, so as said bulkhead closes said hopper when said lid is open.
Preferably, according to the invention, said safety device can be connected with said motion means.
The present invention will be now described, for illustrative but not limitative purposes, according to its preferred embodiments, with particular reference to the figures of the enclosed drawings, wherein:

figure 1 shows an exploded view of an apparatus for grinding according to the present invention;
figure 2 shows a perspective view of grinding rolls of figure 1;
figure 3 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of grinding apparatus according to the present invention before introduction of an object; and
figure 4 shows the schematic view of grinding apparatus according to figure 3 while object is introduced.

In the various figures, similar parts will be indicated by the same number reference.
Making reference to figures 1 and 2, it is observed a portion of apparatus 1 for grinding according to the present invention, comprising a introduction/crushing section 2 provided with a first couple of rolls 21 and 22, opposed each other, each roll comprising longitudinal tabs 3 on its surface, having a triangular cross-section and slanting according to the rotation direction of said rolls 21 and 22.
Rolls 21 and 22, rotating according to opposite directions, as indicated by arrow A in he figures, can drag, crush and fold event bulk objects (bottles, tanks, packagings) so as to reduce total energetic absorption.
In a preferred embodiment said rolls 21 and 22 are comprised of steel F37, while crushing tabs are comprised of Steel C40, with induction hardening of ridge.
Axis distance between rolls 21 and 22 is of 90 mm, while centre of crushing blade is offset, with respect to the rotation axis, of 10 mm. Diameter of each roll measures 60 mm, while the total diameter is 105 mm. This positioning permits to have a larger distance between rolls at the entrance and to receive materials larger than the axis distance, measuring 128 mm.
During rotation of rolls 21 and 22 of 90° according to arrow A, insertion-crushing section 2 reduces thickness of an inserted material from original dimension up to a suitable measure for proper subsequent chopping. Measure between top of tab 3 and opposed roll surface has been calculated in the preferred embodiment to be 8 mm.
After said first insertion-crushing section 2, a chopping section 4 is provided, providing in sequence a first pair of rolls 41 and 42 and a second pair of rolls 43 and 44.
Each one of said roll pairs comprises a first chopping roll, respectively rolls 441 and 43, comprised of K110 steel, hardening under vacuum, each one presenting helicoidal grooves 5, possibly with different pitches between first chopping rolls 41 and on surface, realising chopping profiles, obviously helicoidal as well, and a second buckling roll, respectively 42 and 44, comprised of resiliently deformable material, such as lead or AVP, the function of which will be better described in the following.
In figures it is observed that pair of rolls 41, 42 and 43, 44 have such an arrangement that said first and second rolls of each pair is crossed with respect to the following pair. This permits obtaining a much more chopped material.
Chopping rolls 41 and 43 have been studied to reduce contact surface between chopping profiles and surface of material to be chopped... thus, helix is inclined so that contact surface has a minimum value, in order to have maximum chopping yield, by choosing a suitable angle of helicoidal grooves 5 helix. Angle of said helicoidal grooves 5 can be any angle, but preferably included between 45° and 35°. In the present case, the angle is 37°.
Rolls 21, 22, 41, 42 and 43, 44 have, each one, a single rotation axis, fixed on a fix structure 6.
Apparatus 1 also comprises a mechanism 7 with toothed wheels 8 coupled on rotation axis of said rolls 21, 22, 41, 42, 43 and 44, and placed in such a way that each roll rotates according to an opposite direction with respect to the relevant opposed roll. Rotation direction of each pair of rolls is shown in the figures by arrows indicated by letters A, B and C.
An electric motor (not shown in the figures) is mechanically coupled with said mechanism 7 so as to operate the same rotating rolls of the above insertion-crushing 2 and chopping 4 sections in a suitable way, as described in the above.
Said electric motor is a 500 W motor, supplied by a 380 Volt, 220 Volt, and 24 Volt current. Apparatus 1 is also provided with a speed ratio gear, preferably with a 1:100 ratio in order to provide force necessary to crushing and chopping.
Apparatus 1 also comprises a containment frame (not shown in the figures), wherein rolls 21, 22, 41, 42, 43 and 44, said mechanism 7 and said electric motor are installed. Said containment frame also has a mouth (not shown in the figures), in correspondence of which a hopper, comprised of die-fold sheet provided on the upper part of apparatus 1, and said insertion-crushing section 2 are provided.
When said electric motor is operated, material introduced within said mouth arrives, passing through said hopper, to said insertion-crushing section 2, crushing said material. Then rolls 41, 42, 43 and 44 of the insertion-crushing section 4 will chop said material. The above particularly occurs by said chopping rolls 41 and 43 and relevant buckling rolls 42 and 44. The latter are comprised of resiliently deformable material, so that chopping profiles of said chopping rolls 41 or 43 can easily chop material to e chopped, pressing it against the corresponding buckling roll 42 or 44, by its cutting profiles.
Apparatus 1 is provided with a lid, preferably a recycled plastic, material lid, suitable to prevent that materials introduced can exit during the crushing step. Apparatus 1 is further made safe by a device preventing its operation in case said lid remains open. Particularly, inhibition device provides that motor is not supplied when said lid is open.
Figures 3 and 4 show an embodiment of apparatus 1 while in the opening and closure position (respectively). More specifically, figure 3 shows the lid 91 hinged on containment frame 6 of apparatus 1, and a bulkhead 92, mechanically connected with said lid 91 by a system with a plurality of levers 93, 94, 95, hinged and/or pivoted each other. When lid 91 is open for introduction of an object to be ground O, movable bulkhead 92, hinged on hopper 96, is operated by motion of said levers 93, 94 and 95, so as to close hopper 96 and make it not accessible the insertion-crushing space, i.e. said rolls 21, 22, 41, 42, 43 and 44, thus ensuring full safety of apparatus 1. In other words, bulkhead 92 is suitable to close hopper 96 when said lid 91 is open.
An advantage of the apparatus according to the present invention is that it can be easily installed at home, within condominium or small commercial exercise, thus easing differentiated collection and disposal of wastes.
The present invention has been described for illustrative but not limitative purposes, according to its preferred embodiments, but it is to be understood that modifications and/or changes can be introduced by those skilled in the art without departing from the relevant scope as defined in the enclosed claims.

Claims

Apparatus (1) for grinding materials comprising a containing frame (6) having a mouth for introducing said materials to be grinded;
characterised in that it further comprises at least one inserting-crushing section (2) placed in said containing frame (6) comprising a couple of paired rolls (21, 22) arranged close to said mouth, which are distanced in order to receive and to crush said materials which pass between them; and at least one cutting section (4) after said inserting-crushing section (2) comprising one or more couples of paired rolls (41, 42 and 43, 44), suitable to receive said materials from said inserting-crushing section (2) in order to chop them.
Apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that said cutting section (4) comprises two couples of paired rolls (41, 42 and 43, 44) arranged one after the other, the rolls of each couple being suitable to receive between them said materials in order to chop them.
Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that each roll (21, 22) of said inserting-crushing section (2) comprises longitudinal tabs (3) tilted according to the rotation direction.
Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that each couple of cutting rolls (41, 42 and 43, 44) comprises a first roll (41, 43) provided with helicoidal grooves (5), realising cutting edges, and a second roll (42, 44), paired to the respective first roll (42, 43), made by a resilient deformable material, like iron-lead alloy (AVP).
Apparatus according to claim 4, characterised in that said cutting edge (4) has the couples of rolls (41, 42 and 43, 44) arranged in such way that said first and said second rolls of each couple are in opposite position with respect to the rolls of the following couple.
Apparatus according to one of the claims 4 or 5, characterised in that said first rolls (41, 43) of each couple of rolls of said cutting section (4) has different groove pitches.
Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises electrical moving means, as a motor, of said rolls of said inserting-crushing section (2) and of said cutting section (4).
Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises a mechanism (8) having gear wheels (9), fixed to the rotating axes of said rolls (21, 22, 41, 42, 43, 44), motion transmission means, as belts and/or chains, coupled to said gear wheels, and at least one reduction gear, which overall arrangement is such that it rotates the rolls of said inserting-crushing section (2) and of said cutting section (4).
Apparatus (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that each roll (21, 22, 41, 42, 43 and 44) rotates according to a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the relevant opposed roll.
Apparatus (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises a hopper (96) in correspondence of said at least one introduction-crushing section (2), suitable to receive said material introduced within said mouth.
Apparatus (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises a lid (91) for closure and opening of said mouth, connected with a safety device, such as an electric switch, so as to prevent operation of said apparatus (1) when in the opening position.
Apparatus (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises a bulkhead (92) mechanically connected with said lid (91) by a plurality of levers (93, 94, 95), so as said bulkhead (92) closes said hopper (96) when said lid (91)is open.
Apparatus (1) according to one of the preceding claims 11 or 12, when depending on claim 7, characterised in that said safety device is connected with said motion means.