GB2329322A - Waste containers with electromechanically operated lids - Google Patents

Abstract

A waste bin comprises a base container 10 and a flap 14 on or at the top of the base 10. The flap 14, which can be attached to a separate lid 11, is openable by electrical drive means or manually in the event of failure of the drive means. The drive means comprises a pinion 20 actuated by an electric motor (18, Figure 5), a drive connection between the pinion 20 and the flap 14 and, preferably, an interruptor mechanism, such as a unidirectional clutch 24, which can be mounted in a driving/non-driving relation between a motor output shaft 23 and the pinion 20. Preferably, the pinion 20 is in driving relation with the motor output shaft 23 via a gear box 22 and be rotated in the flap opening direction without actuating the motor (18), thereby allowing the flap 14 to be opened manually, preferably by using a upstanding projection 27. The flap 14 can be closed by means of a spring 25 or by gravity wherein the flap can back drive the motor (18), whilst it closes, so that the motor acts as a brake. Sensing means 28 can be provided to detect the proximity of a user's hand and initiate operation of the motor (18).

Description

BINS WITH OPENING LIDS This invention relates to bins with opening lids.

More particularly but not exclusively, the bin is a waste bin for depositing waste items.

Waste bins generally have a lid which is manually opened and closed by the user when depositing a waste item into the bin. Alternatively, the bin may be a pedal bin in which the user depresses a foot pedal to open the lid, which then closes when pressure is removed from the pedal.

It is also known to provide a waste bin with a flap which is opened by drive means, the drive means being actuated by an electric motor.

According to the invention there is provided a bin having a base container, a lid at or on top of the base container, the lid being movable between open and closed positions, wherein drive means are provided for opening the lid, the drive means being actuated by an electric motor, and wherein the drive means includes a pinion for rotation by the motor and a drive connection between the pinion and the flap, whereby rotation of the pinion by the motor opens the flap, and wherein at least the pinion can be rotated in the lid opening direction without actuating the motor, thereby allowing the lid to be opened manually in the event of failure of the motor to actuate the drive means.

In one embodiment of the invention the drive means includes an interruptor mechanism which is capable of disconnecting the pinion in the lid opening direction, whereby the lid can be opened manually without driving the motor. The interruptor mechanism may be a unidirectional clutch. In this case the pinion is mounted for rotation by the motor output shaft, with gear means in driving engagement with the pinion and connected to the lid, and wherein the unidirectional clutch is mounted in driving/nondriving relation between the motor output shaft and the pinion.

In another embodiment the pinion is mounted in fixed driving relation with the output shaft of the motor and associated gear means, the gear ratio of said gear means being sufficiently low to allow rotation of the pinion to drive the motor, and thereby allow the lid to be opened manually.

The lid may be closed by a spring. Alternatively, the lid is closed by gravity. In either case, the lid preferably back drives the motor, whilst the lid closes, the motor thereby acting as a brake.

The bin may be a waste bin for depositing waste items.

Preferably the lid is mounted for pivoting movement between open and closed positions.

It is also preferred that the lid is a flap which is pivotally mounted on a support frame at or on top of a base container, the frame defining an aperture through which items are deposited into the base container below, when the flap is opened.

In one embodiment the flap is V-shaped whereby the flap is adapted to conceal the contents within the container in the open position of the flap.

Preferably the bin includes sensing means for operating the motor to open the lid, the sensing means detecting the proximity of the user's hand in relation to the lid whereby the user is not required to touch the lid.

The lid preferably has a projection for at least assisting the user to open the lid manually.

By way of example, specific embodiments in accordance with the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a waste bin with a lid flap, including powered drive means for opening the lid flap; Figure 2 shows the bin lid, in section, with the lid flap closed; Figure 3 is a similar section to Figure 2 showing the lid flap in its open position; Figure 4 is a section along line 4-4 in Figure 2; and Figure 5 is a section along line 5-5 in Figure 2; Figure 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of waste bin with a lid flap; Figure 7 is an exploded view of the bin of Figure 6; Figure 8 is a section along line 8-8 in Figure 6 with the lid flap closed; Figure 9 is a similar section as Figure 8 with the lid flap open; Figure 10 is a section along line 10-10 in Figure 6 showing the powered drive means for opening the lid flap; Figure 11 is an exploded view of the lid, flap and drive means including a drive coupling comprising a unidirectional clutch for allowing the lid flap to be opened manually; and Figure 12 is an exploded view of an alternative drive means which allows the flap to drive the motor when the flap is opened manually.

Referring to Figures 1 to 5, a waste bin comprises a base container 10 with a separate lid 11 releasably hooked thereon. In this embodiment, the lid defines a rectangular aperture 12 surrounded by internal wall 13 forming a central chute 16 extending downwardly. The chute is closable at its top end by a lid flap 14. The flap 14 has side walls 36, and is pivotally mounted for movement between a closed position (Figure 2) and an open position (Figure 3) by outwardly protruding pegs 15 on the wall 13 which engage in respective sockets in the side walls 36 of the flap. When the flap 14 is open (Figure 3), waste items can be deposited down the chute 16 into the base container below. If desired, the base container 10 contains a liner or liner bag for holding the waste items deposited therein and intended for subsequent disposal with the waste items. In this embodiment, there is shown a bag 40 suspended from two side bars 41.

For opening the flap 14 there is provided a drive pinion 20 actuated by electric motor 18 (Figure 5).

The motor 18 is operated by batteries 19. The drive pinion 20 is in driving relation with the motor output shaft via a gear box 22. The pinion 20 is carried on the output shaft 23 of the gear box by a unidirectional clutch 24 providing a drive coupling for connecting the shaft 23 and the pinion in driving relation.

In this embodiment the pinion 20 meshes with a toothed quadrant 30 which is pivotally mounted on the wall 13 of chute 16 by pin 32, and which in turn meshes with a toothed quadrant 31 attached to or integral with the flap 14. Rotation of the pinion 20 in an anticlockwise direction as viewed in Figure 2 thereby opens the flap 14.

The clutch 24 comprises an interruptor mechanism which is capable of disconnecting the pinion 20 to allow the pinion to rotate relative to the shaft 23 in one direction only, i.e. the direction of rotation in which the flap 14 opens. The pinion 20 can thus override the motor 18, if necessary, and allow the user to manually open the flap 14 by applying pressure, e.g. with the thumb, on upstanding projection 27 on the flap. Spring 25 is provided to close the flap 14 whereupon the pinion 20 drives the shaft 23 through the clutch 24.

Sensing means 26 are provided for detecting the proximity of the user's hand in relation to the aperture 12 for the purpose of depositing a waste item in the bin, the sensing means actuating the motor 18 to open the flap 14, whereby the user is not required to touch the lid. However, the provision of the clutch 24 as an interruptor mechanism enables the user to open the flap 14 manually in the event of failure of the motor to drive pinion 20, whether due to failure of the motor, the batteries or the sensing means. On the other hand, since the clutch 24 is only unidirectional in the opening direction of the flap 14, the flap will close slowly by employing the motor 18 as a brake, against the resistance of the gear head and the back emf, whether the flap is opened by the motor or manually.

In this embodiment, the proximity sensing means 26 comprises an LED transmitter 28 and a receiver 29 positioned beneath a cover 33 acting as a shroud. A pulse signal from the transmitter 28 is reflected to the receiver 29, thereby actuating the motor 18 to open the flap 14 when the user's hand is in close proximity to the sensing means.

In use, the base container 10 of the waste bin is provided with an inner bag, if desired, and the lid 11 is fitted onto the base container with the flap 14 closed (Figure 1). When the user requires to deposit a waste item into the bin through the aperture 12, the sensing means 26 detects the proximity of the user's hand and actuates the motor 18 to rotate the pinion 20 to open the flap 14. In the event of failure of the sensing means 26, the motor 18 or the batteries 19, the user can still open the flap 14 manually by applying pressure on projection 27 for depositing the waste item in the bin. Whether the flap is opened by the motor or manually, the spring 25 will close the flap via the clutch 24, the motor acting as a brake.

Figures 6 to 11 concern an embodiment of waste bin having a base container 40 with a separate lid 41.

The lid has internal pegs 42 which clip into key-hole slots or cut-outs 43 in the upper side edges of the base container 40 to locate and hold the lid on the container.

For supporting a disposable bag 44 within the container there is an upper frame 45 defining a central rectangular aperture 46 surrounded by upstanding rim 47 having outwardly protruding ears 48 at its four corners. The frame 45 is located in the top of the base container 40 by lugs 49 at the rear of the frame engaging apertures 71 in the back wall of the container, and is held in place by spring clips 50 at the front of the frame which clip into apertures 72 in the front wall of the container. The frame 45 incorporates a handle 51 which is accessible through a recess 52 in the lid.

When a bag is used, e.g. a plastics bin bag, its open top protrudes upwardly through the aperture 46 in the frame 45, is folded over the rim 47 and held by an elastic band 53.

To provide access for depositing waste items into the bag 44, there is provided flap 54 which is snapfitted into the top of the lid 41 for pivotal movement between closed (Figure 7) and open (Figure 8) positions by key-hole sockets 73 on opposite ends of the flap 54 engaging with pins 55 on the lid 41. The flap 54 is generally V-shaped in transverse crosssection with an upper wall 57 lying flush with the upper surface of the lid 41 when the flap is closed and projecting vertically upwardly of the lid when the flap is open. A projection 58 on the upper wall 57 enables the flap to be opened manually, if required.

The lower wall 59 of the flap is angled downwardly from the horizontal when the flap is open, at an angle whereby the inside of the bin, and thereby the contents in the bag 44, are concealed from the user.

The open position of the flap 54 is also determined so that the flap closes by gravity after the user has deposited a waste item onto the lower wall of the flap.

For normal opening of the flap 54, there is provided a similar drive means to that employed in the previous embodiment. Housed in a casing 74 attached inside the lid 41 there is provided an electric motor 60 operated by batteries 61. The motor 60 drives output shaft 63 via gear box 62. A pinion 64 is mounted on the output shaft 63 by an intermediate drive coupling in the form of a unidirectional clutch 65, and is held on the shaft by a star lock 75.

The pinion 64 meshes with a toothed quadrant 70 attached to a side wall of the flap 54. Rotation of the pinion by the motor 60 thereby opens the flap. The clutch 65 is an interruptor mechanism which is capable of disconnecting the pinion 64 to allow the pinion to rotate relative to the shaft 63 in the direction in which the flap opens. The pinion can thus override the motor 60, if necessary, and allow the user to open the flap manually by means of the projection 58.

As in the previous embodiment, sensing means 66 (Figure 11) are provided for detecting the proximity of the user's hand, the sensing means activating the motor 60 to open the flap 64. The proximity sensing means 66 comprises an LED transmitter 67 and a receiver 68 mounted in the top of the casing 64 for the drive means and positioned beneath a cover 69 in the lid 41. A pulse signal from the transmitter 67 is reflected to the receiver 68 thereby activating the motor 60 to open the flap 54 when the user's hand is in close proximity to the sensing means, whereby the user is not required to touch the flap.

In use, the base container 40 of the waste bin is provided with an inner bag 44, if desired. The lid 41 is fitted onto the base container with the flap 54 closed. When the user requires to deposit a waste item, the sensing means 66 detects the proximity of the user's hand and actuates the motor 60 to rotate the pinion 64 to open the flap 54. After a short time delay whilst the motor power is maintained, to allow the user to drop the waste item onto the lower wall 59 of the flap 54, the flap closes under gravity, against the resistance of the gear head and the back emf of the motor. The motor 60 thereby acts as a brake so that the closing movement of the flap is controlled, and the waste item is deposited into the bag 44.

Figure 12 shows an alternative drive means for the flap 54 in which the motor 60 and gear box 62 has an output shaft 76 with a longitudinal flat 77. The hub 78 of the pinion 64 has a corresponding D-shaped bore 79 for mounting the pinion directly on the shaft 76 in fixed driving relation in both directions. In this embodiment, the gear ratio of the gear box 62 is sufficiently low to allow rotation of the pinion 64 to drive the motor 60 when the flap is opened manually by the user, e.g. after a failure of the motor, the batteries or the sensing means. The clutch 65 or similar interruptor drive coupling can then be omitted The invention is not restricted to the specific details of the embodiments described above. For example, the bin may be any bin having a closure flap, and is not necessarily a waste bin. Also, the flap instead of pivoting may be mounted for sliding movement between its open and closed positions, the drive means being adapted accordingly. In this case, the pinion driven by the motor may drive a second pinion on the flap via an intermediate rack.

Claims (15)

1. A bin having a base container, a lid at or on top of the base container, the lid being movable between open and closed positions, wherein drive means are provided for opening the lid, the drive means being actuated by an electric motor, and wherein the drive means includes a pinion for rotation by the motor and a drive connection between the pinion and the flap, whereby rotation of the pinion by the motor opens the flap, and wherein at least the pinion can be rotated in the lid opening direction without actuating the motor, thereby allowing the lid to be opened manually in the event of failure of the motor to actuate the drive means.

2. A bin as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the drive means includes an interruptor mechanism which is capable of disconnecting the pinion in the lid opening direction, whereby the lid can be opened manually without driving the motor.

3. A bin as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the interruptor mechanism is a unidirectional clutch.

4. A bin as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the pinion is mounted for rotation by the motor output shaft, with gear means in driving engagement with the pinion and connected to the lid, and wherein the unidirectional clutch is mounted in driving/nondriving relation between the motor output shaft and the pinion.

5. A bin claimed in Claim 1, wherein the pinion is mounted in fixed driving relation with the output shaft of the motor and associated gear means, the gear ratio of said gear means being sufficiently low to allow rotation of the pinion to drive the motor, and thereby allow the lid to be opened manually.

6. A bin as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lid is closed by a spring.

7. A bin as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the lid is closed by gravity.

8. A bin as claimed in Claim 6 or Claim 7, wherein the lid back drives the motor, whilst the lid closes, the motor thereby acting as a brake.

9. A bin as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bin is a waste bin for depositing waste items.

10. A bin as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lid is mounted for pivoting movement between open and closed positions.

11. A bin as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the lid is a flap which is pivotally mounted on a support frame at or on top of a base container, the frame defining an aperture through which items are deposited into the base container below, when the flap is opened.

12. A bin as claimed in Claim 11, wherein the flap is V-shaped whereby the flap is adapted to conceal the contents within the container in the open position of the flap.

13. A bin as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including sensing means for operating the motor to open the lid, the sensing means detecting the proximity of the user's hand in relation to the lid whereby the user is not required to touch the lid.

14. A bin as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lid has a projection for at least assisting the user to open the lid manually.

15. A bin substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.