DE29909417U1 - Collection container, in particular for organic waste and all odor-causing waste - Google Patents

Description

Dipl.-Chem. EL FRITZ 99/280

Dr. Dipl.-Phys. R. BASFELD June 1, 1999/EF/Ni

Patent attorneys Mühlenberg 74 59759 Arnsberg

company

Hailo factory

Rudolf Loh GmbH & Co. KG

Daimlerstrasse

35708 Haiger

"Collection containers especially for organic waste and all odorous waste"

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The present invention relates to a collection container, in particular for organic waste and all odorous waste, in which a replaceable biofilter material is arranged in the area of the container lid, comprising microorganisms for the decomposition of odorous gases according to the preamble of claim 1.

Collection containers for organic waste of the type mentioned above are known from the state of the art. For example, EP 0597282 B1 describes a collection container for organic waste, which is intended for outdoor use. These collection containers are also known as so-called bio-bins. In these bio-bins, the waste materials are either thermophilically and aerobically composted and sometimes fermented under anaerobic conditions with the exclusion of air. The corresponding enzymes can be housed in the container lid. In order to maintain the enzymatic activity of this biofilter material, a certain moisture content is generally required.

However, this is not a problem with the above-mentioned outdoor bio-waste bins, as day/night temperature fluctuations regularly result in condensation, which moistens the bio-filter material. However, the microorganisms only have a limited lifespan, so after a while it is necessary to replace the bio-filter material.

In the above-mentioned state of the art, the biofilter material in the outer area partially rests on support devices that can be folded down when the biofilter material is to be replaced, i.e. removed from the lid. However, this means that the user usually has to grasp the biofilter material by hand and remove it during the replacement process. This is questionable from a hygienic point of view.

EP 0216734 A2 also describes a waste container in which a type of

Biofilter material is arranged to prevent odorous gases. For example, partially open containers for the biofilter material are provided on the underside of the lid so that the latter can be removed after it has been used up. For example, pivoting means are provided on the lid of the collection container to create an opening to the container in which the biofilter material is located so that it can then be removed. The container in which the biofilter material is located is always part of the lid of the collection container. This means that the used biofilter material itself may have to be removed from its container by hand in order to dispose of it.

A similar state of the art is described in the utility model DE 296 13 202 Ul. In this case too, a corresponding biofilter material can be removed from the lid of a waste collection container by removing a base plate of the container in which the biofilter material is located. However, there is no provision for the biofilter material to be in a separate container that can be removed from the lid of the collection container with the biofilter material inside.

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a collection container for organic waste of the type mentioned at the outset, in which the removal of the biofilter material for replacement is simplified in handling, in particular is possible without coming into contact with the used biofilter material itself.

The solution to this problem is provided by an inventive collection container for organic waste of the type mentioned at the outset with the characterizing features of the main claim.

According to the invention, the biofilter material is housed in a substrate container which is arranged in the lid of the collecting container and can be replaced.

To replace the biofilter material, the operator can simply remove the substrate container from the lid of the collection container, dispose of it and replace it with a new substrate container containing fresh biofilter material.

According to the invention, a separate substrate container is inserted into the recess in the lid of the collecting container and is detachably secured there, for example via locking elements or the like. According to a preferred embodiment, these locking elements can be locking projections, for example, which are formed on one or more of the side walls of the substrate container and which can preferably be locked behind the edge of the recess in the lid of the collecting container. The solution according to the invention therefore has the advantage in any case that one does not come into contact with the biofilter material itself when replacing it.

According to a preferred development of the invention, this replaceable substrate container is made of a biodegradable plastic, for example a polylactide, a biopolymer material based on starch, corn, soy or the like. This makes replacing the biofilter material particularly easy, since the substrate container does not have to be emptied, but can be composted along with its contents, since the substrate container itself is biodegradable.

0 As already mentioned above, in order to maintain the functions of the microorganisms in the biofilter material, moistening is usually required. As far as outdoor containers are concerned, this is not a problem. However, the present invention also relates to 5 collection containers for organic waste for indoor use, i.e. those which are placed in the home, for example in a kitchen under the sink or in similar places, and which are used to collect organic waste. Because of the moisture content in the indoor area,

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Given the largely constant temperature, automatic humidification by condensate is not possible and humidification by rainwater is also not possible. It is therefore generally necessary to moisten the biofilter material from time to time. It is useful to indicate to the operator in a suitable manner when such moistening must take place. For this purpose, within the scope of the present invention, according to a preferred embodiment, the substrate container is either made of a largely transparent material or has at least one transparent inspection glass.

Furthermore, an indicator can then preferably be provided in or on the substrate container, which indicates a decrease in the moisture content of the biofilter material below a predetermined limit value. The indicator can be viewed through the transparent sight glass or the transparent material of the substrate container. For example, such an indicator can show a color change or the like.

According to a preferred development, the substrate container according to the invention can contain, in addition to or as an alternative to the above-mentioned indicator for the moisture content, an indicator which indicates that the activity of the microorganisms is too low and/or that the lifespan of the microorganisms has reached its end. Such an indicator shows the operator that the biofilter material must now be replaced with fresh material, i.e. the operator takes out the substrate container and replaces it with a new one.

A preferred variant of the invention provides that the substrate container has an edge and can be inserted with this edge into a groove or rail on the underside of the lid of the collecting container.

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According to another alternative variant, the substrate container can also be inserted from above into a correspondingly dimensioned recess in the lid of the collection container. Furthermore, this recess and the substrate container itself are preferably designed with standardized dimensions that are as independent as possible of the shape and size of the lid and the collection container itself. This means that uniform substrate containers can be used for all types and sizes of existing collection containers, which always fit into the lid, so that retailers only have to keep one type of size-standardized substrate container for all types of collection containers. In principle, within the scope of the invention, the same substrate container can be used not only for indoor use but also for outdoor use, i.e. the so-called organic waste bin. The use for indoor use, i.e. the generally smaller household organic waste collection container, is merely preferred. The use for all stationary waste collectors is also possible.

According to a preferred development of the invention, the substrate container can be equipped with a raised, peripheral edge on the top in the outer area, which serves as a water edge and/or a trough-shaped depression is provided in a lid of the substrate container. With such a structural design of the substrate container, water can be poured onto the lid of the substrate container to moisten the biofilter material, preventing it from running outwards and the water then reaches the substrate container via corresponding openings, perforations or the like in the lid.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the substrate container can also be provided with a lid formed on a film hinge or the like, so that the lid can be opened if one wants to gain access to the biofilter material, for example in order to

to moisten it or to place a bag containing fresh dry substrate into the substrate container.

Further advantages of the invention emerge from the detailed description below. The features mentioned in the subclaims relate to preferred developments of the invention.

The present invention is described in more detail below using exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 a view of a collecting container according to the invention

for organic waste as an overall view;

Fig. 2 is a perspective exploded view of a

Lid for the collection container with substrate container; 10

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a lid for a collecting container with substrate container according to a variant of the invention;

Fig. 4 a corresponding view with in the lid

inserted substrate container from above;

Fig. 5 a view of the lid of a collecting container with

inserted substrate container from below; 20

Fig. 6 a sectional view through the lid of a

Collection container with inserted substrate container according to a variant of the invention;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of a cover of a

Collection container with inserted substrate container according to a further variant of the invention;

Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a 0 lid of a collecting container with the

Substrate container before inserting into the lid;

Fig. 9 shows a corresponding perspective view of the lid of the collection container with the substrate container inserted.

First, reference is made to Fig. 1.

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The illustration shows a collection container 9 for organic waste with a lid 11 into which a substrate container 13 can be inserted, which contains a biofilter material that absorbs odor emissions from the organic waste.
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Reference is made to Fig. 2 below.

An embodiment of a lid 11 for a collection container according to the invention is shown there. As can be seen, the lid 11 in this case has an approximately central rectangular recess lib, the dimensions of which can be standardized. The recess lib accommodates a substrate container, which is removably inserted there. This substrate container 13 contains the microorganisms whose job it is to eliminate the odor emerging from the collection container (not shown) through the fermentation or composting of the organic waste, by breaking down or reabsorbing the odor-causing gases by the microorganisms. This biofilter material, which the microorganisms form, is therefore located in the substrate container 13. When the lifespan of the microorganisms has expired and the biofilter material has been used up, the operator can remove the substrate container 13 from the lid 11 and dispose of it together with its contents, which generally means composting it. The substrate container 13 is preferably made of a biopolymer, for example a polylactide or a biopolymer based on starch, corn, soy, etc., so that the substrate container 13 itself is biodegradable. This means that the previously usual removal of the biofilter material by hand is no longer necessary. The consumer can then purchase a new substrate container 13 from a retailer that contains fresh biofilter material and then insert this into the recess 11 of the lid 11 of the collecting container, so that the entire replacement process is hygienic.

Fig. 3 shows a perspective exploded view of another alternative embodiment of a

container lid 11 according to the invention for a collecting container, the latter also not being shown here. In this embodiment, the substrate container 13, which is equipped with a removable lid 13d, can be inserted from the underside into a type of rail 11a of the lid 11 of the collecting container. The lid 13d of the substrate container 13 is partially visible from above through the recess 11b in the lid 11. As can also be seen, the lid 11 of the collecting container also has a smaller round recess lic through which the view from above of an indicator 16 is clear, which can be attached, for example, to the lid 13d of the substrate container and by means of which, for example, the moisture content of the biofilter material can be displayed. If, for example, a color change indicates that the moisture content is too low, the user can recognize this and moisten the biofilter material in the substrate container 13, for example by pouring some water into the substrate container 13 through the openings 20 in the lid 13d of the substrate container 13.

In Fig. 4, the lid 11 is shown again with the substrate container 13 pushed in from the bottom, whereby it can be seen that the round recess lic allows a view of the indicator 16 and that the lid 13d of the substrate container 13 with its openings 20 is located in the recess 11b of the lid 11, which preferably has standardized dimensions.

0 Fig. 5 shows the corresponding view of the lid according to the embodiment according to Figs. 3 and 4 from below. Here you can see how the edge of the lid 13d is pushed into a rail 11a of the lid 11, so that the substrate container 13 can be pulled out in a longitudinal direction in which the rail 11a is open, if you want to replace the biofilter material 10 (substrate) or the entire substrate container 13, for example. In Fig. 5 you can see

Furthermore, drip tabs 21 are formed on the underside of the substrate container 13 in a manner known per se.

Reference is made to Fig. 6 below. The illustration shows a section of a lid 11 of a collecting container according to the invention, wherein a substrate container 13 according to the invention according to a variant of the invention is inserted into the recess 11 b. On the underside, the substrate container 13 again has a series of drip noses 21. The substrate container 13 according to Fig. is inserted from above into the recess 11 b, similar to the example shown in Fig. 2. The substrate container 13 according to Fig. 6 is one which has a perforated lid 13d, wherein this lid 13d is formed in an articulated manner on the body of the substrate container 13 via a film hinge 13e. As can be seen from Fig. 6, the lid 13e has a trough-shaped depression 13c compared to the outer edge of the substrate container 13, which serves as a water trough. This means that to moisten the biofilter material 10, water can be poured onto the lid 13d so that it remains on its trough-shaped depression 13c and the outer water edge 13b (splash edge) prevents the water from running out prematurely. The water in the trough-shaped depression 13c can thus get into the interior of the container through the holes 20 and moisten the biofilter material 10. The film hinge 13e allows the lid 13d to be opened on the opposite side and swung upwards. The substrate container 13 can, for example, be one that is deep-drawn from a thin plate-shaped plastic material or a film.

Reference is made to Fig. 7. The illustration 5 shows a similar embodiment of a substrate container 13 according to the invention, although this, somewhat differently than in the previously described embodiment according to Fig. 6, is not inserted into the

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Lid 11 is not inserted but, similarly to the embodiment according to Fig. 3, can be pushed into a rail 11a on the underside of the lid 11. As can be seen in Fig., the edge of the substrate container 13 is guided in the rail 11a. Furthermore, the substrate container 13 according to Fig. 7 is, similar to the embodiment according to Fig. 6, a plastic container that can be deep-drawn from a film, although this in turn can consist of a biodegradable material. Also according to Fig. 7, a trough-shaped depression 13c is provided which takes up the water for moistening the biofilter material 10. Here too, the lid 13d is perforated and can be opened using a film hinge 13e.

A further alternative embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to Figs. 8 and 9. Fig. 8 shows the corresponding exploded view before the substrate container 13 is inserted into the lid 11, the collecting container itself not being shown. The lid here again has a central recess 11b which, for example, has a rectangular outline and preferably has standardized dimensions. In this embodiment, the substrate container 13 can be inserted into this recess 11b from above. As can also be seen in Fig. 8, the substrate container 13 preferably has locking elements 130 on each of two side walls 131, which can, for example, have a triangular cross-section with inclined surfaces on one side which have a comparatively flat incline, so that insertion from above into the recess 11b is made easier. On the back of the locking elements 130, however, there are steeper surfaces that can also run at right angles to the side wall 131 of the substrate container 13 and which then lock behind the edge of the recess 11b of the lid 11, as can be seen from Fig. 9. This locking connection should be such that it can be easily released if necessary. When releasing, the locking projections 130 are pressed slightly inwards, which is achieved by the elasticity of the preferably

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used plastic material for substrate container 13 and lid 11. The substrate container 13 with the biofilter material located therein (not shown in Fig. 9) can then be removed upwards from the lid 11.

Claims (14)

1. Collection container, in particular for organic waste and all odorous waste, in which a replaceable biofilter material is arranged in the region of the container lid, comprising microorganisms for the degradation of odorous gases, wherein means for replacing the used biofilter material are provided on the container lid of the collection container, characterized in that the biofilter material ( 10 ) is accommodated in a separate substrate container ( 13 ) which can be inserted into a recess ( 11b ) in the lid ( 11 ) of the collection container ( 12 ) and can be detachably fastened to the lid ( 11 ), wherein the substrate container ( 13 ) with the biofilter material ( 10 ) located therein can be detached from the lid ( 11 ) of the collection container ( 12 ) for replacement. 2. Collection container for organic waste according to claim 1, characterized in that locking elements ( 130 ) are formed on the substrate container ( 13 ), which can preferably be locked into place on the edge of the recess ( 11 b) of the lid ( 11 ) of the collection container ( 12 ). 3. Collection container for organic waste according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the locking elements ( 130 ) are locking projections which are formed on one or more of the side walls ( 131 ) of the substrate container ( 13 ). 4. Collection container for organic waste according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the substrate container ( 13 ) has its own closable lid with a molded-on recessed grip ( 13d ), which is preferably molded onto the substrate container ( 13 ) via a film hinge ( 13e ). 5. Collection container for organic waste according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the recess ( 11b ) in the lid ( 11 ) of the collection container ( 12 ), into which the substrate container ( 13 ) can be inserted, has a rectangular outline. 6. Collection container for organic waste according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the recess ( 11b ) in the lid ( 11 ) of the collection container ( 12 ) into which the substrate container ( 13 ) can be inserted, as well as the substrate container ( 13 ), have standardized dimensions independently of the shape and size of the lid ( 11 ) and the collection container ( 12 ). 7. Collection container for organic waste according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the substrate container has an edge ( 13a ) and can be inserted with this edge into a groove or rail ( 11a ) on the underside of the lid ( 11 ) of the collection container. 8. Collection container for organic waste according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the exchangeable substrate container ( 13 ) consists of a biodegradable plastic. 9. Collection container for organic waste according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the exchangeable substrate container ( 13 ) consists of a plastic material or of a polylactide or a similar compound. 10. Collection container for organic waste according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the exchangeable substrate container ( 13 ) or its lid ( 11 ) consists of a largely transparent material or has at least one transparent sight glass ( 14 ). 11. Collection container for organic waste according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the exchangeable substrate container ( 13 ) can be produced from an at least partially transparent deep-drawn film. 12. Collection container for organic waste according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the biofilter material ( 10 ) contains at least one indicator ( 16 ) which indicates a decrease in the moisture content of the biofilter material ( 10 ) below a predetermined limit value. 13. Collection container for organic waste according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the biofilter material ( 10 ) contains at least one indicator ( 17 ) which indicates insufficient activity of the microorganisms and/or the end of the lifespan of the microorganisms. 14. Collection container for organic waste according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the substrate container ( 13 ) has a raised peripheral edge on the upper side in the outer region, which serves as a water edge ( 13b ) and/or a trough-shaped depression ( 13c ) is provided in a lid ( 13d ) of the substrate container ( 13 ).