FR2728878A1 - Procedure for disposal and recycling of empty glass e.g. glass bottles and jars - Google Patents

Abstract

The glass bottles (7) are collected in a container (10) mounted on an automobile vehicle (2). Initially, the glass is held in a reserve container (3), situated near a public road, or area. The vehicle carries a vacuum system (12), with a suction pipe (8,9) for connection inside the reserve container, to suck the glass into the vehicle container, without moving the container. The reserve container may have a base (5) tapering to its lowest point (6), to which is connected the suction pipe. It may have a roof (1a) covering a relatively large aperture (13), open to atmosphere. Also, it may have calibrated openings (4) for bottle entry and a height detector, for glass level in the container.

Description

METHOD FOR EMPTYING GLASS COLLECTION CONTAINERS,
CONTAINER FOR IMPLEMENTING THIS PROCESS AND ASSEMBLY
INCLUDING SUCH A CONTAINER.

 The present invention relates to the methods of emptying glass collection containers, the containers for implementing this method, and the assemblies including such containers.

 Usually to collect the used glass in order to recycle it, we use containers which are placed on the public highway and in which everyone can come and deposit their empty bottles or other glass objects.

 At regular time intervals, each container is emptied into a dump truck which is provided with lifting means for lifting the container and placing it above the dump, the container having a retractable bottom which opens above the container to empty the glass it contains.

This method of collecting used glass has many drawbacks, among which the following may be mentioned
- the emptying operation of the container is relatively dangerous, since it involves lifting the container filled with glass to a height of several meters, which can cause accidents if the container is struck by an object or a person during its handling, or possibly in the event of the container falling or in the event of its bottom opening prematurely,
- because of these dangers, it would be desirable to take special precautions when emptying the container, for example by marking out the portion of the public thoroughfare where the container is handled, but these precautions lead to a significant loss of time for the staff responsible for emptying the container,
- handling of the container, by generally hydraulic lifting means, is delicate and requires qualified personnel,
the container, owing to the fact that it has to be lifted and possibly to undergo impacts during its handling, must above all be robust and cannot have an aesthetic exterior appearance,
- the fact that it must be robust, the container is heavy and expensive,
- And the whole operation of emptying the containers is relatively long.

 The present invention aims in particular to overcome these drawbacks.

 To this end, the subject of the invention is a method for collecting used glass objects in a receptacle which is mounted on a motor vehicle, these glass objects being initially arranged inside a glass collection tank in a container which is located in the vicinity of a traffic lane, this process being essentially characterized in that it consists in connecting the interior of the container, by a suction hose, to a powerful suction system mounted on the vehicle, and thereby suck glass objects into the receptacle of the vehicle without moving the container.

 Thanks to these provisions, the emptying of the container no longer requires a lifting operation, and this emptying is safe, simple and quick to implement. In addition, the container which no longer has to be lifted when it is full and which no longer risks being subjected to impacts as large as in the prior art, can be lighter, less expensive and have an aesthetic external appearance.

In preferred embodiments of the method according to the invention, use is also made of one and / or the other of the following arrangements
- the glass collection tank has a bottom converging towards a low point and this low point is placed in communication with the suction system via the suction pipe
- The suction pipe has a movable section as well as a fixed section which is integral with the container and which communicates permanently with the low point of the glass collection tank, the step of corrrturiication of said low point with the system suction consisting in connecting the movable section of the suction pipe between the suction system and the fixed section of said suction pipe.

 The present invention also relates to a container for collecting used glass objects, intended to implement the above method, this container having at least one calibrated opening for the reception of glass objects in a container for collecting glass, characterized in that the glass collection tank has a bottom converging towards a low point and in that a rigid suction pipe integral with the container extends between an upstream end which communicates with the low point of the glass collection tank and a downstream end which communicates with the outside of the container, the upstream end having a funnel shape and the downstream end forming an air connector intended to be connected to a suction system to empty the container without moving it, the suction hose having a diameter at least equal to twenty centimeters.

In preferred embodiments of the container according to the invention, use is also made of one and / or the other of the following arrangements
- the upstream end of the suction pipe has an opening directed at least partially upwards
- the container also comprises a roof provided with a large section opening which communicates the interior of the glass collection tank with the atmosphere
- the low point of the glass collection tank forms a permeable part located above a juice collection tank, this juice collection tank having a sloping bottom towards a low area which communicates with the outside of the container via a conduit integral with said container
- the conduit which communicates the bottom zone of the bottom of the juice collection tank with the exterior of the container is a secondary suction conduit which forms, towards the exterior of the container, an air connector intended to be connected to a system suction to empty the juice collection tank
the container also comprises, inside the glass collection tank, at a level situated above the calibrated opening (s) for receiving glass objects, a sensor for remotely measuring the height reached by the objects in glass inside the glass collection tank
- the container is fixed to the ground in the vicinity of a traffic lane
- the container has a buried part and an emerging part which is situated above ground level and which comprises the calibrated opening (s) for receiving glass objects as well as the downstream end of the suction pipe
- the container is fixed to the ground and integrated into an element of street furniture chosen from the group comprising: information presentation devices, advertising devices, telephone booths, and shelters intended for people waiting for public transport vehicles .

 Furthermore, the subject of the invention is also a shelter intended for people waiting for public transport vehicles, comprising a container as defined above, this shelter being arranged in the vicinity of a traffic lane used by vehicles of public transport expected by the people using the shelter, said shelter comprising a roof which determines a substantially sheltered waiting space having a front side disposed towards the traffic lane and a rear side closed by a rear wall, this rear wall being extended by a rigid and continuous partition wall which projects forward from the rear wall of the waiting space, delimiting a housing in which the container is received, the partition wall extending vertically from the floor to the roof of the shelter and entirely separating the container from the waiting space, the calibrated opening (s) for receiving glass objects and the extrem ity downstream of the suction pipe being accessible from the rear of the shelter.

In preferred embodiments of the shelter according to the invention, use is also made of one and / or the other of the following arrangements
- the partition wall is separated from the container by a free space which has a thickness at least equal to three centimeters
- the partition wall is at least partially made of a sound-absorbing material
the container has a rear part which projects towards the rear of the shelter and which has two opposite faces which are not parallel to the rear wall of the waiting space, each of these two opposite faces comprising at least one calibrated orifice for receiving glass objects
- the shelter extends longitudinally between a first end and a second end and extends transversely over a certain width, the public transport vehicles expected by the users of the shelter traveling in a direction going from the first end towards the second end, the partition wall which receives the container being arranged in the vicinity of the second end of the shelter occupying substantially the entire width of this shelter, while the first end of the shelter is transparent over the entire width said shelter
- The partition wall at least partially supports the roof of the shelter.

 Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear during the following detailed description of two of its embodiments, given by way of nonlimiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

On the drawings
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the glass collection method according to the invention and showing a glass collection container according to a first embodiment of the invention,
FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a glass collection container according to a second embodiment of the invention, integrated in a waiting shelter for bus users,
- and Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of the glass collection container of Figure 2.

 In the different figures, the same references designate identical or similar elements.

 The glass collection container 1 shown schematically in FIG. 1 is generally placed on a public road, near a traffic lane accessible to a truck 2 allowing the emptying of this container.

 Conventionally, the container 1 is externally in the form of a rigid box which internally delimits a glass collection tank 3 in which the users can come and deposit empty bottles 7 or other used glass objects, through 4 calibrated orifices. In the example of Figure 1, the container 1 is placed on the ground, being further possibly fixed to the ground.

 The orifices 4 prevent the deposition of excessively large objects inside the tank 3, and may possibly be closable with plastic or rubber lids.

 The glass collecting tank 3 has a bottom 5 converging towards a low point 6.

 Furthermore, in order to be able to empty the glass 7 contained in the glass collecting tank 3, the container 1 also comprises a rigid and fixed suction pipe 8, which extends between on the one hand an upstream end 8a which communicates with the reservoir 3 in the vicinity of the low point 6, and on the other hand a downstream end 8b which communicates with the outside of the container.

 The upstream end 8a preferably has a funnel shape the opening of which is directed obliquely upwards and which is arranged on the side of the bottom point 6 of the reservoir 3.

 The downstream end 8b is provided with an air connector to which can be connected a movable pipe 9 preferably flexible belonging to the truck 2. The downstream end 8b is preferably closed by a cover which is removed to connect the flexible hose 9.

 The flexible pipe 9 and the fixed pipe 8, downstream of its upstream end 8a in a funnel, can for example have an internal diameter at least equal to twenty centimeters, preferably between 20 and 35 centimeters, advantageously of the order of 25 centimeters.

Optionally, this diameter could even be less than 20 centimeters, for example of the order of 15 to 20 centimeters.

 The truck 2 may include a bucket 10 which delimits a closed interior space 11 communicating on the one hand with the flexible pipe 9, and on the other hand with a powerful suction device 12 which puts the space 11 under vacuum.

 Thus, during the operation of the suction device 12, the used glass 7 contained in the glass collecting tank 3 is sucked with air into the bucket 10, via the pipes 8 and 9.

 Advantageously, the bucket 10 of the truck 2 can be tiltable in the direction 10a, the bucket 10 having at the rear an opening wall 10b, which allows, when the time comes, to empty the bucket 10 by tilting after opening the wall 10b .

 During the suction of the glass, air enters the reservoir 3 through the orifices 4.

 Preferably, the container 1 also comprises an air inlet 13, advantageously located on the roof 1a of this container and preferably out of the reach of passers-by.

This air inlet 13 has a relatively large section, so that there is a relatively low vacuum in the tank 3 above the used glass 7.

 This avoids too high air flows in the orifices 4, which could possibly be troublesome for passers-by located near the container 1 during the aspiration of the glass, and the speed of entry of air is also limited. by the orifices 4 and the air inlet 13, which reduces the noise generated by the suction of the glass.

 Preferably, the air inlet 13 is surrounded by a raised edge 13a and covered by a cover 13b maintained at a certain distance above the edge 13a by spacers 13c. this prevents rainwater from entering the tank 3.

 Furthermore, the low point 6 of the reservoir 3 is advantageously constituted by a grid or other permeable wall, to allow the flow of the juices contained in the glass containers deposited in the reservoir 3.

 These juices are collected in a tank 14 located under the grid 6. The tank 14 has a bottom 15 on which feet Sa may optionally support the bottom 5 of the glass collection tank.

 The bottom 15 is sloping towards a low zone 15a which communicates with the upstream end 16a of a secondary suction duct 16 whose downstream end 16b is located outside the container 1 and is provided an air connection. The downstream end 16b can be closed by a cover outside the emptying periods.

 The secondary suction pipe 16 can be connected by its downstream end 16b to a flexible suction pipe 17 connected to a tank 18 in the truck 2, which tank 18 can be put under vacuum by the suction device 12 to suck the juices collected in the tank 14 from said tank 18.

 Alternatively, instead of being connected to the downstream end 16b of the pipe 16, the flexible pipe 17 could have an outside diameter smaller than the inside diameter of the pipe 16, and be introduced into this pipe up to the bottom 15a of the juice collection tank 14.

 In the embodiment shown in Figures 2 and 3, the glass collection container is similar to that already described with reference to Figure 1. This container will therefore not be described again in detail here, and only the differences by report to the container of Figure 1 will be explained.

 This container differs first of all from that of FIG. 1 in that it has a buried part 1b and an emerging part lc. The buried part 1b includes the juice collection tank 14 and a part of the glass collection tank 3. The emerging part includes the downstream ends 8b and 16b of the suction pipe 8 and of the secondary suction pipe 16, the calibrated orifices 4, and the air inlet 13.

This semi-buried arrangement of the container makes it possible to use a container of greater height, therefore of greater volume than the containers of the prior art, and it also makes it possible to reduce the noise generated by the emptying of the container or the spillage of glass objects in the container -
Furthermore, in this embodiment, a sensor 19 can optionally be fixed under the roof 1a of the container, inside the glass collecting tank 3, for remotely measuring the height reached by the accumulation of glass collecting 7 inside the tank 3. Such a sensor could of course be provided in the embodiment of FIG. 1.

 The sensor 19 can advantageously consist of an ultrasonic sensor capable of measuring the free height h which separates it from the surface of the pile of collected glass 7, which makes it possible to know the height of this pile by difference with the total height of the tank 3.

 The sensor 19 can optionally be connected to a remote transmission means 19a such as a radio transmitter or the like, for transmitting to a centralized control station information relating to the amount of glass collected in the tank 3.

 For example, a message can be sent to the centralized control station as soon as the collection of collected glass 7 in the tank 3 reaches a predetermined height, that is to say as soon as the free height h becomes less than a predetermined value , in which case a truck 2 is sent promptly to empty the container 1.

 Furthermore, the container 1 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 has the particularity of being integrated in a shelter 20 intended for people waiting for public transport vehicles, in particular buses, this shelter being able to be of the kind of those designated under abribusz name (registered trademark).

 The shelter 20 conventionally comprises a roof 21 supported in part by uprights 22.

 The shelter 20 extends longitudinally parallel to a roadway 23, between a first end 20a and a second end 20b. The direction of movement 24 of the vehicles on the roadway 23, immediately in front of the shelter 20, is directed from the first end 20a to the second end 20b.

 The shelter 20 defines a substantially sheltered waiting space which has a front side 20c open and directed towards the roadway 23, and a rear side closed by a wall 20d generally glazed.

 The container 1 is preferably arranged at the second end 20b of the shelter, occupying substantially the entire width of this second end, and extending substantially from the front side 20c of the waiting space towards the rear up to beyond the rear wall 20d.

 Thanks to this arrangement, the container 1 is well integrated into the urban landscape, and it is arranged in the shelter 20 so as not to interfere with the vision of the people who are waiting for public transport vehicles inside the shelter and watching vehicles arriving in the direction 24 on the roadway 23 through the first end 20a of the shelter, glass or open.

 The calibrated openings 4 for receiving glass objects are located behind the closed rear side 20d of the shelter, so that people waiting for a bus in the shelter are not bothered by those who come to throw glass objects in the container 1, or by any unpleasant odors emanating from the orifices 4.

 In addition, when the container 1 is integrated into such a shelter 20 intended for people waiting for public transport vehicles, the emptying of the container by suction is particularly advantageous on the one hand for the safety that it provides by avoiding lifting of the container above the shelter 20, and on the other hand for its speed, which makes it possible to interfere as little as possible with the traffic on the roadway 23 and with the parking of buses or other public transport vehicles in front of the shelter 20. The downstream ends 8b and 16b of the suction pipe and the secondary suction pipe are of course located at the rear of the container 1.

 Preferably, the container 1 is bordered forwards by a rigid and solid wall 25 which follows the contour of the container and which extends from the ground to the roof 21 of the shelter, this wall 25 preferably connecting joined to the rear wall 20b of the shelter.

 This rigid wall is preferably separated from the container 1 by a free space 26 forming an air space which has a width which can for example be at least three centimeters for the purpose of soundproofing, and it advantageously further comprises a soundproofing material, in particular projected onto its rear faces: thus, the users of shelter 20 are not bothered by the noise generated by the emptying of the container or the pouring of glass objects into the container.

 Advantageously, the container 1 is itself soundproofed, the walls of this container comprising a soundproofing material and / or the general conformation of this container being adapted to attenuate the noises generated by falling glass bottles.

 In addition, the wall 25 can advantageously participate in supporting the roof 21 of the shelter.

 Advantageously, the rear part of the container 1, which projects towards the rear of the shelter 20, has two opposite faces îd not parallel to the rear wall 20d, and these two faces ld each have a calibrated orifice 4 for receiving glass objects with possibly visual indications to inform the public about the nature and use of the glass collection container.

 This improves the ventilation of the container 1, and makes the holes 4 visible, especially when the shelter 20 is located on a fairly narrow sidewalk where only the sides of the container are visible from a distance.

 It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments which have just been described; on the contrary, it embraces all variants, and in particular those in which the glass collection container is wholly or mainly buried, with the exception of at least the downstream end 8b of the suction pipe, the downstream end 16b of the secondary suction duct, and at least one air inlet.

Claims (18)

 1. Method for collecting used glass objects (7) in a receptacle (10) which is mounted on a motor vehicle (2), these glass objects being initially placed inside a collection tank (3) of glass in a container (1) which is located in the vicinity of a traffic lane (23), this method being characterized in that it consists in connecting the interior (3) of the container, by a suction pipe (8, 9), to a powerful suction system (12) mounted on the vehicle, and thus to suck glass objects in the receptacle of the vehicle without moving the container.  2. Method according to claim 1, in which the glass collection tank (3) has a bottom (5) converging towards a low point (6), and in which this low point is placed in communication with the suction system (12) via the suction pipe (8, 9).  3. Method according to claim 2, wherein the suction pipe comprises a movable section (9) and a fixed section (8) which is integral with the container and which communicates permanently with the bottom point (6) of the tank glass collection, the step of placing said low point in communication with the suction system (12) consisting in connecting the movable section (9) of the suction pipe between the suction system (12) and the section fixed (8) of the suction pipe.  4. Container (1) for collecting used glass objects (7) for implementing a method according to any one of the preceding claims, this container having at least one opening (4) calibrated for the reception of glass objects in a glass collecting tank (3), characterized in that the glass collecting tank (3) has a bottom (5) converging towards a low point (6) and in that a pipe suction (8) rigid and integral with the container relaxes between an upstream end (8a) which communicates with the low point (6) of the glass collection tank and a downstream end (8b) which communicates with the outside of the container, the upstream end (8a) having a funnel shape and the downstream end (8b) forming an air connector intended to be connected to a suction system (12) for emptying the container (1 ) without moving it, the suction pipe having a diameter at least equal to twenty centimeters.  5. Container according to claim 4, wherein the upstream end (8a) of the suction pipe has an opening directed at least partially upwards.  6. Container according to any one of claims 4 and 5, further comprising a roof (la) provided with an opening (13) of large section which communicates the interior of the glass collection tank (3) with the 'atmosphere.  7. Container according to any one of claims 4 to 6, in which the low point (6) of the tank (3) for collecting glass forms a permeable part situated above a tank (14) for collecting juice, this juice collection tank having a bottom (15) sloping towards a low zone (15a) which communicates with the outside of the container via a conduit (16) integral with said container.  8. Container according to claim 7, in which the conduit (16) which communicates the lower zone (15a) of the bottom of the tank (14) for collecting juice with the outside of the container is a secondary suction conduit which forms , towards the outside of the container, an air connector (16b) intended to be connected to a suction system (12) for emptying the juice collection tank.  9. Container according to any one of claims 4 to 8, further comprising inside the tank (3) for collecting glass, at a level situated above the calibrated opening (s) (4) for receiving glass objects, a sensor (19) for remotely measuring the height reached by glass objects (7) inside the glass collection tank.  10. Container according to any one of claims 4 to 9, fixed to the ground in the vicinity of a traffic lane (23).  11. Container according to claim 10, having a buried part (lb) and an emerging part (lc) which is situated above ground level and which comprises the calibrated opening (s) (4) for receiving glass objects as well than the downstream end (8b) of the suction pipe.  12. Container according to any one of claims 4 to 11, fixed to the ground and integrated into an element of street furniture (20) chosen from the group comprising: information presentation devices, advertising devices, telephone boxes, and shelters for people waiting for public transport vehicles.  13. Shelter (20) intended for people waiting for transport vehicles in cosnun, comprising a container (1) according to claim 12, this shelter being arranged in the vicinity of a traffic lane (23) used by transport vehicles in common expected by people using the shelter, said shelter comprising a roof (21) which determines a substantially sheltered waiting space having a front side (20c) disposed towards the traffic lane (23) and a rear side closed by a rear wall (20d), this rear wall (20d) being extended by a rigid and continuous partition wall (25) which projects forward from the rear wall (20d) of the waiting space, delimiting a housing in which the container (1) is received, the partition wall (25) extending vertically from the ground to the roof of the shelter and completely separating the container (1) from the waiting space, the one or more calibrated orifices (4) for receiving the object TS glass and the downstream end (8b) of the suction pipe being accessible from the rear of the shelter (20).  14. Shelter according to claim 13, wherein the partition wall (25) is separated from the container (1) by a free space (26) which has a thickness at least equal to three centimeters.  15. Shelter according to any one of claims 13 and 14, wherein the partition wall (25) is at least partially made of a sound-absorbing material.  16. Shelter according to any one of claims 13 to 15, in which the container (1) has a rear part which projects towards the rear of the shelter and which has two opposite faces (nest) not parallel to the wall rear (20d) of the waiting space, each of these two opposite faces comprising at least one calibrated orifice (4) for receiving glass objects.  17. Shelter according to any one of claims 13 to 16, extending longitudinally between a first end (20a) and a second end (20b) and extending transversely over a certain width, the public transport vehicles expected by the users of the shelter traveling in a direction (24) which goes from the first end towards the second end, the partition wall (25) which receives the container (1) being arranged in the vicinity of the second end (20b) of the shelter occupying substantially the entire width of this shelter, while the first end (20a) of the shelter is transparent over the entire width of said shelter.  18. Shelter according to any one of claims 13 to 17, in which the partition wall (25) at least partially supports the roof (21) of the shelter.