Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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APPARATUS FOR PACKAGLNG OBJECTS TO BE DISPOSED OF
INTO POUCHES FORMED ALONG A TUBE OF PLASTIC MATERIAL
BACKGROUNp OF THE INVENTION
a) Field of the invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for packaging objects
to be disposed of into pouches formed along a tube of plastic material.
1 o More specifically, the invention relates to an apparatus for use to
package waste material like, for example, babies' disposable diapers, into
individual pouches formed along a tube of flexible plastic material and to
store
the so packaged waste material in an hygienic and odor-free manner, until it
is
collected.
However, it is worth mentioning that the invention is not exclusively
restricted to the disposal of waste material. As a matter of fact, it can be
used
for the disposal of any kind of objects that should be kept into separate
pouches.
b) Brief description of the prior art
2 o Apparatuses of the above mentioned type for use to package a
waste material in such a manner as to reduce to a maximum extent the escape
of bad odors, are already known. By way of non-restrictive examples, reference
can be made to U.S. patent No. 3,452,368 of 1969 (COOPER) and Canadian
patent No. 1,298,191 of 1992 (RICHARDS et al).
2 5 These known apparatuses basically comprise a container having an
open or openable upper portion in which the waste to tie disposed of may be
inserted and a bottom portion in which the disposed waste are stored. A ring-
shaped cassette is mounted in the upper portion of the container, for use to
store in a pleated form, a tube of flexible plastic material into which the
waste
3 o material may be inserted and stored.
In use, the waste to be disposed of is inserted into the tube at the
upper portion of the container and the tube and waste are then pushed through
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the open center of the cassette towards the bottom portion of the container
for
storage purpose. Means are also provided for closing the tube below the
cassette and thus preventing bad odor from escaping from the tube during
storage.
In Canadian patent No. 1,298,191, these means are disclosed as a
core that can be turned by a lid about a cylinder in order to twist the tube
at
regular intervals to form successive "pouches" that are kept sealed while they
are stored.
1o SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus of the
above mentioned type, wherein the means for closing the tube at regular
intervals comprises a pair of opposite rotatable members between which the
tube is inserted, said rotatable members comprising a plurality of opposite
bars
extending transversely to the tube in order to squeeze the tube, keep it
closed
until other objects to be disposed of are inserted into the upper portion of
the
container; and pull it down whenever desired.
Of course, means are also provided for actuating the rotatable
members in unison and in opposite direction to achieve the requested
2 o squeezing, closing and pulling down of the tube.
Thus, the present invention is directed to an apparatus for packaging
objects to be disposed of into corresponding pouches formed along a tube made
of a flexible plastic material, which apparatus comprises
-a container having an upper portion, a medium portion and a bottom
2 5 portion;
-a ring-shaped cassette mounted in the upper portion of the
container for storing the tube of flexible plastic material in a compacted
form and
allowing it to be pulled from the cassette and passed through the same towards
the medium and bottom portions of the container in order to receive and store
3 o the objects to be disposed while they are inserted into the upper portion
of the
container; and
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-a squeezing device mounted in the medium portion of the container
below the cassette to pull the tube from the cassette and move it down
together
with the objects inserted into the container towards the bottom portion of the
container for storage purpose.
In accordance with the invention, the squeezing device comprises
--a pair of opposite rotatable members between which the tube is
inserted, said rotatable members comprising a plurality of opposite
bars extending transversely to the tube in order to squeeze the tube,
keep it closed until other objects to be disposed of are inserted into
1 o the upper portion of the container; and pull it down to move the tube
and the objects contained therein towards the bottom portion of the
container for storage purpose, and
--means for actuating the rotatable members in unison and in
opposite direction to achieve the requested squeezing, closing and
pulling down of the tube.
Preferably, the rotatable members also comprise elongated cushions
made of compressible material. Each of these cushions extend adjacent to one
of the opposite bars below the same so as to apply a pressure onto the tube
before the tube is squeezed and closed by the bars. As a result, a vacuum is
2 o generated within the tube before this tube is squeezed, such a vacuum
keeping
the tube closed once it is squeezed.
The invention and its advantages will be better understood upon
reading the following non-restrictive description of a preferred embodiment
thereof, made with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus for packaging objects
to be disposed according to the invention, in closed position;
Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the apparatus in open
3 o position;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of parts of the upper and medium
portions of the apparatus in open position, showing the device mounted below
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the cassette ready to pull the tube contained therein;
Figure 4 is a perspective view similar to Figure 3, showing the way
the cover of the container acts as an operating means to operate the device
for
pulling the tube;
s Figure 5 is a perspective view similar to Figure 3 showing the same
parts of the apparatus when the same is in closed position; and
Figure 6 is a perspective view similar to Figure 4, showing the same
parts of the apparatus when the same is in closed position.
1o DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The apparatus 1 according to the preferred embodiment of the
invention as shown in the corresponding drawings is intended to be used for
packaging objects to be disposed of into corresponding pouches 5 formed along
a tube 3 made of a flexible plastic material.
1 s As is shown, the apparatus 1 comprises a container 7 having an
upper portion 9, a medium portion 11 and a bottom portion 13.
A ring-shaped cassette (not shown) is mounted in the upper portion
9 of the container for storing the tube 3 of flexible plastic material in a
pleated
form and allowing it to be pulled from the cassette and passed through the
same
2 o towards the medium and bottom portions 11 and 13 of the container (see
Figure
5) in order to receive and store the objects to be disposed while they are
inserted into an opening 15 provided for this purpose in the upper portion of
the
container (see Figure 2). For further information on the structure that may
have
such a cassette, reference can be made to the above mentioned U.S. and
25 Canadian patents. Reference can also be made to U.S. patent No. 4,934,529
(RICHARDS et al).
A squeezing device is also mounted in the medium portion 11 of the
container 3 below the cassette to pull the tube 3 from the cassette and move
it
down together with the objects inserted therein towards the bottom portion 13
3 o for storage purpose. As is shown in the drawings, the squeezing device
comprises a pair of opposite rotatable members 17, 19 between which the tube
is inserted. These rotatable member 17, 19 comprise a plurality of opposite
bars
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21 that extends transversely to the tube 13 in order to squeeze it (see
Figures
3 and 5), to keep it closed until other objects to be disposed of are inserted
into
the upper portion of the container; and to pull it down to move the tube and
the
objects contained therein towards the bottom portion 13 of the container 3 for
5 storage purpose.
In the illustrated embodiment, each of the rotatable members 17, 19
comprises two loops 21 that extend in parallel relationship in two vertical
planes
and between which the opposite bars 21 extend. However, such is just a
preferred embodiment. Indeed, rotatable the members 17, 19 could be of
1 o different structure such as, for example, like the one of a paddle wheel.
Of course, guiding means 27 are provided into the medium portion
of the container for receiving and guiding the loops 29.
As is shown in the drawings, the loops 29 of the rotatable members
are shaped so that the rotatable members may together form a vertical channel
through which the tube 3 passes. Moreover, the bars 21 of the rotatable
members are attached onto the corresponding loops 29 in such a manner that
when one pair of these opposite bars 21 squeeze the tube on top of the
channel, then another pair of the opposite bars 21 squeezes the same tube at
the bottom of the channel (see again Figures 3 and 5).
2 o The squeezing device mentioned hereinabove must, of course, also
comprise means for actuating the rotatable members '17, 19 in unison and in
opposite direction to achieve the requested squeezing, closing and pulling
down
of the tube 3. In the illustrated embodiment, these means are part of a
closure
lid 23 used to close the opening 15 in the upper portion of the container.
This closure lid 23 is slidably movable up and down and comprises
a projecting element 25 positioned to engage at least one the opposite bars 21
and push it down when the lid 23 is pushed down, thereby causing actuation
both of the rotatable members 17, 19 (see the arrows in Figure 4).
As shown in Figures 3 and 5 of the drawings, the rotatable members
3 0 17, 19 may also comprise elongated cushions 31 made of compressible
material. Each of the cushions extends adjacent to one of the opposite bars 21
below the same to apply a pressure onto the tube 3 before this tube is
squeezed
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and closed by the bars 21 in the form of pouches. As a result, a vacuum is
generated within each pouch formed within the tube before the tube is
squeezed. Such a vacuum in turn keeps the corresponding pouch closed once
it is squeezed.
s Of course, numerous modifications could be made to the preferred
embodiments disclosed hereinabove without departing from the scope of the
invention as defined in the accompanying claims.
