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The present invention relates to a waste bin, in
particular, a waste bin, usually known as a sanitary bin,
for material contaminated with body fluid, for example,
sanitary towels and tampons, medical dressings, and
nappies.
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Sanitary bins are provided in public toilets,
primarily for the disposal of sanitary towels and
tampons, although they may also be used for the disposal
of other material contaminated with body fluid. The bins
are emptied periodically, and so act as temporary stores
for the waste material. The storage of such waste can
cause odour problems. Accordingly, an anti-microbial
liquid is usually used to treat the waste stored in
sanitary bins.
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EP-A-0 324 602 describes a waste bin where waste-treating
liquid is sprayed onto the waste before the
waste is deposited in the bin. Waste is deposited in
the bin via a rotary inlet valve operated by a foot
pedal. Depressing the foot pedal causes the inlet valve
to rotate to a position in which the inlet is open, and a
plate on which waste can be deposited is positioned
adjacent to the inlet. Depressing the foot pedal also
primes a pump with treating liquid. Releasing the foot
pedal causes the pump to spray the waste with liquid,
and also causes the inlet valve to rotate back to its
original position so that the treated waste is deposited
in the bin.
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The applicants have found that in some circumstances
the use of an anti-microbial liquid is disadvantageous.
There is thus a need for a waste bin which permits
storage of material contaminated with body fluid, but
which does not rely on the use of an anti-microbial
liquid.
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The present invention provides a waste bin having
associated therewith a reservoir for particulate
material, and dispensing means for introducing
particulate material from the reservoir into the bin.
The reservoir will normally itself be in the bin
(although this is not essential), and in this case
particulate material from the reservoir passes out of the
reservoir so that it is free to treat material in the
bin.
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In some embodiments of the invention, the reservoir
may be remote from the dispensing means. Usually,
however, the reservoir and the dispensing means will be
closely associated, in which case, for convenience, the
reservoir and the dispensing means together will be
referred to hereinafter as "a dispenser".
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Usually, the reservoir is distinct from the
dispensing means. However, the wall(s) that define(s)
the reservoir may also be the dispensing means. For
example, the reservoir may comprise an outer shell
enclosing waste-treating particles which breaks when
waste being deposited in the bin falls on it, or breaks
down by chemical or physical reaction over time.
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For the dispensers described above, it is difficult
to control the timing of the introduction of particulate
material into the bin from the reservoir. Accordingly,
advantageously, the bin has associated therewith
actuating means which, in use, causes or allows the
dispensing means to introduce material to the bin. For
example, for the dispenser comprising a frangible
reservoir, actuating means may be provided to break the
reservoir when desired.
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A dispenser where the wall which defines the
reservoir is also the dispensing means may only be used
once, and thus is not readily able to treat waste
subsequently deposited in the bin. Accordingly,
preferably, the dispensing means comprises an outlet for
the reservoir through which, in use, particulate material
is introduced, directly or indirectly, into the bin. It
is then not necessary to break the reservoir to introduce
material into the bin, thus allowing for re-use of the
dispenser, and treatment of waste throughout the bin.
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In one embodiment of the invention, the actuating
means, in operation, moves the reservoir between a first
position in which no material passes through the outlet,
and a second position in which material passes through
the outlet.
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In another embodiment of the invention, not at
present preferred, the dispensing means comprises a
closure means for the outlet, and the actuating means, in
operation, moves the closure means between a first
position in which the outlet is closed, and a second
position in which the outlet is open and material passes
through the outlet. The closure means may be, for
example, a pivotally mounted rod, one end of which is
able to block the outlet (or some other device which is
able to move into and out of blocking contact with the
outlet), or an outer sleeve for the reservoir which may
be moved so as to cover and uncover the outlet (or some
other sliding cover for the outlet).
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In both of the above-mentioned embodiments, the
amount of particulate material introduced to the bin
cannot readily be controlled. Accordingly, preferably,
the dispensing means comprises a dosing means which, in
use, introduces a measured portion of material into the
bin. This means that, providing the dosing means is recharged
after each use, the amount of material introduced
into the bin can be controlled. (It will be understood
that a precise degree of control is not required when
treating waste, and that accordingly some variation from
dose to dose is acceptable.)
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Advantageously, the actuating means, in operation,
moves the dosing means between a first position in which
material passes into the dosing means, and a second
position in which material is introduced into the bin
from the dosing means.
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Preferably, the dosing means comprises an
intermediate support, spaced apart from the outlet, and
located such that material passing through the outlet can
fall onto the support.
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We believe that the size of the outlet, and the
distance between the outlet and the intermediate support,
should preferably be such that particulate material which
has fallen on the support is able to bridge with material
passing through the outlet. When bridging occurs, that
is, when the particles form a bridge between the plate
and the outlet, no further material is able to pass
through the outlet. For any given particulate material,
a set amount of material determined by the size of the
outlet, and the distance between the outlet and the
intermediate support, will then be held between the
outlet and the intermediate support. Thus, provided the
dosing means remains in the first position for sufficient
time to allow bridging to occur and remains in the second
position for sufficient time to allow all the material on
the plate to fall into the bin, approximately the same
amount of particulate material will be introduced to the
bin each time the dispenser is used.
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We believe that the bridging is stronger, the larger
the particles compared to the distance between the
outlet and the intermediate support, and the rougher the
surface of the intermediate support. Accordingly,
preferably, the distance between the outlet and the
intermediate support, the particle size and the texture
of the surface of the intermediate support should be
selected so that a bridge is formed which is sufficiently
stable when the dosing means is in the first position,
but which can be broken so that the particulate material
readily falls off the intermediate support when the
dosing means is in the second position.
(It will be appreciated that the invention is not to be
limited by any theory as to how part of the apparatus
operates).
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Preferably, the intermediate support is
substantially horizontal when the dosing means is in the
first position, and substantially vertical (such that the
particulate material on it can fall off) when the dosing
means is in the second position.
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Preferably, the support comprises a plate.
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Advantageously, the dosing means and the reservoir
are movable together, as a single unit, between the first
position and the second position.
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Preferably, the reservoir is detachable from the
dosing means. This allows the reservoir to be re-filled
once empty, or replaced by a full reservoir, so that the
dispenser may be re-used indefinitely.
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Advantageously, the dispensing means comprises
means, preferably a baffle, to disperse the material on
being introduced by the dispensing means into the bin.
This means that treatment will not be confined to waste
located directly below the dispensing means.
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Advantageously, the actuating means operates
intermittently. This means that treatment may occur as
fresh waste is deposited in the bin. Preferably, the
bin comprises a lid, and the actuating means comprises
the lid. Preferably, the lid rotates the reservoir
and/or dispensing means through approximately 90° when
the lid is opened and/or closed. Particulate material
will then be introduced to the bin each time an item of
waste is deposited in the bin. The reservoir and/or
dispensing means may, for example, be mounted on the lid,
or on part of the bin that moves with the lid, for
example, a tray for receiving waste. In another
embodiment, the reservoir and/or dispensing means may be
mounted on the bin, and connected to the lid by a
mechanical linkage.
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Alternatively, the actuating means may comprise a
motor, which is preferably operated in response to a
signal. The signal may be generated in response to the
opening and/or closing of the lid, for example, in
response to a counter that counts the number of times the
lid of the bin is opened, or it may be generated
independently of the lid, for example, in response to an
internal electronic clock, or a photo cell which operates
once per day when the lights are switched on.
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Preferably, the bin is a sanitary bin.
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Preferably, the particulate material is a waste-treating
material. Advantageously, the mean particle
size of the particulate material is in the range of 1 to
1000µm, preferably 1 to 500µm, especially 50 to 250µm.
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The present invention further provides a method of
treating waste, wherein a waste-treating particulate
material is introduced, by a dispensing means, into a
waste bin according to the invention, from a reservoir
for the waste-treating particulate material.
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Preferably, the waste comprises material
contaminated with body fluid.
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The present invention permits the use of particulate
waste-treating materials when storing material
contaminated with body fluid, thus removing the need for
anti-microbial liquids. The dispenser may be of simple
construction. In preferred embodiments of the invention,
a measured portion of material is introduced into the bin
each time an item of waste is deposited in the bin,
without the dispenser having any moving parts.
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A number of embodiments of the invention will now be
described, by way of example only, with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
- Fig. 1 shows a side view of a first embodiment of a
dispensing means in accordance with the invention;
- Fig. 2 shows a section along line A-A of Fig. 1;
- Fig. 3 shows a plan view of the dispensing means of
Fig. 1;
- Fig. 4 shows a section along line B-B of Fig. 3;
- Fig. 5 shows a section through a waste bin according
to the invention, the waste bin having attached thereto a
particle dispenser which includes the dispensing means of
Figs. 1 to 4;
- Fig. 6 shows a schematic section through a second
embodiment of a particle dispenser in accordance with the
invention;
- Fig. 7 shows a schematic section through a third
embodiment of a particle dispenser in accordance with the
invention, the dispensing means being so orientated that
particles are not introduced to the bin;
- Fig. 8 shows the dispenser of Fig. 7, the dispensing
means being so orientated that particles are introduced
to the bin;
- Fig. 9 shows a schematic section through a fourth
embodiment of a particle dispenser in accordance with the
invention, the reservoir being so orientated that
particles are not introduced to the bin;
- Fig. 10 shows the dispenser of Fig. 9, the reservoir
being so orientated that particles are introduced to the
bin;
- Fig. 11 shows a schematic section through a fifth
embodiment of a particle dispenser in accordance with the
invention, the dispenser having closure means being so
positioned that particles are not introduced to the bin;
and
- Fig. 12 shows the dispenser of Fig. 11, the closure
means being so positioned that particles are introduced
to the bin.
- Fig. 13 shows a schematic section through a sixth
embodiment of a particle dispenser in accordance with the
invention.
- Fig. 14 shows a schematic section through a seventh
embodiment of a particle dispenser in accordance with the
invention.
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Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, the dispensing means,
indicated generally by the reference numeral 1,
comprises a tube 2 of circular cross-section having an
open upper end 99 and a half-closed lower end 98. The
tube 2 has a spike 3 at its upper end 99. The tube 2 is
supported centrally above a plate 4 by four supports 5.
When the size of the particles used is in the preferred
range (50 to 250µm), the distance between the lower end
98 of the tube 2 and the plate 4 is typically of the
order of 1 to 2mm. The dispensing means 1 further
comprises a clip 6 at one edge of the plate 4, and a
baffle 7 at another edge of the plate 4, opposite the
clip 6. The clip 6 includes a groove 8 on its inner
face, extending in a direction perpendicular to the axis
of the tube 2. The baffle 7 also includes a groove 9 on
its inner face, opposite the groove 8 in the clip 6. (In
some circumstances it may be advantageous for the tube to
be completely open at both ends, and/or to include slots
to aid flow of particles into the tube, especially if the
tube is longer than shown in Figs. 1 to 4.)
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Referring now to Fig. 5, the waste bin indicated
generally by the reference numeral 10 comprises a waste
receptacle 11, and a pivotally mounted lid 12 formed
integrally with a tray 13 for receiving waste. The lid
12 is shown (in broken lines) in the open position in
which the tray 13 is positioned to receive waste, and to
hide the interior of the receptacle 11 from view, and is
also shown (in bold lines) in the closed position in
which the tray 13 is positioned to deposit waste in the
bin 10.
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A reservoir 14 containing waste-treating particles
is attached to the dispensing means shown in Figs. 1 to
4. The reservoir 14 comprises an open-ended container 15
containing waste-treating particles (not shown), the
open end of the container 15 being surrounded by a rim 16
and covered by a sheet material (not shown), typically a
plastics/aluminium foil or plastics/paper laminate. The
reservoir 14 is attached to the dispensing means 1 by
piercing the sheet with the spike 3 on the tube 2, and
pushing the reservoir 14 down onto the spike 3 until the
rim 16 of the reservoir 14 is almost level with the
lower end of the tube 2, at which point the rim 16 of the
reservoir 14 engages with and is held by the grooves 8,9
in the baffle 7 and the clip 6 of the dispensing means 1.
The tube 2 of the dispensing means 1 now forms an outlet
for the reservoir 14.
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The reservoir 14 and the dispensing means 1 together
form a dispenser indicated generally by the reference
numeral 17. The dispenser 17 is attached to the tray 13
of the lid 12 by the clip 6. (For clarity, the dispenser
17 is shown attached to the tray 13 of the lid 12 in the
closed position only.) When the dispenser 17 is in the
position shown in bold lines in Fig. 5, that is, when the
lid 12 is in the closed position, particles pass from the
reservoir 14, through the tube 2, and fall onto the plate
4 until particles bridge the space between the lower end
98 of the tube 2 and the plate 4, and no further
particles are able to pass out of the tube 2. When the
lid 12 is opened, the dispenser 17 is tilted on its side,
and the particles located between the lower end 98 of the
tube 2 and the plate 4 fall down towards the baffle 7,
which disperses the particles as they drop into the waste
receptacle 11. Closing the lid 12 again, returns the
dispenser 17 to the position shown in Fig. 5 so that
particles again fall onto the plate 4, thus re-charging
the dispensing means 1.
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Referring to Fig. 6, the dispenser indicated
generally by the reference numeral 18 comprises a
reservoir 19 and a dispensing means 20. The dispenser 18
comprises a container 21 having two end walls 22 and one
or more side walls 23. A plate 24 is located inside the
container 21 near one end wall 22. The plate 24 extends
across most but not all of the cross-section of the
container 21, to form two communicating chambers 25,26
within the container. The larger of the two chambers 25
is the reservoir 19, and the smaller of the two chambers
26 is the dispensing means 20. The dispensing means 20
includes an opening 27 in the side wall 23.
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In use, when the dispenser 18 is in the position
shown in Fig. 6, treatment particles pass from the
reservoir 19 into the dispensing means 20. When the
dispenser 18 is rotated clockwise through approximately
90°, those particles which are located in the dispensing
means 20, rather than in the reservoir 19, fall through
the opening 27 in the side wall 23. The dispenser 18 may
be rotated by, for example, attaching it to the tray of a
waste bin lid as shown in Fig. 5.
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In the embodiments of the dispenser shown in Figs. 1
to 4, and Fig. 6, the dispenser may be operated by
attaching it to the tray of a waste bin lid. In the
following embodiment, not at present preferred, this is
not the case, the dispenser operating automatically after
a period of time has elapsed.
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Referring to Figs. 7 and 8, the dispenser indicated
generally by the reference numeral 28 comprises a
reservoir 29 and a dispensing means 30. The dispensing
means 30 comprises an outlet 31 for the reservoir 29, and
a container 32 mounted on a helical spring 33. The
outlet 31 is located such that particles passing through
the outlet 31 are deposited predominantly in one side of
the container 32. The spring 33 is attached to the
container 32 at a point below the centre of gravity of
the container 32 when full of particles. Particles pass
from the reservoir 29 into the container 32 until the
point shown in Fig. 8 is reached where the container 32
tips over so that the particles fall out of the container
32. The spring 33 and a guide mechanism (not shown)
return the container 32 to the position shown in Fig. 7.
The outlet 31 is closed by a closure means (not shown)
when the container 32 tips over. The container 32 opens
the outlet 31 by striking the closure means on returning
to the position shown in Fig. 7.
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In the embodiments of the dispenser shown in Figs. 1
to 4, 6, and 7 and 8, provided sufficient time is
allowed to re-charge the dispensing means after use, a
set amount of particulate material is introduced into the
bin, the amount being determined by the physical
properties and geometry of the dispenser, and the
particulate material. In the following embodiments, not
at present preferred, this is not necessarily the case.
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Referring to Figs. 9 and 10, the dispenser
indicated generally by the reference numeral 34
comprises a reservoir 35 and a dispensing means 36. The
reservoir 35 comprises a cylindrical container 37 with a
hemi-spherical lid 38. The dispensing means 36 comprises
a number of small outlets 39 in the hemi-spherical lid
38. The reservoir 35 further comprises a counter-weight
40 at the end of the reservoir 35 opposite the hemi-spherical
lid 38, and is pivotally mounted about an axis
parallel to the ends of the container 37.
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When the reservoir 35 is in the position shown in
Fig. 9, the particles rest at the end of the reservoir 35
opposite the hemi-spherical lid 38. When the reservoir
35 is rotated to the position shown in Fig. 10, particles
fall through the outlets 39.
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The reservoir 35 may be rotated to the correct
position by, for example, attaching it to the tray of a
waste bin lid as shown in Fig. 5. Opening the lid will
rotate the reservoir by approximately 90°, and the
reservoir will then continue to rotate under the
influence of the counter-weight 40 so that it passes
through the position shown in Fig. 10 and back to the
position shown in Fig. 9. Closing the lid will rotate
the reservoir back in the other direction.
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Referring to Figs. 11 and 12, the dispenser
indicated generally by the reference numeral 41
comprises a reservoir 42 and a dispensing means 43. The
dispensing means comprises an outlet 44 for the
reservoir 42, and a closure means 45. The closure means
45 comprises a pivotally mounted rod 46, biassed towards
a position in which the outlet 44 is closed by a block 47
on one end of the rod 46.
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The outlet 44 is opened by rotating the rod 46 about
its pivot 48. The rod 46 may be rotated by, for example,
striking the free end of the rod 46. The rod 46 may be
struck by, for example, the tray of a waste bin such as
that shown in Fig. 5 on opening the lid. The biassed rod
46 will then return to the position in which the outlet
44 is closed.
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Alternatively, in another embodiment of a particle
dispenser (not shown), the closure means comprises an
outer sleeve for the reservoir. The sleeve may be moved
between a position in which it covers the reservoir
outlet, and a position in which it does not cover the
reservoir outlet. Or, in another embodiment of a
particle dispenser (not shown), the closure means
comprises a sliding cover for the outlet. The cover
slides between a position in which it covers the
reservoir outlet, and a position in which it does not
cover the reservoir outlet. In another embodiment of a
particle dispenser (not shown), the closure means
comprises a plug for the outlet biased toward a position
in which it blocks the outlet and a reciprocable rod.
The rod moves between a position in which it pushes the
plug out of the outlet, and a position in which it allows
the plug to block the outlet again.
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Referring to Fig. 13, the dispenser indicated
generally by the reference numeral 48 comprises a
reservoir 49 and a dispensing means 50. The dispensing
means 50 comprises a frangible outer shell 51 for the
reservoir 49 of particulate material. Particulate
material is released by breaking the shell 51 of the
reservoir 49. The shell 51 may be broken by, for
example, being hit by waste being deposited in a bin.
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Referring to Fig. 14, the dispenser indicated
generally by the reference numeral 52 comprises a
reservoir 53 and a dispensing means 54. The reservoir 53
comprises a container 55. The dispensing means 54
comprises an outlet 56 for the reservoir 53, and bellows
57 having an outlet 58 directed into the particulate
material in the reservoir 53. Depressing the bellows 57
causes particles to be blown out of the reservoir 53
through the reservoir outlet 56. The bellows 57 may be
depressed by, for example, being struck by the tray of a
waste bin such as that shown in Fig. 5 on opening the
lid.