Back to results
US 11,865,747 B2Granted
Light plastic densifier
OwnerIvan Arbouzovinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In general, this disclosure relates to an apparatus that compresses lightweight plastic waste (e.g., used grocery bags, empty trash bags, food wrappers, etc.), and then applies a limited amount of heat to “bake” the compressed plastic into a “brick” of plastic. The plastic is compressed, and then heated enough to cause it to retain its compressed shape, without melting or substantial outgassing.
Claims8
A plastic densifier comprising:
- a controller, configured to control operations of the plastic densifier;
- a body, at least partially enclosing an interior volume with an aluminum interior surface;
- a cover, hingedly connected to the body and configured to pivot open to provide access to the interior volume;
- a loading port in the cover, configured to allow plastic to be loaded into the interior volume;
- a loading mechanism affixed to the loading port and comprising:
- a roller, comprising a frictional surface, and configured to grab plastic and draw it into the body;
- a comb fitted onto the roller, the comb configured to remove the plastic from the roller and deposit it through the loading port;
- and
- a roller motor, configured to rotate the roller;
- a lift within the body and configured to reduce the interior volume when actuated, compressing plastic within the interior volume;
- a lift motor, configured to actuate the lift;
- a current sensor configured to measure electrical current supplied to the lift motor;
- a heating element positioned beneath and abutting the aluminum surface, the heating element configured to heat the plastic within the body to a temperature in a range of 100° C. to 145° C.;
- and
- a temperature sensor for determining a temperature within the body.
12 more elements
A system for densifying plastic, the system comprising:
- a controller, configured to control operations of the system;
- a body at least partially enclosing an interior volume with an aluminum interior surface;
- a cover, hingedly connected to the body and configured to pivot open to provide access to the interior volume;
- a loading port in the cover, configured to allow plastic to be loaded into the interior volume;
- a loading mechanism affixed to the loading port and comprising:
- a roller, comprising a frictional surface, and configured to grab plastic and draw it into the body;
- a comb fitted onto the roller, the comb configured to remove the plastic from the roller and deposit it through the loading port;
- and
- a roller motor, configured to rotate the roller;
- a lift within the body and configured to reduce the interior volume when actuated, compressing plastic within the interior volume;
- a lift motor, configured to actuate the lift;
- a current sensor configured to measure electrical current supplied to the lift motor;
- a heating element positioned beneath and abutting the aluminum surface, the heating element configured to heat the plastic within the body to a temperature in the range of 100° C. to 145° C.;
- and
- a temperature sensor for determining a temperature within the body.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.