US 5,979,804 A · Particulating apparatus and method

Abstract

A particulating apparatus for liquid filled plastic containers in preparation for recycling produced plastic particulate. The particulating apparatus includes a container hopper for accepting a supply of plastic containers to be processed by the particulating apparatus wherein at least a portion of the containers are partially liquid filled. There is a transport for conveying the supply of plastic containers from the hopper to a pulverizer. The pulverizer has a pulverizing chamber within which a pulverizing means is housed for reducing the plastic containers to plastic particulate. The chamber includes means for draining liquid held within the containers to a liquid collector. A conveyor means is provided for transporting plastic particulate from the pulverizer to a collection bin where the particulate is retained for further processing or disposal. The conveyor means is inclined at least partially vertically upwardly from horizontal to permit drainage of additional liquid from the particulate. A method of particulating liquid filled containers into particulate is also disclosed that includes supplying containers, at least a portion of which contain liquid, to a pulverizing chamber. The containers are subjected to mechanical stress to break up the container walls to produce a particulate and to release the contained liquid. At least a portion of the released liquid is drained therefrom. The partially drained particulate is moved to a collection bin. The movement is directed upwardly to permit additional drainage of remaining liquid. A disinfectant is suppled to the containers prior to movement to the collection bin.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A particulating apparatus for liquid specimen filled plastic containers in preparation for recycling of produced plastic particulate, said particulating apparatus comprising:

a container hopper for accepting a supply of plastic containers to be processed by said particulating apparatus wherein at least a portion of said containers are partially or fully filled with a liquid specimen;
a transport for conveying said supply of plastic containers from said hopper to a pulverizer,
said pulverizer comprising a pulverizing chamber within which a pulverizing means is housed for reducing said plastic containers to plastic particulate, said chamber including means for draining liquid held within said containers to a liquid collector;
conveyor means for transporting plastic particulate from said pulverizer to a collection bin where said particulate is retained for further processing or disposal, said conveyor means being inclined at least partially vertically upwardly to permit drainage of additional liquid form the particulate;
first rinsing means for washing said plastic containers while said containers are in said hopper, or while said containers are conveyed from said hopper to said pulverizing chamber for flushing liquid specimens from said plastic containers;
and
a disinfectant applicator for dispensing a disinfecting agent onto said plastic particulate before said particulate is conveyed to said collection bin.

4 more elements

A method for particulating liquid specimen filled plastic containers into plastic particulate, said method comprising the steps of:

supplying a plurality of plastic containers to a pulverizing chamber of a particulating apparatus wherein at least a portion of said plastic containers are partially or fully filled with a liquid specimen;
dispensing a first liquid rinse onto said plastic containers to wash said containers before said containers are introduced into said pulverizing chamber;
pulverizing said plastic containers thereby producing plastic particulate from said containers and releasing said liquid from within said containers;
dispensing a disinfectant agent upon said plastic containers and said plastic particulate within said pulverizing chamber for disinfecting said plastic particulate;
draining a portion of said released liquid specimen and said disinfectant agent from said pulverizing chamber;
collecting said drained liquid specimen and said disinfectant agent in a liquid collector for further processing or disposal;
collecting said plastic particulate in a collection bin for further processing or disposal.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Particulating apparatus and method

Life of this patent

Particulating apparatus and method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22