Apparatus for packaging packs of odorous waste in flexible tubing

APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING PACKS OF ODOROUS WASTE IN

0002FLEXIBLE TUBING Field of the Invention

0003This invention relates to apparatus for packaging packs of odorous waste in flexible tubing, the packs comprising respectively of a seπes of potentially odorous objects along a length of such flexible tubing

0004The invention is particularly applicable to the ieady disposal of personal waste material such as babies' nappies, or other sanitary towels and pai ticularly incontinent pads for elderly persons Description of the Prior Art

0005In patent specification No GB 2206094 there is descnbed appai atus foi packaging a series of objects respectively in individual packages distπbuted along an unbroken length of flexible, substantially non-resilient tubing pi oviding the walls ot the packages, the apparatus comprising tubular guide means ai ranged to receive a pack of said flexible tubing when formed into a gathered tube and to enable one end of the tubing in the gathered pack to be drawn away from the gathered pack and passed over the end of the tubular guide means when the latter is surrounded by the gathered pack and then coaxially downwards through the tubular guide means so that the outer sui face of the flexible material in the pack becomes the cylindrical innei sui lace of the flexible mater ial passing through the tubular guide means, the end of the flexible tubing being initially open until sealed to form the base of a first package having the flexible tubing as its side wall, the apparatus being arranged for the base to be thrust along the tubular guide means by an object to be packaged, while further flexible tubing is as a consequence drawn from the pack over the end of the tubular guide means into the tubular guide means to envelop the object to be packaged when located at least partly in the tubulai guide means, means beyond the tubular guide means being provided for manually twisting the flexible tubing beyond an object when so located to close and thereby complete a package comprising that object and so provide the base for a further package for a fui ther ob_ject to be thrust into the tubular guide means, whereby objects can be packaged in seπes along the length of unbroken tubing and at least an element being arranged to co-operate with each object to be packaged to hold the enveloping tubing against axial l otation duπng the said twisting The objects referred to above may be single objects or discrete collections of items, dry, damp or very wet and in the case of incontinent pads may be immediately odorous or, in the case of babies nappies' odorous through the tubing wall only after a period of, for example, eight hours. A very convenient substance for the material of which the tubing is made is high density polyethylene and the odour, often delayed, becomes apparent through the wall as a result of osmotic action by diffusion of a liquid or gas through the semi-permeable wall of the flexible tubing. Such a result of osmosis can be avoided by the use of different material for the tubing, such as laminated material by which the osmotic action can be inhibited when the different materials for the two laminae are appropriately chosen. However such other materials have been found to lack the best mechanical properties required and to be uneconomical

0006When polyethylene or equivalent tubing as aforesaid is used for a series of packages, say eighteen, collected over a period of time in a closed bin prior to or after being severed from the remainder of the gathered pack thereof, an accumulated odour builds up in the bin particularly in the case when the series of packages is so long that it has to be severed as a unit to be removed from the bin. A certain amount of odour can also sometimes escape during the normal use of the apparatus through the opening at which the objects to be packaged are inserted. Summary of the Invention In certain cases where the apparatus is used individually or in a hospital or nursing home the build up of an unpleasantly odorous ambiance can be distressing and it is an object of the present invention to provide means whereby this condition can be avoided.

0007According to the present invention, apparatus for packaging a series of potentially odorous objects respectively in individual packages distributed along an unbroken length of flexible substantially non-resilient tubing being withdrawn from a gathered pack of said tubing to provide the walls of the packages, comprises a guide cylinder open at an inlet end for the successive entry thereinto of the objects to be packaged while the wall of the tubing passes over an entry rim at said end, the arrangement being such that manual pressure exerted through said rim as by the action of an object to be packaged when pressed into said guide cylinder causes said tubing to pass over said rim and along said guide cylinder while more tubing is drawn from said pack, the apparatus being further provided with clamping mechanism for engaging each package prior to passing said mechanism to hold it against rotation when the tubing is twisted between the package and said entry end completely to close the package by the actuation of twisting means provided for that purpose, and a flexible collection bag detachably mounted with its open end positioned to receive each package after passing said mechanism, said bag being arranged to be removed in a condition completely enclosing the packages contained therein and being made of material inhibiting any escape ol odour due to osmotic action into the ambient atmosphere Brief Desci iption of the Drawings In order that the invention may be clearly understood and l eadily earned into effect forms of appai atus in accoi dance theiewith will now be descπbed with l efei ence to the accompanying di awings, in which

0008Figures 1 2 and 3 are diagrams showing one form of the apparatus lespectively in three phases of its operation, Figures 4 and 5, show a practical application of the invention respectively in two phases of its operation, and

0009Figures 6 and 7 are respectively a sectional elevation and plan of a unit for use in forms of the invention such as shown in Figures 1 to 5

0010Description of Preferred Embodiments of the Invention Referring particularly to Figures 1 and 4, the apparatus may be consideied as consisting of three units A, B and C The unit A is arranged to operate as descπbed in detail in the aforesaid prior specification GB 2206094 for carrying an annular pack 1 of tubing and providing the ring 2 for guiding the leading end of the tubing (after sealing at the end) through a guide cylinder 3 while moie tubing is theieby withdrawn from the pack, the action being caused by the successive manual thrust of the items to be packaged through the πm 2 and the tubing being manually subjected to twisting action at the πm 2 to provide a sealed closure R between each package and the next package to be formed along the series of packages S, T, U etc , this series being foπned in a period of time which may vary between, for example, a few hours and some days The second unit B to which the first unit B is detachably latched provides clamping means for holding each package temporarily against rotation while the tubing immediately following that package is twisted finally to close the package An example of this second unit B is shown in Figures 6 and 7 This consists of a rigid ring 4 of plastics material within which are mounted eight radially mounted pi essui e spi ing jaws 5 equidistantly spaced from one another and each having its actn e end 6 piojecting into the central opening in the ring 4 and each arranged to yield when the jaws are pressed radially outwards when a package S is forced and held between them as shown in Figuies 1 and 4 However, as will appear below, the jaws do not make dnect contact with the tubing mateπal (polyethylene) but with the neck of a collectoi bag 7 in which the tubing of the packages lies

0011The third unit C consists of a suppoi t which holds the unit B high enough for the collector bag to receive all the packages S, 1 , U etc (Tor example eighteen of them) thai it is requit ed to hold This suppoi t is not shown in Hum es 1 to 1 but in I igui es 4 and 5 is shown as a wheeled bin 8 with a side door 8a that can be opened foi the ι <img file="WO9817536A1_D0001.tif" /> al of the filled bag 7 when required

0012The bags 7 can often be bought in a flat condition (see bottom of Tigui e 1 ) but this is not essential A new bag 7 has to be ai i anged so that its uppei end passes through the ring 4 and above the ring is flared out over the ring as shown in Figui e 6 with a depending skirt 7a It is then clamped in position when the unit A is fixed on the unit B by any conveniently activated mechanical device As the apparatus is used the bag is opened out as shown in Figuies 2 and 3 by the gradualh accumulating packages I he bag 7 must be made of a material that cannot allow any escape of odoui to the outside b\ osmosis A laminate of two different co-exti usion mater ials (such as sai an and polyolefin or PVDC) can be effective

0013When the bag 7 with its contents has to be removed it is of course necessary to sever the tubing containing the packages between the annulai pack 1 and guide cylinder 3 in unit A This can be done by the use of the cuttei device described in the aforesaid specification GB 2206094 oi by a cuttei device that can be bi ought into relationship with the rotatable rim 2 Howevei in ordei to avoid all possible escape of odoui this should be done when the final package S is still held tightly by the <img file="WO9817536A1_D0002.tif" /> s 5 (see particular ly I igures 3, 5 and 7) To augment this sealing action it is advantageous to pr ovide an elastic band 9 at the throat of the clamping jaw mechanism for increasing the pressure of the neck of the bag on the outside surface of the package tubing Vanous types of elastic band are possible such as round or flat section bands or even a steel spring tension seal After the package tubing has been cut, the skirt portion 7a of the collector bag 7, as shown in Figures 2 and 3 is raised and tied into a knot 10 so that the bag 7 then provides a complete cover for all the packages and can be removed with all the packages when the final package S has been pushed clear of the unit B.

0014It will be noted that, from Figure 7, the elastic ring 9 closes the gaps between the active ends 6 of the jaws 5 so that there can be no odour leakage between adjacent pairs of the active ends 6 of the jaws 5 Thus, there can be no leakage between the inner surface of the neck of the bag and the flexible length of tubing defining the discarded packages. Each package on being held by the clamping mechanism acts as a plug preventing the escape of odour gradually building up in the collector bag with time Any odour escaping from the final package to be enclosed by the knot 10 in the bag neck is retained when the knot is formed