Waste Storage Device
A sealing mechanism for a waste storage container includes a waste storage container that has a body, a lid and a cartridge adapted to be positioned in the body. The cartridge has a continuous length of storage film therein. The storage film emanates through a gap between a rim and a core tube of the cartridge and is folded down through a core opening in the core tube into an interior space of the body of the waste storage container. The sealing mechanism includes an actuator accessible from outside the body, a gear assembly operably connected to the actuator, a retaining assembly that holds stationary a dispensed portion of the storage film in the interior space of the body during a twist-closure operation, and a plunger operably connected to the gear assembly
1 . A waste disposal device, comprising:
a container having a bottom wall and a side wall connected to said bottom wall, the bottom and side wall at least partially defining an inner volume;
a length of flexible film for receiving waste inside said waste disposal device, said length of flexible film having a cartridge; and
a heat sealing means having a motor mounted to an inner face of said side wall;
wherein said heat sealing means creates at least one seal amongst a first inner surface of said flexible film and a second inner surface of said flexible film after at least a portion of the film has been passed by said heat sealing means and into a storing compartment of said container.
2 . The waste disposal device of claim 1 , wherein said container forms a drawer-like space.
3 . The waste disposal device of claim 2 , further comprising a door that is outwardly movable from said container.
4 . The waste disposal device of claim 3 , wherein said door further comprises at least one of a handle and a securing mechanism.
5 . The waste disposal device of claim 1 , wherein said motor comprises a power source.
6 . The waste storage device of claim 1 , wherein said heat sealing mechanism is an impulse heat sealing mechanism.
7 . The waste disposal device of claim 1 , wherein said heat sealing means forms a seal of said flexible film containing at least one waste package that has passed by said heat sealing means and into said storing compartment.
8 . An apparatus for containing a waste package, comprising:
a container having a bottom wall and a side wall connected to said bottom wall, the bottom and side wall at least partially defining an inner volume;
a cartridge having a length of flexible film for receiving waste inside said waste disposal device; and
a revolution counting mechanism having an electronic sensing device,
wherein said cartridge has a cartridge sensing device such that said revolution counting mechanism recognizes said cartridge sensing device.
9 . The waste disposal device of claim 8 , wherein said revolution counting device is a laser beam mechanism.
10 . The waste disposal device of claim 11 , wherein said cartridge further comprises a cartridge body, wherein said sensing device is on said cartridge body.
11 . The waste disposal device of claim 10 , wherein said cartridge further comprises a cartridge top, wherein said sensing device is on said cartridge top.
12 . The waste disposal device as in any one of claims 10 , 11 and 12 , wherein said sensing device is at least one of an aperture, a strip and a bar.
13 . A waste disposal device, comprising:
a container having a bottom wall and a side wall connected to said bottom wall, the bottom and side wall at least partially defining an inner volume;
a length of flexible film for receiving waste inside said waste disposal device, said length of flexible film operably connected to a cartridge;
a clutch assembly operably connected to a sealing mechanism; and
a rack gear operably connected to said clutch assembly such that movement of said rack gear in a first direction causes said clutch assembly to rotate in a first rotational direction, wherein said clutch assembly causes said sealing mechanism to form a seal after a waste package has passed by said sealing mechanism.
14 . The waste disposal device of claim 13 , wherein said cartridge is held in a stationary position during movement of said rack gear in said first rotational direction.
15 . The waste disposal device of claim 13 , further comprising a biasing mechanism, wherein movement of said rack gear in said first direction causes said biasing mechanism to compress.
16 . The waste disposal device of claim 15 , wherein movement of said rack gear in said second direction corresponds to the release of said biasing mechanism.
17 . The waste disposal device of claim 16 , wherein movement of said rack gear in a second direction causes said clutch to rotate in a second rotational direction and said release of said biasing mechanism disengages the sealing mechanism such that a second seal is not formed.
18 . The waste disposal device of claim 16 , wherein said biasing mechanism is at least one spring.
19 . The waste disposal device of claim 13 , further comprising a lid permitting an open configuration and a closed configuration.
20 . The waste disposal device of claim 13 , wherein said seal is a tie-off near an upper end of said flexible film.
21 . The waste disposal device of claim 13 , wherein said flexible film is rotatable to twist said flexible film.
22 . The waste disposal device of claim 13 , wherein said sealing mechanism is a diaphragm.