Machine for collecting and sorting waste

1. A machine for collecting and sorting waste items, the machine comprising a frame with a base resting on the floor and a front face having an opening formed therein giving access to a waste insertion zone, the machine further comprising, inside the frame, waste-recognition means for recognizing the waste items, a waste sorter, and storage means for storing sorted waste items and comprising at least two containers,

the machine comprises an elevator for transporting a waste item on a platform, inserted into the waste insertion zone towards the sorter disposed vertically above the waste insertion zone; and

the waste sorter being arranged to move the transported waste item vertically above a container selected according to information delivered by the waste-recognition means and in which the waste item is received,

the sorter comprising a stationary transfer plate comprising an orifice enabling the platform to bring the waste item up to the height of the transfer plate in a first position, and first movement means for moving the waste item on the transfer plate between the first position and at least two distinct positions in which the waste item is taken beyond an end of the transfer plate vertically above the corresponding container.

2. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein the elevator comprises:

the platform movable between a lower position and an upper position, and arranged in the lower position to receive the waste item in the waste insertion zone and in the upper position to bring the waste item into the sorter and,

a second movement means for moving the platform between the lower position and the upper position.

3. The machine according to claim 2 , comprising a movable waste item support for receiving the waste item, and a third movement means for moving the waste support between a first position in which the movable waste support is disposed in the waste insertion zone close to the opening in order to receive the waste item inserted by a user, and a second position enabling the platform to take the waste item contained in the waste support.

4. The machine according to claim 3 , wherein the third movement means comprises a carousel mounted to pivot about a vertical axis and carrying a protective housing, the carousel being arranged so that the protective housing blocks the waste insertion zone while the waste support is in the second position.

5. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein the waste insertion zone comprises a liquid receiver.

6. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein the waste insertion zone comprises means for verifying that the waste item is empty.

7. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein the first movement means comprises a receptacle mounted to pivot parallel to the transfer plate and surrounding the waste item to move the waste item on the transfer plate.

8. The machine according to claim 7 , wherein the sorter includes a horizontal movable plate that pivots parallel to the transfer plate, the movable plate moving between a first position in which the movable plate extends one end of the transfer plate to extend the transfer plate and enable the waste item to be moved on the movable plate ( 46 ), and a second position in which the movable plate ( 46 ) is spaced apart from the end of the transfer plate.

9. The machine according to claim 2 , comprising a stop disposed above the sorter and against which the platform crushes the waste item.

10. The machine according to claim 8 , wherein the stop comprises means for piercing the waste item and for ejecting the waste item from the stop.

11. The machine according to claim 7 , wherein the receptacle comprises a bottom stop on which the platform crushes the waste item.

12. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein the storage means comprise trapdoors for closing each container and separating each container from a buffer zone situated above the corresponding trapdoor.

13. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein the storage means comprises at least one buffer container enabling waste to be stored when at least one other container is full.

14. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein the waste-recognition means comprises a camera coupled to a shape-recognition program.

15. The machine according to claim 14 , wherein, in order to recognize the waste item, the shape-recognition program estimates a ratio between a height of the waste item and a diameter of the waste item.

16. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein the waste-recognition means comprises a bar code reader.

17. A machine for collecting and sorting waste items, the machine comprising:

a structure having a base resting on the floor and a front face having an opening providing access to a waste item insertion zone; and

inside the structure are:

a waste item recognition device, a waste item sorter, and storage for sorted waste items comprising containers; and

an elevator for transporting on a platform the waste item introduced into the insertion zone towards the waste item sorter that is arranged above the insertion zone;

the waste item sorter is arranged to move the transported waste item to a location above one of the containers that is selected as a function of information delivered by the waste item recognition device and in which the waste item is received,

the waste item sorter comprises a stationary transfer plate having an orifice through which the platform elevates the waste item up to the height of the transfer plate in a first position, and a movable receptacle to move the elevated waste item between the first position and at least two distinct other positions in which the elevated waste item is taken beyond an end of the transfer plate to above the selected container.

18. The machine for collecting and sorting waste item according to claim 17 , wherein the first position and the at least two distinct other positions are located at a same radial distance from a common center point and wherein the movable receptacle rotates about the center point.