AU670589B2 - Improved composting bin - Google Patents

Description

I P/001001 flcgulation 32

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

A

A.

ORIGINAL

o A A Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for service in Australia: Invention Title: W1LIA f NY AA f.L[XNXA William Henry Annear i 2 Railway Parade Camb ictoriam; 3124 C."s ffl-r-louovflC- Vti( IMPROVED COMPOSTING BIN Cc ye 11ec Details of Associated Provisional Application: PL 3675 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us -2- IMPROVED COMPOSTING BIN THIS INVENTION relates to the composting of organic waste material and to an improved composting bin or container easily assembled from a kit of parts in flat sheet form, and disassembled for relocation and transport in a compact flat package.

More particularly the invention relates to the use of worms acting on the waste material in the bin to provide a stable humus of high nutrient value, known as vermicompost.

It is well known that the composting of organic waste material such as higher nitrogen content kitchen waste and scraps, garden cuttings, lawn clippings and animal manures, is facilitated by the presence of earthworms in the waste rmaterial. Waste organic material of low nitrogen content such as sawdust, bark, paper, cardboard and eucalyptus leaves is beneficially mixed with the higher nitrogen content waste material to provide a mixed acceptable food for the earthworms in their conversion of the organic waste material to vermicompost.

15 The present invention in providing a composting bin having at least two compartments is based on the knowledge that earthworms will quickly migrate from a compartment of food material which has been broken down to stable humus (vermicompost) to an adjacent compartment having a fresh batch of untreated organic waste material.

20 Prior known systems such as described in Belgium Patent No. 899797, and Australian Patent Applications Nos. 13902/92 and 25287/92 have recognised this migration occurrence by providing a mesh wall between two adjacent compartments. However, this prior patent and applications require the complete breakdown of the waste material in a first compartment before the second adjacent compartment can be filled otherwise the ol.

25 earthworms would migrate into the second compartment before achieving complete breakdown of the waste material in the first compartment.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved composting bin formed from a kit of sheet parts and having adjoining compartments connected in a manner which will allow complete breakdown of the waste material in one compartment before the earthworms can migrate to the adjoining compartment which can already be filled or partly filled with organic waste material ready for acceptance of the migrating earthworms, thus obviating the requirement of physically separating the earthworms from prepared compost.

HI-SPUMr13S 7 Y I99 -3- According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a composting bin for use with earthworms in the preparation of a stable humus and having first and second organic waste receiving compartments separated by an apertured control panel member having slidable apertured means associated therewith to open and close the panel apertures as required to permit or prevent migration of earthworms from one compartment to the other compartment so as to allow complete breakdown of the organic waste material in said first compartment with the control panel apertures closed before moving said slidable means to open the apertures and allow migration of the earthworms therethrough to organic waste material in said second compartment.

In accordance with one preferred form of the invention, the ;dable means may consist of a plate member having matching apertures to those of the apertured control panel member, said plate member being slidably located in the panel member and movable so as to being the apertures therein into and out of alignment with the panel apertures. The slidable apertured plate member may be located between two spaced apertured sheets eoeo forming the migration control panel member or may be located in guide members located along opposed side edges of one side of the migration control panel member.

SAccording to another form of the invention, the waste receiving compartments are separate rigid moulded compartment units with their adjoining planar walls having matching aligned apertures therein and said slidable apertured means are located for movement in a spacer member located between said adjoining compartment walls.

The pair of compartment outer walls may be provided with integral hook members for engagement in vertical slots adjacent the sides of the control panel after bending the 0sheet material walls to a curved configuration. Alternatively, the pair of compartment outer walls may be provided along their side edges with outwardly extending flanges for 25 engagement with and connected to the control panel. In the latter embodiment, the compartment walls may be formed of flexible material so as to provide curved walls or may be of rigid moulded curved or rectangular form.

The kit of parts may also include a pair of floor members adapted to be located in a lower part of the compartments beneath the control panel migratory slots and engageable in locating slots in the control panel and the curved compartment walls.

The control panel may be formed as a single sheet with guide members provided along opposed vertical sides thereof for locating the slidable sheet member.

2A#I35 22 My 1993 -4- According to yet another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of composting organic waste material through the action of earthworms in a composting bin according to the invention comprising the steps of moving said slidable means to close off the control panel migration apertures, filling organic waste material into one compartment of the bin, placing earthworms in said one compartment with the waste material to act on and break down the waste material into stable humus (vermicompost), filling organic waste material into the other compartment of the bin whilst the earthworms are acting on the waste material in said one compartment and when the waste material in said one compartment has been satisfactorily reduced to vermicompost, moving said slidable means to open the control panel migration apertures to allow the earthworms in said one compartment to migrate into the fresh waste material in said other compartment and removing the vermicompost from said one compartment and moving the slidable means to close the control panel apertures ready for refilling said one compartment with fresh 15 organic waste material.

15 In order that the invention and its manner of performance may be more fully understood, reference by way of example only will now be made to an embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the assembled bin of the embodiment.

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation through the bin taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 20 1; Figure 3 is a sectional plan view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2 illustrating the horizontal earthworm migration slots in the partition panel of the bin; Figure 4 is a sectional side view of one compartment of the bin taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 1 with the migration slots of the partition panel covered; S: 25 Figure 5 is a sectional side view similar in part to Figure 4 with the migration slots of the partition panel uncovered; Figure 6 is a front elevational view of the control panel member; Figure 7 is a front elevational view of a compartment wall in its flat form; Figure 8 is a plan view of a bottom or floor section in its flat form; Figure 9 is a sectional plan view of a second embodiment of the invention; and Figure 10 is a sectional plan view of a third embodiment of the invention.

Referring to Figures 1 to 8 of the drawings, there is provided in the bin 5 of this J1[-SPE2/#135739 Z7 July 1993 embodiment an earthworm migration control panel 6 dividing the bin 5 into two compartments 7 and 8 having walls 9 and 10 interlocking at their sides with control panel 6 through slots 11 in the control panel 6 being engaged by hook-shaped members 12 integrally formed on the sides of walls 9 and 10. Walls 9 and 10 are creased so as to be foldable at their upper and lower ends to provide strengthening rim parts 27. Control panel 6 has lid members 13 formed integrally therewith in a hinged manner by crease lines, and is provided at its lower end with flanged, creased hinged foot members 14.

U-s >^ped Control panel 6 comprises two spaced-apart sheets 15 having a insert 16 therebetween defining the sides and bottom of an elongated pocket housing a slidable panel member 17.

Control panel 6 is provided with a series of aligned earthworm migrating slots 18 in the two spaced-apart sheets 15 and slidable panel member 17 is provided with a series of matching slots 19. Control panel 6 also has a sighting aperture 20 at its upper end and slidable panel member 17 has a similar aperture 21 at its upper end for the purpose as 15 hereinafter described.

A bottom or floor plate member 22 foldably creased along line 25 is located in the lower end of each compartment 7 and 8 and is engaged in slots 23 in the control panel 6 and in a vee-shaped slot 2A having a drain aperture 26 in each wall 9 and 10. The engagement of the bottom plate member 22 in the vee-shaped aperture 24 also allows for drainage of the compartments through aperture 26.

All parts of the compost bin of the invention are produced in flat sheet form preferably from a UV stabilised polypropylene fluteuoard, such as Corflute which is unaffected by water, is rustproof, will not corrode or rot and remains resistant to tearing, puncturing and high impact damage even under harsh outdoor conditions.

25 In locating the bin 5, it should be sited on a level area, preferably in shade and facing east/west with a source of water nearby. In placing the bin with the floor members 22 removed, the bottom part of bin 5 is filled with sand or similar aggregate to the level of the location of the floor members 22 which are then inserted and engaged in slots 23 and 24 with the crease 25 forming a valley drain leading to drain aperture 26. The lid members 13 are folded to a closed position and held there by any suitable weights attached through holes 28 and sufficient to hold the lids closed yet allow ease of opening to introduce waste material. The slidable panel member 17 is lowered to engage on the ZZMty 13w -6bottom of insert 16 in the control panel 6 at which location the migratory slots 18 in control panel 6 are closed with sighting apertures 20 and 21 out of alignment as illustrated in Figures 2,3 and 4.

For the operation of the compost bin 5 of this embodiment, it is preferable to line the bottom of the bin with several layers of wet cardboard, paper or hessian and cover with a 50 100mm layer of well rotted compost, manure or potting mix if such is readily available.

Organic waste material can then be introduced into one compartment of the bin together with a quantity of earthworms which may be left in their packing material as they will soon move out into the bed of waste material.

To assist in retaining moisture and encourage the earthworms to feed right to the top of the bed of waste material, it may be covered with wet sacking, cardboard, paper or non-rubber backed carpet.

Whilst the composting process is continuing in the first compartment, organic waste 15 material may be filled into the other compartment from time to time and when the waste material in the first compartment has been broken down to an acceptable vermicompost, the slidable panel member 17 is lifted to open migratory slots 18, as illustrated in Figure at which location the aperture 21 in the slidable panel can be seen to be in alignment with aperture 20 of control panel 6 and a peg or the like can be inserted through apertures 20 20 and 21 to maintain migratory slots 18 in the open position. Without fresh food or water in the first compartment the earthworms will soon migrate to the second compartment where the fresh waste material and water is available.

The contents of the first compartment may then be harvested by opening the lid S disengaging one side of the wall member when it is ensured that the majority of the S.i 5 earthworms have migrated to the second compartment, and the slidable panel is then lowered to close migratory slots 18 and process may be continued when the first compartment is empty or near empty.

As the compost earthworms will breed rapidly, there will be no loss of earthworms in the system if the reduced vermicompost as harvested contains a quantity of worms, worm capsules and baby worms which enhance the nutrient value of the vermicompost.

Referring to Figure 9 of the drawings, there is provided a similar control panel 6 as in Figures 1 to 8 but the method of connecting the outer compartment walls to the JII-SPF2A/13573 ZZ MYr 1993 -7control panel comprises forming flange members 30 on the sides of the compartment walls so as to extend outwardly and engage against the outer edges of the control panel and be affixed thereto by connector members such as bolts, studs, clamps or like releasable means.

In this embodiment the compartment walls may be formed of flexible sheet material or may be moulded to rigid shape from plastics material.

Referring to Figure 10 of the drawings, there is provided two separate compartments 31 with their inner adjoining walls 32 provided with migratory slots as in the two spacedapart sheets 15 of the control panel of the previously described embodiments.

Compartments 31 are joined to each other with a spacer member 33, of U-shaped configuration, as in the previous embodiments, located between walls 32 and having guide means such as grooves 34 for locating slidable panel member 35, as in previous embodiments, for vertical vement between walls 32. Flanges 35 on compartments 31 may be connected through spacer member 33 as in Figure 9 by bolts, st*ds, clamps or like releasable means. The compartments 31 may be moulded as one-piece units from strong 15 rigid plastics material.

i The operation of the bins of Figures 9 and 10 is similar to that of the embodiment of Figures 1 to 8.

The entire contents of the provisional specification lodged with Australian Patent Application No. PL 3675 of which this is the complete specification is hereby imported 20 into this specification and forms part of the disclosure of this specification.

The claims form part of the disclosure of this specification.

ill P #13573 22Mul, 1993

Claims (13)

1. An earthworm composting bin having first and second organic waste receiving compartments separated by an apertured control panel member having slidable means associated therewith and movable to open and close the control panel apertures as required to permit or prevent migration of earthworms from one compartment to the other compartment so as to allow complete breakdown of the organic waste material in said one compartment with the apertures closed before moving said slidable means to open the apertures and allow migration of the earthworms therethrough to organic waste material in said second compartment.

2. A composting bin according to claim 1 wherein the slidable means comprises a plate member having matching apertures to those of the control panel member, said plate member being slidably located in the control panel member and movable so as to bring the apertures therein into and out of alignment with the control panel apertures.

3. A composting bin according to claim 2 wherein the control panel member comprises 15 two sheet members spaced apart by a U-shaped insert forming the sides and bottom of a pocket in said panel member for locating said slidable sheet member. a

4. A composting bin according to claim 2 wherein the control panel member is provided with guide means located along opposed side edges of one side of said panel member for locating said slidable sheet member.

5. A composting bin according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the bin :3 compartments are formed from flexible sheet wall members releasable engaged on opposed side edges of said control panel member to form curved compartment outer walls.

6. A composting bin according to claim 5 wherein said flexible sheet wall members are formed along their vertical sides with integral hook-shaped members releasably engageable in vertical slots located adjacent the side edges of the control panel member.

7. A composting bin according to anyone of claims 1 to 4 wherein the bin JII-SPE.28/13573 22 JuIly 1993 -9- compartments are formed from shaped outer wall members having outwardly extending flanges releasably engageable with and connected to opposed side edges of said control panel member.

8. A composting bin according to any one of the preceding claims and including floor members releasably located in the lower parts of the waste receiving compartments in slots in the control panel and a slot in each compartment wall, said floor members being configured to provide a valley drain leading to an enlarged aperture in the compartment wall slots.

9. An earthworm composting bin having first and second waste receiving separate compartment units, said compartments each having a planar wall, having matching aligned apertures therein, a spacer member having sides and a bottom releasably connected between said compartment units, slidable means located in the pocket formed by said unit planar oc. walls and said spacer member and movable to open and close the apertures in said unit i planar walls as required to permit or prevent migration of earthworms from one 15 compartment unit to the other so as to allow complete breakdown of 4e organic waste material in said first compartment unit with the apertures closed before moving said slidable means to open the apertures and allow migration of the earthworms therethrough to organic waste material in said second compartment unit. i o

10. A composting bin according to claim 9 wherein the slidable means comprises a plate member having matching apertures to those of the compartment unit planar walls, said plate member being slidably located in grooves in the sides of said spacer member and movable so as to bring the apertures therein into and out of alignment with the planar wall apertures.

11. A method of composting organic waste material through the action of earthworms in a composting bin according to any one of claims 1 to 10 comprising the steps of moving the slidable means to close off the migration apertures, filling organic waste material into one compartment of the bin, placing earthworms in said one compartment with the waste material to act on and break down the waste material into vermicompost, filling organic 2 uly 1993 10 waste material into the other compartment of the bin whilst the earthworms are acting on the waste material in said one compartment, and when the waste material in said one compartment has been satisfactorily reduced to vermicompost, moving said slidable means to open the migration apertures to allow the earthworms in said one compartment to migrate into the fresh waste material in said other compartment, moving the slidable means to close the migration apertures and removing the vermicompost from said one compartment ready for refilling said one compartment with fresh organic waste material.

12. An earthworm composting bin substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

13. A method of composting organic waste material through the action of earthworms substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 22 July 1993 ""ARTER SMITh BEADLE- Oc cvi Colnlson CaveC Fellows Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia 15 Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: /-Wf AM-I EN-RY -ANNEAR--" .I nI-SPEMW13573 22 uly 1993 ABSTRACT A composting bin adapted for use with earthworms in an organic waste material reduction process and having two composting compartments separated by an apertured control panel wall. The apertured control panel houses a slidable apertured sheet member normally closing the control panel apertures and adapted to be movable in the control panel to open the control panel apertures to allow migration of the earthworms from one compartment to the other compartment when the waste material in the one compartment has been satisfactorily reduced to a stable humus (vermicompost). o JH-SPE.2wV3573 22July 199