Abstract: The invention relates to a method for removing and transferring refuse from serving trays which on conveyor belts are carried past different stations for removing dirty dishes, removing refuse and washing the trays. According to the invention a vacuum is produced in a suction nozzle provided immediately adjacent the path along which the trays are conveyed, and the refuse is transferred through a transfer duct which is connected to the nozzle and through which the vacuum is produced at the nozzle. The invention also relates to an installation for performing the method.

Abstract: A device for discharging refuse through a discharge pipe being in communication with a hopper having an outlet through which refuse is successively introduced into the discharge pipe from a vacuum transport system performs the following operations:A compactor gate is advanced into the discharge pipe in a direction perpendicular to the length dimension of the discharge pipe at a location between the hopper outlet and a discharge outlet to block the internal longitudinal passage thereof to substantially prevent air from being drawn into the vacuum transport system through discharge outlet and the hopper. Thereafter, a compactor pusher is repeatedly reciprocated in the discharge pipe from a withdrawn limit position in which communication between the hopper outlet and the discharge pipe is open, towards the lowered compactor gate to accumulate and compress successively introduced refuse between the compactor pusher and the compactor gate.

Abstract: The invention refers to an outdoor refuse-receiving system comprising an underground suction conveying conduit connected to and forming part of a suction-operated refuse collecting system and a plurality of mutually spaced refuse-receiving chutes at least some of which are self-contained posts accessible from public walking areas and which at the lower ends each are in refuse transferring communication with said conveying conduit, each such post being a hollow column provided at the upper end with sluice-like refuse-inserting means.

Abstract: Refuse conveying suction systems for low-rise dwelling areas are operated by holding the receiving chutes closed to the atmosphere during suction periods and in permanently open communication with an underlying collecting conduit which is open to the atmosphere at one end and connected to a main vacuum conveying conduit via a main valve which is opened to initiate vacuum conveyance of refuse collected in said collecting conduit below said chutes.