Abstract: A revolving trommel situated adjacent to a shredder has an annular screen which intercepts oversized or elongated fragments in the outflow from the shredder for return to the shredder. A first fragment guide directs the shredder outflow into the trommel and vanes in the trommel lift the oversized fragments to another fragment guide which extends out of the trommel to the shredder intake. In the preferred form, the trommel rests upon and is turned by a motor driven flexible continuous belt which carries fragments that pass through the screen upward to an elevated discharge chute. The apparatus is particularly useful for fragmentizing sterilized medical wastes.

Abstract: Infectious wastes from hospitals or other sources are sterilized in a chamber which is pivotable between a waste loading orientation, a sterilizing orientation and a waste dumping orientation. The chamber is attached to a framework by first and second pairs of pivot arms which are coupled to the sides of the chamber at spaced apart locations. An actuator swings the first arms upward to bring the chamber to the loading orientation and swings the arms downward to turn the chamber to the dumping orientation. The pivot arm arrangement causes the chamber as a whole to lower as it turns towards the loading orientation and to rise as it turns towards the dumping orientation. This reduces the amount of lifting of materials that is required during loading operations while also providing adequate clearance under the chamber for dumping operations.

Abstract: Apparatus for treating infectious wastes from hospitals, medical clinics or the like integrates sterilizing, fragmentizing and compaction steps within a single waste processor. Wastes which are deposited in a sterilization chamber are made non-infectious by exposure to pressurized steam. An outflow of wastes from the sterilization chamber is fed through one or more on-line shredders or the like and then into a compactor which compresses the processed material into a transportable container that may be hauled to a dump site.