Abstract: A method for crushing metal cans into rectangular blocks or bales wherein cans are fed through a precrusher, which flattens and rips open the cans to drain liquids therefrom and leaves protruding torn tabs and flaps that facilitate bonding of the cans into a self-sustaining bale. The flattened cans are collected in a charging bin until a predetermined weight is reached; then the cans are released into a bale-forming chamber, which is closed by a hinged door forming an initial compression member. A ram then compresses the cans longitudinally in the chamber, the ram having ribs on the compression face to form grooves in the bale for future stack-retaining straps. A sliding door opens the end of the baling chamber for ejection of the formed bale by continued extension of the ram.

Abstract: A mass is attached between light reflective ends of a pair of rectilinearly aligned optic fibers and maintained in such position with the fibers under a slight tension. The pair of fibers comprise a portion of two arms of a Mach Zehnder or Michelson interferometer so that an acceleration along the longitudinal axis of the rectilinearly aligned optic fibers increases the length of one of the pair of fibers and shortens the length of the other, whereby electromagnetic rays traveling in the pair of fibers, travel different distances resulting in a phase shift which phase shift is directly proportional to the force applied to the fibers by the mass and therefore directly proportional to the acceleration. Accelerations in directions perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the fibers cause equal phase shifts in each arm and therefore would not be detected. Thermal expansion of the fibers and acoustical noises should also balance out.

Abstract: A compact can crusher in which used beverage cans and the like are dropped into a chute and are crushed flat between an oscillating crusher plate and a wall of the chute, the crushed cans being dropped through an open lower end of the chute. A drive motor is coupled to the crusher plate to apply maximum thrust at opposite ends of the oscillating stroke, so that cans are effectively flattened to a minimum thickness. In one form spring stored energy adds to the initial crushing action when the most pressure is needed, and provision is made to prevent cans from jamming in the chute and to prevent the mechanism from being jammed by articles which are not readily crushed.