Abstract: A hypodermic syringe destruction device wherein a cutting member and hammer member are positioned on a movable carrier within a housing. A fixed anvil is mounted within the housing, and an opening in the housing is arranged to permit the needle end of a hypodermic syringe to be inserted in an open region between the anvil and blade-hammer, with the movable carrier in a normal position. A solenoid is mechanically coupled to the carrier to move the blade through the syringe and hammer across the needle and anvil, whereby the needle region of the hypodermic syringe is separate from the syringe portion, and the needle is bent essentially 90.degree..

Abstract: A needle chopper apparatus having a rotor with radially extending blades disposed in and along the longitudinal axis of a tube member. While rotating, the blades are in immediate proximity to an inner smooth cylindrical surface of the tube member. A feed chute extends into an inlet of the tube member where the blades react with the edge of the inlet to chop disposable items into particles. The particles go through an outlet in the tube member to a container that holds a disinfectant which is circulated to the feed chute and into the tube while the items are being chopped. One end of the tube is sealed by an annular plug and the other end extends from the top portion of a mounting panel. A housing is formed by an outer cabinet that is slid over an inner cabinet and coupled together by inwardly turned tabs on the outer cabinet. The mounting panel divides the housing into a front compartment and a back compartment.

Abstract: A trash compactor assembly including a cabinet supported upon a tubular framework and having an access opening in its front. A trash guide chute is disposed within the cabinet adjacent the opening for directing trash disposed therein downwardly so that it falls into a trash receptacle. The receptacle rests upon a base which is, in turn, connected to reaction arms which extend upwardly along the sides of the interior of the cabinet. The reaction arms support racks which are in meshing engagement with pinion gears connected to the respective ends of a shaft which is rotatably supported in a U-shaped drive frame. The U-shaped drive frame is slidably disposed within a box-like ram which is, in turn, suspended from the drive frame. Elastomeric blocks are disposed between the bottom of the drive frame and the bottom of the ram for compressing as the ram reaches a predetermined reaction force from the trash being compacted in the receptacle to provide a control signal.

Abstract: A waste compactor comprising a frame, a compactor member movable on the frame into and out of a cart associated with the frame. The cart is removable from the frame and comprises two sections pivoted to one another about a generally horizontal axis. When in one position, the sections define a bottom wall, side walls, and end walls having an open end for receiving a disposable waste container. The cart is removable from the frame so that one of the sections may be pivoted about the horizontal axis upwardly to move one of the end walls out of position in order that the disposable container can be removed by horizontal movement.