Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for pulverizing empty glass bottles into small fragments of a predetermined maximum size to reduce greatly the storage and handling problems associated in the past with empty bottles. The apparatus comprises a cabinet (11) having a vertical passageway (17) through which bottles are delivered to a pulverizing station (36) where the bottles are smashed into small fragments. The pulverizing station includes a spinning metal pulverizing blade (37) surrounded and partially enclosed by a tapered metal cowl (38). The spinning blade and cowl together ensure that bottles are pulverized completely and into fragments of at most a predetermined maximum size before being deposited into a receptacle (43) that underlies the pulverizing station. Split rubber diaphragms (17, 48 and 49) and a brush filter (67) are disposed along the length of the passageway and prevent the escape of glass fragments and glass dust through the passageway and into the atmosphere.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus for pulverizing empty glass bottles into small fragments of a predetermined maximum size to reduce greatly the storage and handling problems associated in the past with empty bottles. The apparatus comprises a cabinet having a vertical passageway with spaced diaphragms through which bottles are delivered to a pulverizing station where the bottles are smashed into small fragments. The pulverizing station includes a spinning metal pulverizing blade surrounded and partially enclosed by a tapered metal cowl. The spinning blade and cowl together ensure that bottles are pulverized completely and into fragments of at most a predetermined maximum size before being deposited into a receptacle that underlies the pulverizing station. Required storage space and handling time are thus greatly reduced.