Abstract: An apparatus for compacting articles including a compaction chamber adapted to receive articles to be compacted. An article chute is positioned to feed articles into the compaction chamber. A tamper is mounted in the article chute for precompacting articles in the compaction chamber. A compaction platen is mounted for back and forth movement in the compaction chamber. In one embodiment, the force applied by the platen to the articles in the compaction chamber is measured when the platen is at a selected point of movement in the compaction chamber. If the force measured is less than a selected amount, additional articles are added to the compaction chamber. If, on the other hand, the force is at least equal to a selected amount, the articles are ejected from the compaction chamber. An another embodiment, the tamper is movable between an open and a closed position.

Abstract: In a method of compacting low density articles a conveyor supplies articles to be compacted to a hopper positioned alongside the upper end of a compression chamber in which a platen is adapted to be reciprocated. When the presence of a specified charge in the hopper is sensed, the conveyor is disabled, the hopper and hydraulic cylinder with the platen in the retracted position are swung laterally to bring the hopper over the compression chamber to dump the contained articles into the chamber. The hopper and cylinder are then returned to their initial positions, the cylinder is actuated to cause the platen to compress the dumped articles, and the conveyor is again enabled to supply articles to the hopper.

Abstract: Compactor apparatus comprises a conveyor for supplying articles to a hopper positioned alongside the upper end of a compression chamber in which a platen powered by a hydraulic cylinder is adapted to be reciprocated. The hopper is mounted at one end of a beam balance, the displacement of the other end of which measures the weight of a charge in the hopper. When the presence of a specified charge in the hopper is sensed, the conveyor is disabled, the hopper and hydraulic cylinder with the platen in the retracted position are swung laterally to bring the hopper over the compression chamber to dump the contained articles into the chamber. The hopper and cylinder are then returned to their initial positions, the cylinder is actuated to cause the platen to compress the dumped articles, and the conveyor is again enabled to supply articles to the hopper.