Abstract: An apparatus for baling municipal solid waste, characterized in that it comprises a waste compacting press composed of a compartment, which encloses a chamber, and is provided, in an upward region, with an opening for loading the loose waste, and is laterally provided with an axial opening for discharging the compacted waste; the upper opening is closeable by two articulated covers, subjected to the action of two pusher jacks to apply a pre-compaction pressure to the waste fed into the chamber, and the axial opening can be closed by a door against which the waste is compacted, so as to form a prism-like bale, by an axial jack, with an action line perpendicular to the door; the door can be removed to clear the axial opening and transfer the bale from the chamber into a sorting channel, whereat a pusher element advances the bale through a strapping machine adapted to place straps around the bale.

Abstract: An automatic syringe destruction system for sterilizing and destroying a carrier storing plastic syringes. A transfer wheel stores a plurality of carriers requiring sterilization and destruction. A first piston mechanism contacts one of the carriers stored on the transfer wheel and places the carrier into one end of a compression chamber. An induction coil surrounds the compression chamber and supplies heat to the compression chamber. A second piston mechanism enters another end of the compression chamber and compresses the carrier against the first piston mechanism.

Abstract: A powder press with mechanical-hydraulic shuttle control including a main press shaft, a control unit mounted on the powder press for converting rotational motion into translational motion, including a first actuator assembly; a second actuator assembly in fluid communication with the first actuator assembly; a shuttle assembly disposed at one end of the second actuator assembly; and a cardan shaft for transferring rotational motion of the main press shaft to the control unit. The control unit includes first and second shafts disposed in spaced relationship to each other; first and second wheels, each mounted on a respective one of the first and second shafts; a member interconnecting the first and second wheels in rotational engagement; and an adjustable cam member mounted on the second shaft and operatively engaging the first actuator assembly such that rotation of the main press shaft rotates the cardan shaft which, in turn, is coupled to the first shaft in the control unit.

Abstract: Device for scrapping cars (26), in which the car is guided along some stations by a conveyor trolley (25) provided with pivotably mounted supporting members (30). One of the stations comprises a turning device for rotating the car around its longitudinal axis, whereby the bottom side of the car is accessible from above. The turning device comprises a pair of clamping bars (18) that can be pushed towards and away from each other by pivotable legs (17) supported by a bridge (13) being pivotably supported by a framework (2), in such a way that the bridge is rotatable around its longitudinal axis and adjustable in height. At the end of the transport track (31) there is a press for crushing the body of the scrapped car, substantially consisting of metal.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing strapped bales of highly compressible textile fibers is disclosed. The apparatus includes a supply chamber for supplying loose fibers to a tramping chamber which is stationary. A ram assembly repeatedly tramps loose fibers to form a compacted fiber mass which is then formed into a compressed fiber block within a stationary compression chamber disposed in fiber transfer relation to the stationary tramping chamber. The stationary tramping and compression chambers are off-set and the fiber mass is transferred through a transfer opening into the compression chamber. During the compression cycle, a new fiber mass may be tramped in the tramping chamber allowing a high production rate of strapped fiber bales. The compressed fiber block is formed between a movable main platen and a movable secondary platen which are axially aligned in the compression chamber.

Abstract: A plate press for embossing or glazing, particularly for hides and the like, comprising a frame that supports a lower plate and an upper plate. An embossing plate for dressing the side of a hide is associable with one of the plates. The plate press comprises a film that is self-adapting, temperature-resistant, and can be interposed between the embossing plate and the hide to prevent the adhesion of the hide to the embossing plate.

Abstract: A process supplies energy to electronically controlled drives, particularly drives for workpiece handling devices, in and on a press having a press slide. The workpiece handling devices are electromechanically driven and electronically controlled. In the event of a power supply system outage, at least the workpiece handling devices are supplied at least for a short time by an intermediate circuit of a drive amplifier or an uninterruptable power supply system with voltage. Thereby, all devices important for the movement of the workpiece handling devices are supplied with voltage from the intermediate circuit or the uninterruptable power supply system.

Abstract: A metal shavings and chips compactor for extruding oil from metal chips and shavings and compacting the metal into easily transportable pellets. A compactor cylinder contains a piston and has an opening through which an auger feeds metal chips and shavings. A gate doses an end of the cylinder. A first hydraulic drive drives the piston under low pressure to close the opening and apply a first compacting pressure on the metal to form a loosely compacted pellet in the cylinder. High pressure then operates the piston to form a compact metal pellet substantially void of interstices. A second hydraulic drive opens the gate; the piston is operated at low pressure to discharge the compact metal pellet from the chamber and oil is collected below the cylinder. The compacting pressures are achieved through mechanical advantages provided by the size of the piston to that of the first hydraulic drive.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a process and a device for packaging and supplying fiber material 5. In a multi-location fiber plant 1, the fiber material is filled into a closable freight container and is compacted in a filling station 2, and the freight container is subsequently shipped to a remote further processing station 3 with a transport vehicle 7. The fiber material 5 is filled into the freight container 4 as a collective load and without additional baling and hooping, and it is subjected to further processing from the freight container 4.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for replacing the dies (10, 13) in thermoforming equipment provided with a base (2), a supporting structure (12) supported by the base (2), a supporting head (9) for a counter-die (10) carried by the supporting structure, a supporting table (12) for a die supported by the base (2) beneath the supporting head (9), actuation means for the head (9) and for the supporting table (12) to control a sequence of controlled insertion and withdrawal movements between the head (9) and the supporting table (12) to cause the die (13) to close against and open away from the counter-die (10), feed means for a sheet of thermoformable material for pressing designed to operate synchronously with the activating means and including a pair of longitudinal members (15) to advance the sheet in a direction substantially normal to the direction in which the die (13) opens and closes.

Abstract: In a method for palletizing tube sections of paper or similar materials closed by means of a longitudinally glued seam into a tube form for producing sacks or bags, the tube sections are supplied in the form of tube packages from a tube machine with loading equipment to a palletizing apparatus. The tube packages are turned over individually or in groups with this loading equipment to a respective supporting base of a multideck pallet and held, compressed flat on their respective supporting base in a storage position of the pallet between the process of palletizing and a later depalletizing. To implement a palletizing process, the respective tube package is lifted into the loader and then moved into the pallet into a position, in which it is a distance above the supporting base. When it reaches the intended position, it carries out a vertical deposition motion and is deposited on the supporting base.

Abstract: A nail flattening apparatus for use primarily in re-furbishing wooden pallet components, comprising a loading station and an operating station interconnected by a conveyor. Boards having nail stubble protruding from opposite sides are placed onto the conveyor in the loading station and transferred to the operating station, whereupon a reciprocating hammer and stationary anvil disposed on opposite sides of the conveyor cooperate to substantially flatten all nail stubble in a single operation. In the preferred embodiment, a microprocessor controls a plurality of hydraulic cylinders which automatically move each board into the proper operating position, lift each board off of the surface of the conveyor, move the hammer to compress substantially all nail stubble, release the hammer to its retracted position, return the board to the conveyor for transfer out of the operating station, and move the next board from the loading station into the operating station.

Abstract: In a method for palletizing tube sections of paper or similar materials closed by means of a longitudinally glued seam into a tube form for producing sacks or bags, the tube sections are supplied in the form of tube packages from a tube machine with loading equipment to a palletizing apparatus. The tube packages are turned over individually or in groups with this loading equipment to a respective supporting base of a multideck pallet and held, compressed flat on their respective supporting base in a storage position of the pallet between the process of palletizing and a later depalletizing. To implement a palletizing process, the respective tube package is lifted into the loader and then moved into the pallet into a position, in which it is a distance above the supporting base. When it reaches the intended position, it carries out a vertical deposition motion and is deposited on the supporting base.

Abstract: A safety device which prevents a gripping bar from being squeezed in a platen press that processes plate-like workpieces. This press comprises a fixed upper beam and a movable lower beam which is raised recurrently by a driving device. The safety device comprises a pick-up for emergency situations having the form of a cell for directly scanning the passage of the gripper bar, which cell is arranged at a point of the outlet of the gripper bar from the press. The cell will actuate a switch of an emergency braking device arranged in the drive of the lower beam. Preferably, the scanning cell is an inductive pick-up detecting the proximity of a metal mass.

Abstract: A combined compactor and material mover is provided. The compactor and material mover apparatus includes a housing defining a compression zone, a mechanism for dumping waste material into the compression zone, and a mechanism for compacting the waste material in the compression zone and moving the compacted waste material into a refuse storage unit. The apparatus further includes a mechanism, in the form of a cam and cam follower, for operatively connecting the dumping and compacting mechanisms to coordinate operation thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus for crushing and releasing articles such as metal cans. A fixed anvil is mounted on the frame and a ram is mounted for movement in a direction toward and away from the anvil to crush an article located therebetween. The articles are fed sequentially to the crushing zone between the anvil and ram through a vertical chute. A spring loaded wedge plate extends outwardly from the ram towards the anvil and initially contacts the article intermediate its length to bend or deform the article to thereby insure uniform crushing of the article by the ram. A coil spring is mounted on the frame and has an adjustable finger which projects downwardly into the crushing zone to guide incoming cans fed from the chute into the crushing zone, and to facilitate release of the crushed can in the crushing zone.

Abstract: A two-stage compaction device for compressing residue metal waste and squeezing excess fluid from the waste, having a pre-compaction cylinder, a pair of compaction chambers, and a pair of die cylinders, all aligned along a common horizontal axis; each of the compaction chambers has an ejection plunger and ejection slot for removing compressed pellets of metal waste and for draining excess fluid accummulations. The pre-compaction cylinder and the die cylinders have pistons within the compaction chamber, and the actuation of the pistons is controlled to first compress residue waste material in one compaction chamber and then to compress residue metal waste material in the other compaction chamber while the ejection plunger is activated in the first chamber to eject the previously compressed pellet.

Abstract: A high production, double lift box baler having a pair of lift box assemblies which rotate between a charging position and a compression position. Each lift box assembly includes a lift box and a displaceable lower platen which has a latched position in which the lower platen forms a floor of the lift box. Each lower platen also has an unlatched position in which the lower platen is independently displaced to rest against a bottom sill during a compression cycle to withstand the compression forces. The lower platens are independently displaceable, so that while one platen is displaced against the bottom sill for compression, the other sill is latched and is utilized as a floor for tramping the fibers during a filling cycle. A latch assembly is provided for unlatching the lower platen at the compression position during a compression cycle, and for latching the lower platen integrally to the lift box for rotation and tramping.

Abstract: Automatic baling press including a plurality of vertical cases 12, intermittently rotating in carousel fashion, with continuous feed device 5 and automatic binding device 18. The cases 12 are open on the top and bottom and rotate by grazing an underlying horizontal fixed plane 6. The fixed plane or plate is provided with an aperture 21 in the pressing region. A cylinder 10 having a vertical axis is provided whose head 11 is intended to fit precisely into the case 12. The pressing station is provided with a horizontal prismatic caisson 7 with an aperture 20 equal and juxtaposed to the aperture 21 of the plane 6. The caisson has a head 15 which is axially movable. A gate 16 is transversely movable to delimit a pressing chamber 24. The caisson has a mouth for the unloading of the bales and is provided with automatic binding means 8 which are fixed.

Abstract: A waste container reformer, for reforming generally disk-shaped compacted waste containers into prismatic forms, sequentially presses the sides of the waste container into a prism with a 45.degree.-90.degree.-45.degree. triangular base so that when it is placed adjacent to another reformed container, the two form a rectangular box for more efficient use of storage space. The pressure surfaces are controlled by hydraulic cylinders to provide the forces needed to reform the container. The reforming process is controlled so that one angle is formed at a time, beginning with one of the 45.degree. angles, followed by the 90.degree. angle, and then completed by forming the other 45.degree. angle. By forming one angle at a time, the load requirements of the reformer are reduced, and a consistently similar shaped reformed waste container is created.

Abstract: Process for compacting and removing liquid from liquid containing waste materials including the steps of feeding the waste materials into compaction chambers, simultaneously compressing and heating the waste materials inside the compaction chambers, and removing liquid from the waste materials during the steps of compressing and heating.

Abstract: An apparatus for sequentially removing the top, puncturing the sides, simultaneously washing the interior and exterior of a drum and crushing the drum.

Abstract: A can crusher is provided with a can feed hopper having an open inlet at the top of the can crusher through which opening a plurality of cans may be inserted one after another to fill the hopper. Sequentially, each can falls by gravity into a crushing compartment where a power-driven ram crushes the can axially to crumple the can's cylindrical wall thereby reducing the can's length to about one-fourth or less of its original length. The crushed can falls by gravity through a discharge chute to be automatically discharged. Each can in the hopper automatically falls in succession into the crushing compartment to be crushed and discharged. To prevent human fingers from being inserted through the hopper inlet or the discharge chute and into the crushing compartment, the guiding chute paths are non-linear and/or tortuous to reduce the length thereof and to block a straight finger insertion into the crushing compartment.

Abstract: A distribution system for a tobacco press is disclosed which includes a distribution conveyor system (50) and distributor blade assembly that includes a first blade mechanism (B) and a second blade mechanism (C). The blade mechanisms are disposed in upper and lower hopper portions (80a, 80b), and distribute tobacco into a charger (30a). The charger includes a vertical chute (32a)and an internal container (34a) which inserts into a tobacco container (22a) which tobacco is distributed and compressed by means of a press head (12a). First blade mechanism (B) includes a primary distributor blade (82) which can be moved in both a linear motion and a pivotal motion to primarily control the deflection and distribution of tobacco. Second blade mechanism (C) may include secondary distributor blades (94) and (96) which, when utilized in combination with primary distributor blade (82), provide for quadrant (a, b, c, d) distribution of tobacco into container (22a).

Abstract: An adjustable powder flow gate for a rotary pellet press has a movable gate wherein one dimensional motion of the gate across an opening in a powder flow feed frame on the rotating turret of the press is effected with a rotatable shaft having a screw connection to a member attached to the gate. The shaft is maintained in a selected rotational position with a bias member that is movable between an engaged and a disengaged position. The bias member is adapted to engage a selected detent on a member attached to the shaft having several circumferentially spaced detents when the bias member is in the engaged position. The shaft can freely rotate when the bias member is in the disengaged position. An operator can easily adjust the size of the opening by first disengaging the bias member from the selected detent, turning the shaft to move the gate to the desired position, and then engaging the bias member into a newly selected detent.

Abstract: A packet, consisting of a stack of band sections lying parallel to one another, is formed in a magazine compartment. The packet is ejected by an ejecting apparatus onto the receiving table of a transfer apparatus. There it is compressed between holding members to a width B, which width is smaller than the corresponding internal measurement A of a mold, which mold is made of a base and side walls and which mold is open on its side opposite to the base. The mold is put over the packet and the packet is clamped within the mold, whereby the packet is made ready for further processing.

Abstract: A can crusher, being motorized, and self contained, and having distinguishing capability between glass, plastic, and metal cans, or bottles, and having storage capability in the bottom of the cabinet which houses the can crushing apparatus.

Abstract: A baler for baling polystyrene material which has high bulk and low weight for subsequent recycling. The baler includes a ram which provides significant penetration over repeated cycles to compress the polystyrene into a bale, which is subsequently ejected through a bale door of the baler. The baler can either be manually controlled or automatically controlled, such as by an algorithm stored in programmable logic controller. Feedback systems measure the length of travel of the ram and the pressure of the ram determine the status of baling operation, and can automatically provide for ejection of the baled material. The bale can either be manually strapped, automatically strapped, and in some events, no strapping of the bale is required. The polystyrene material is chopped by a chopper system on the baler to break the material into smaller sections for baling. The baler has been specially designed to uniformly densify and bale most poly foam materials in a high production environment.

Abstract: A system for film mulch disposal including a field-traveling compaction chamber adapted to gravity receive manually pregathered bundles of film loaded on a hopper-feeding conveyor. A reciprocating ram compacts the pregathered bundles within the compaction chamber and is manually controlled by an operator positioned for direct visual inspection of the apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus for metered infeeding, compacting as required, and pumping coarse material of little fluidity such as raw feathers includes infeed metering transferring compacting and pumping mechanisms. The infeed metering mechanism intermittently infeeds a slug of material being at original uncompressed bulk density and approximately equal to an amount of material required for each cycle of operation of the apparatus. The transferring mechanism has a rotatable screw conveyor operable for rapidly receiving and transferring the slug and a wiper arm mounted to a discharge end of the screw conveyor to rotate therewith and create a plane of cleavage in the material being discharged therefrom. The compacting mechanism has an elongated chute with an offset located adjacent the discharge end of the screw conveyor and a compactor reciprocally movable in the chute between retracted and extended positions. The chute is disposed in transverse relation to the screw conveyor for receiving the slug of material therefrom.

Abstract: At least two flexible belts each having a pair of longitudinal edges are fed parallel to each other to a uniting station with one edge of one unfinished belt transversely confronting one edge of the other unfinished belt. The two unfinished belts are laterally separated at the station so that their one edges are spaced from and parallel to each other and a separator belt is inserted into a space defined between the one edges. Then the two unfinished belts and the separator belt are fed together into a press, and are there hot pressed.

Abstract: A system for compacting and storing separately recyclable and nonrecyclable waste materials. The system includes two separate storage and compacting units, one of which is designated for the storage of recyclable material and the other designated for the storage of nonrecyclable material. The system further includes a rack structure having a substantially horizontally extending platform and a plurality of support legs extending downwardly from the substantially horizontally extending platform. The support legs and platform form a passageway or channel for receiving at least a portion of one storage and compacting unit. The other storage and compacting unit is mounted on the substantially horizontally extending platform of the rack directly above the first compacting and storage unit.

Abstract: A compacting device for conforming a variety of refuse materials, such as glass and plastic, into generally rectilinear bales, and for compacting aluminum and tin refuse material into generally square-shaped stable bales for recycling. The compacting device includes a housing enclosing a chamber and an extendable and retractable plunger disposed within the chamber. A hopper receives refuse material to be crushed or compacted, and directs the material into the chamber. An exit chamber door has a plurality of equidistantly spaced-apart rectilinear chamber door protrusions projecting from the inner face of the exit chamber door, and the face of the plunger includes a plurality of equidistantly spaced-apart rectilinear plunger face protrusions extending forwardly from the plunger face. The plunger face protrusions are adapted for forcibly contacting and compressing the material deposited within the chamber door protrusions.

Abstract: A cylindrical housing includes a piston displaceable therewithin, wherein the piston includes a piston plate mounted to an opposed end of a piston rod, wherein the piston plate is in operative communication and directed through a guide tube having a tube floor to effect crushing of an associated can member directed between the piston plate and the guide tube floor. Feet structure is arranged to intersect the guide tube between the piston plate and the guide tube floor to properly position a can member to effect crushing thereof.

Abstract: A mechanism for crushing cans includes a base, a housing disposed on the front portion of the base and having a panel, a slide slidably engaged in the housing and moveable toward the panel. The cans to be crushed are disposed in the housing and disposed in a position located between the slide and the panel. A pair of levers are pivotally coupled to the base and coupled to the slide, the can is crushed when the slide moves toward the panel.

Abstract: A carousel trash compactor for selectively sorting and recycling multi-component refuse. The carousel includes a turntable mounted in the lower portion of the housing and supporting refuse bins rotatable with the turntable to position a selected bin in a refuse receiving position or a refuse compaction position. In the housing upper portion, a stationary compactor mechanism is positioned for compacting refuse in a bin therebeneath. A lid closes an opening in the top of the housing over the refuse-receiving position. A receptacle retrieving subassembly mounted in the upper portion of the housing facilitates removal of a full receptacle from the housing. Automatic control devices are provided for selectively rotating the turntable and bins, for weighing each bin, for compacting the refuse and for extricating the filled bins from the housing.

Abstract: An apparatus which collects recyclable refuse in sorted compartments. Through either automatic sensors or through an operator panel, the apparatus determines the contents of the refuse and directs it to the proper compartment or container. In this manner, recyclable material such as aluminum cans, glass bottles, plastics, etc. are easily sorted to encourage the recycling of this material. Further, periodically, the refuse within the compartments are compacted and disinfected to reduce handling requirements and odors.

Abstract: A system for identification, separation and compacting of empty beverage cans including a first device for distinguishing between cans to be accepted and not accepted and rejecting non-acceptable cans, and for detecting at least one dimension of a can to be compacted, and for determining a can redemption value based on such detection, and a second device for compacting the can through interaction of a three arm device, a first arm contacting a mid-portion of the can and compressing that mid portion, and second and third arms acting on end regions on either side of the mid-portion to compress the remaining portions of the can. The arm device is retracted and the compacted can is removed after the compressing action is completed by the arm device.

Abstract: A baler for recyclable materials and any other materials. The baler includes a power unit which engages to the rear of the gatherer desk. An operator stands on the gatherer deck between the rear of the hopper, which provides for visual observation, and forward of the power unit. Material is fed into the hopper. A compression chamber of bale chamber is at the forward end of the system for baling of the materials and subsequent discharge by an ejection ram for later disposition. The system provides for adjustment of the hold-down assembly for the ram and the charging box section, as well as for adjustment of the knife between the ram and the knife on the shear beam. The baler provides for adjustability for proper movement of the ram through the charging box, and for proper shearing of most materials which may be above the ram prior to entering the bale compression chamber area.

Abstract: A can crusher for flattening cans is provided which has a cylindrical body having a first upstream end and a second downstream end. A fluid cylinder having a piston rod is connected to the first end of the body and a piston rod is mounted within the body and attached to the piston rod for movement from a retracted upstream position to an extended downstream position. A discharge opening is provided in the body adjacent the downstream end thereof. A can receiving opening is provided in the body spaced a distance from the discharge opening at least equal to the maximum can height to be accommodated by the can crusher. A ripper tooth extends longitudinally within the body from the can receiving opening to the discharge opening. A control device selectively supplies hydraulic fluid to opposite ends of the fluid cylinder to move the piston between the retracted position and the extended position to simultaneously drain liquid from the can as it is crushed.

Abstract: A baling machine has an outer housing forming an elongate, rectangular main baling chamber with a discharge opening at one end and an auxiliary baling chamber intersecting the main baling chamber. An inlet opening directs cans into the chambers at the intersection. An auxiliary piston is reciprocally mounted in the auxiliary baling chamber to compress cans to a first compression pressure in an initial compaction stage, while a main piston is reciprocally mounted in the main baling chamber to compress the compacted cans to a second compression pressure in a final compaction stage in which a bale of predetermined dimensions and weight is formed without any need for pre-weighing the cans.

Abstract: A baling press provided with a pressing box, a feed chute connected with the pressing box via a passage, at least two prepress valves. The prepress valves are each pivotable about a pivotal axis, provided with a flat wall which in closed position closes off the passage from the feed chute to the pressing box and in opened position is disposed in the wall of the feed chute, and with a surface substantially curved about the corresponding pivotal axis, which surface in closed position bounds the feed chute in axial direction. One of the prepress valves is provided with a connecting surface which in the closed position is curved about a pivotal axis of one other of the prepress valves. In that closed position, the connecting surface is disposed at a distance from the curved surface of said other prepress valve which is at most minor and substantially constant.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus and a method for forming a formable food mass, comprising food pieces without a binder, in selected shapes; and this invention relates to the apparatus used to prepare the formable food mass without the use of binders, wherein the food pieces are optionally chilled to from about 25.degree. F. to about 35.degree. F. prior to compressing the food pieces into the desired shape; optionally the apparatus has a chilled mold cavity maintained at from about -5.degree. F. to about 5.degree. F. during compression of the food pieces therein.

Abstract: A trash compactor is provided that has a single ram that simultaneously precompacts trash in an auxiliary precompacting chamber and compacts trash that has already been precompacted in a main compacted and storage chamber. The ram has a single actuating device and efficiently provides for both precompacting in the auxiliary precompacting chamber and for compacting in the compacting and storage chamber with each stroke of the ram.

Abstract: A unique automated and comprehensive through-the-wall waste handling and storage system for treating organic and inorganic waste generated in a building of interest is disclosed in which waste to be discarded is loaded into a through-the-wall system from one side of a wall of the building of interest, stored in a container, and removed from the container on the other side of the wall of the building of interest. The container of the invention includes space conditioning refrigeration system and contemplates embodiments of an integrated waste handling and storage system which accommodate all types of waste and many levels of automation and which also eliminate many prior art sanitation and sorting problems associated with the handling and the storage of waste prior to disposal.

Abstract: A trash compactor is provided having at least a hollow compaction chamber rtically disposed on a base and a compacting ram slidaly fitted within the compaction chamber, such that the compacting ram is disposed above the trash to be compacted. The trash to be compacted is first loaded into the compaction chamber between the base and the compacting ram. A downward compaction force is then applied to the compacting ram to compact the trash within the compaction chamber to the required density. The downward compaction force is then maintained while the compaction chamber is removed from around the compacted trash. Finally, the downward compaction force is removed from the compacting ram thereby leaving a compacted trash slug. The trash may be wetted prior to compaction to further enhance the delamination characteristics of the trash slug.

Abstract: A system for baling strands of material wherein a predetermined quantity of strands of material is compressed into a bale of strands of material having a density of at least about 14 pounds per cubic foot and having a substantial portion of the bale unmatted, the system being particularly useful for baling easter grass. The system includes a baler wherein the strands of material are compressed in a substantially enclosed portion of the baler to form the bale of material. In the system, a predetermined weight comprising a portion of the total desired weight of a bale of material is compressed, and additional portions are added and compressed until the total desired weight has been compressed into a bale of material.

Abstract: A slide cradle is provided that includes a stationary well, a feed slide that is movable along the stationary wall, and a compactor wall this is disposed across from the stationary wall, rests upon a loading and compacting base, and is angularly adjustable about both ends, with this compactor wall being pivotably guided at one of the ends along a stationary side wall about a hinged support. The opposite, convexly curved free end of the compactor wall rests against a concavely curved side of the closure wall, with the convexly curved free end and the concavely curved side of the closure wall having the same center of curvature and being positively interconnected in such as way as to permit the convexly curved free end of the compactor wall to be guided along the concavely curved side of the closure wall.

Abstract: A can crushing machine comprising a first crusher device (14, 15) for crushing a can (2) from a side of the can (2) such that a first side (2a) of the can (2) is forced towards a second side (2b) of the can (2) and such that ends (2c, 2d) of the can (2) are caused to pivot inwardly towards each other and towards the second side (2b), a second crusher device (10) for acting on the pivoted ends (2c, 2d) of the can (b 2) to further crush the can (2), a magnetic separator (45, 46, 39) for holding steel based cans but not aluminium based cans whereby the magnetic separator (45, 46, 39) is able to separate steel based cans from the aluminium based cans during use of the can crushing machine, and an adjuster device (70, 89) for moving all cans placed in the can crushing machine against a stop member (93).

Abstract: An unique automated and comprehensive through-the-wall trash handling and storage system and process which are disclosed in material to be discarded is loaded into a through-the-wall system from within and picked up by a hauler from outside an associated building. The invention contemplates embodiments of an integrated trash handling and storage system which accommodates all types of trash and many levels of automation and eliminates many of the prior art problems associated with sorting and sanitation in the handling and the storage of trash prior to disposal.