Abstract: Apparatus is provided for compressing refuse, for freezing the compressed refuse, and for storing the frozen, compressed refuse for subsequent pickup by a refuse collector. A clam-shell like device with hold bars thereon is utilized for a backup structure for previously frozen refuse, which previously frozen serves as a backup for the compression of fresh refuse. The frozen refuse is maintained at optimum temperature.

Abstract: A system for the handling of solid waste involving multiple solid waste handling stations. Each station has a hopper unit for receiving waste, a storage unit, and a compactor unit for transferring and compacting the waste. Each station is provided with detector means for detecting a packed storage unit. Adjoining stations are operatively interconnected by station selector means. The station selector means responds to the detector means to deactivate a station having a packed storage unit and to activate an adjoining station having an empty storage unit.

Abstract: A refuse container is disclosed for use in both storage and transportation of accumulated refuse. The container body is an elongated cylindrical member having a rectangular cross section. The container includes a horizontally hinged tailgate having a vertically slidable portion which opens to admit refuse into the container interior. The tailgate lower edge is provided with a latching means which cooperates with cooperating connector means carried by the container frame. An over-center latching mechanism maintains engagement between the latching means and the connector means and includes a latching yoke which prevents inadvertent unlatching of the tailgate. The second end of the container is generally open and has a transverse bulkhead which is slidable between the container ends. As the container is filled, the transverse bulkhead recedes from the tailgate end and provides a controlled resistance against material being compressed in the container.

Abstract: The door of a trash compactor has an auxiliary door located to permit trash to be entered through it into the throat of the compactor. The auxiliary door, when closed, includes a throat portion which converts into a chute when the auxiliary door is opened.

Abstract: A household compactor for compacting materials, such as kitchen waste, and having a detachable cylinder positioned above the bed plate and surrounded by a container in the form of a plastic bag. The bottom of the plastic bag also functions as the bottom of the cylinder. The cylinder is divided into two substantially identical parts which, under the action of springs, cause the end of the cylinder facing the bed plate to open up and the two parts of the cylinder are spaced from each other, as compared to the other end of the cylinder.

Abstract: A trash compactor has a compacting head supported by two sets of links, each set having a pair of links pivotally interconnected by a member common to both pairs and spacing the two sets of links apart. Corresponding ends of the links are pivotally connected to the head and means connect the other ends of the links to the compactor in a manner enabling the linkage to be unfolded to extend the head into a compacting position or retracted therefrom. Vertical screws, rotated by a reversible drive are threaded through the pivot member to effect such folding and unfolding of the linkage. The ends of the pivot member are within vertical guides and the linkage includes stabilizing links connected to the head.

Abstract: A latch means for the access door of a household trash compactor incorporates a door position sensing switch directly in the latching mechanism thereby to insure that the compactor may be operated only when the door is fully closed and locked. The latch means includes a catch engageable with a bar to secure the door. The sensing switch is operable by the engagement of the catch with the bar to permit operation of the compactor.

Abstract: A refuse compactor arranged for automatically moving the drawer from a compacting position toward an exposed refuse-receiving position. The movement is effected herein by modified operation of the compacting ram structure. More specifically, the automatic movement of the drawer is effected by the operation of the power drive provided for operating the ram normally between compacting and retracted positions.

Abstract: A garbage disposal unit is provided with a stationery compacting piston fixed at the upper end thereof and with a fixed receptacle member at the lower end thereof. A movable combination member adapted to act as both a receptacle and a compacting piston is mounted intermediate the fixed piston and the fixed receptacle. The disposal unit is thus capable of separately handling different types of garbage, with bottles, cans and the like being placed within the movable combination member to be compacted by upward movement thereof for compacting engagement with the upper fixed piston. Ordinary foodstuffs may be placed within the fixed receptacle at the bottom of the unit and movement of the combination member downwardly enables utilization of the combination member as a compacting piston for crushing garbage within the lower fixed receptacle.

Abstract: A household compactor mechanical press structure for refuse provided with a screw with a relatively large pitch having a piston attached to one end thereof. The screw runs through a threaded hole in a vertically movable structure that is supported by a pair of threaded rods. The latter are rotatably journalled at one end in a support plate and at the other end pass through threaded holes in the vertically movable structure.

Abstract: A trash compactor comprising a body having a trash receiving area and an access door through which trash may be deposited to the trash receiving area. A vertically movable ram is movable from a position adjacent said access door to a compacting position. Means are provided operable by the downward movement of the ram to lock said access door during the downward movement of the ram.

Abstract: A cabinet for a household trash compactor incorporates a cutting board on the top to enclose a bag storage compartment. The cutting board is reversible and is both hinged to permit access to the bag storage compactment and removable for cleaning and detached use.

Abstract: The trash compactor has a throat above the chamber in which the trash receiving unit is located. The trash receiving unit consists of a pan and a container, both dimensioned so that their walls are shielded by the throat. The pan fits the chamber with its walls spaced from the walls of the housing and receives a trash bag within it. The container is open at the top and bottom with its walls upwardly and inwardly tapering with its lower end fitting within the bag and holding it bottomed against the pan. Both the pan and the container are of a plastic having a good memory and they are detachably interconnected. A carrying strap enables the unit or the pan with the bag therein and with the container removed, to be carried to a pick-up or disposal site.

Abstract: A portable, rollable container unit is adapted to be removably received in a power unit. The units have means for positively guiding the container unit into the power unit and a ram in the power unit is operable to compact material in the container unit. The apparatus includes means responsive to the container unit being fully received in the power unit for enabling the ram unit and for inhibiting operation of the ram unit when the container unit is not fully received in the power unit. The container has an openable wall door section and means is provided for inhibiting opening of the door section of the container when the container unit is received in the power unit.

Abstract: A refuse compactor having a movable compacting receptacle with a plurality of control switches arranged in a novel manner to facilitate control of the compactor operation. The switches include switches for controlling the electrical drive motor of the compacting ram and structure for actuating the switches under different conditions, such as a tilted condition of the receptacle, a retraction of the ram to a retracted position, a displacement of the receptacle from the compacting position, and the like. The switches are disposed in juxtaposition for facilitated control and maintenance. An indicator may be provided for indicating the prevention of operation of the apparatus because of a tilted condition of the receptacle. The switch actuator structure includes a rod which is movably carried by the frame of the compactor and which includes a plurality of operating portions arranged to actuate different switches under different conditions of the compactor.

Abstract: A refuse compactor structure having an improved arrangement for storing bags to be used in containing the refuse during the compacting operation. The compactor structure utilizes a cover panel for electrically isolating and covering electrical apparatus in an apparatus space within the compactor which further defines a portion of the bag holding structure. The cover panel may be removably carried in the cabinet.

Abstract: A trash compactor has a trash compacting head supported by linkage of a type that can be unfolded to extend it and folded to retract it. The linkage consists of first and second sets of links connected to the head in a spaced apart relationship. A pair of parallel, laterally spaced operating members are connected to the linkage and are operable to fold and unfold the linkage to raise the compacting head into its inoperative position or to force it downwardly into an operative position. A reversible drive supported by the structure includes means connecting it to the operating members and is operable to effect their movement in the same direction and to the same extent in both linkage folding and linkage unfolding directions, in the latter direction, even if the resistance to the head is unequal in the direction defined by the connection of the two sets of links with the compacting head.

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.

Abstract: A compacting machine has a reversible induction motor drive for a ram movable in a cycle consisting of a compacting stroke, followed by a sustained dwell period, and a retracting stroke. Directional controls prepare the drive for a compacting stroke when the ram is at its fully retracted starting position and prepare the drive for a retracting stroke as soon as the ram leaves the starting position. When the ram encounters a predetermined resistance the drive automatically reverses. The ram is stopped at this time, and later is moved through its retracting stroke to complete a full cycle. Circuits are disclosed to retract the ram automatically after a lapse of time, or under manual control. A selector is also provided to make this feature optional by choice of the operator.

Abstract: A plant for the compression of garbage which includes at least one compactor having a horizontal pusher device disposed under a hopper to force the garbage into a container. The hopper is placed at the end of a large capacity storage pit into which the loose garbage is dumped and means are provided for transferring the garbage into the hopper of the compactor.

Abstract: A refuse compactor, particularly for household refuse, has an upwardly open container mounted in a supporting frame and a pressure platen movable into and out of the container. A parallelogram drive for the platen is provided and includes a horizontal guide, a carriage which is movable along the guide, at least two pair of levers mounted for pivoting about a common pivot axis and each having ends connected to the platen and to the carriage respectively, a screw spindle connected with the carriage and with a motor so as to effect shifting of the carriage when it is rotated by the motor, and reinforcing members which connect at least two of the levers to form a structural unit. A traverse member is mounted in the frame above the platen remote from the motor, and a pair of guide levers is provided, each having one end pivoted to one of the levers of one pair, and another end connected to the traverse member. A bearing journals one end of the screw spindle and the other end is driven by the motor.

Abstract: A clamp means for disposition about the mouth of an open-topped refuse receptacle in a domestic compactor, the clamp means including a bail portion for carrying the receptacle when it is filled with trash and an over-center latch mechanism which secures the clamp tightly about the receptacle and insures that a plastic bag within the receptacle is not disturbed during the compacting cycle. Additionally, the clamp means includes a projection means which is received by a corresponding support means on the compactor door to prevent the receptacle from twisting during the compacting cycle.

Abstract: A waste compactor comprising a cabinet having an extendible ram assembly mounted adjacent the upper end thereof and a removable dolly associated with the lower end thereof. The dolly is adapted to support a vertically elongated support device which is adapted to be inserted into the interior of a disposable flexible bag for supporting the bag in an open and upright position for permitting trash to be deposited therein when the support device and bag is disposed on the dolly and positioned under the ram assembly. The support device also acts as a liner for protecting the bag. A chute is swingably mounted on the cabinet for permitting waste to be deposited into the bag. The chute is movable into a closed position wherein it substantially closes the front wall of the cabinet and, when in the closed position, coacts with a safety device to permit energization of the ram assembly. The safety device prevents actuation of the ram assembly when the chute is open or when the dolly is removed from the cabinet.

Abstract: A trash compactor is provided with manual controls for causing a compacting cycle and additional clock timer operated controls which can operate the compactor ram through a cycle with an extended delay period after a compacting stroke at some time of day when the compactor is unlikely to be in use for a substantial length of time.

Abstract: Compaction apparatus in which a material receiver chamber and a container are supported upon a carriage which tilts out of a cabinet to permit material to be inserted into the receiver chamber and which returns to a rest position within the cabinet for the compaction operation. Hydraulic rams pull a cylindrical compaction blade downwardly through the access opening of the receiver chamber, and the initial movement of the blade locks the carriage in its rest position. A carriage door permits the removal of the loaded container, and a latch holds the carriage in its rest position when the container is removed. A system of electrical interlocks ensures safe operation.

Abstract: Waste compacting apparatus comprising a hopper; a compaction tunnel communicating with the hopper and providing an outlet for waste deposited therein; a packer located and reciprocable through successive forward and return strokes to advance waste from the hopper into and through said compaction tunnel, a ram, forming part of said packer, normally telescoped therein and retractably extendible therefrom in the direction of reciprocation of said packer, the ram having a leading end which forms a small portion of that of the packer as a whole when the ram is telescoped therein; motor means for reciprocating said packer through successive cycles of operation respectively comprising forward and return strokes, a standard cycle of operations commencing at a lead-off position with the ram telescoped in the packer and re-cycling means, responsive to mechanical stalling of the packer in the forward stroke of a standard cycle of operations, for terminating the forward stroke, returning said packer to its lead-off posit