Abstract: A can crushing apparatus is disclosed comprising a reciprocating head which reciprocates between two fixed walls whereby on each stroke of the head, two crushing operations are performed. Automatic can feeding means, having safety switch prime mover activation capability mounted thereon, is provided. A trash container closure base for said apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: In the plant for collecting and briquetting domestic waste the housing has loading and discharge openings and coaxially accommodates therein a chamber for forming domestic waste into briquettes and a conveyer screw for compacting the domestic waste, operatively connected to a reversible drive. The chamber adjoins the screw and has mounted therein an abutment spanning the cross-sectional area of the chamber. The abutment is mounted in the chamber for motion therein under the action of the domestic waste being formed into a briquette and being advanced by the effort of the rotating conveyer screw. The chamber is operatively connected with a drive for being moved axially to release a briquette that has been formed and for being returned into the initial position.

Abstract: Compression apparatus including a press framework defining a compression region for housing material such as straw to be compressed, one or more compression elements such as two opposed arrays of compression teeth for compressing material by movement along the compression region, and a drive mechanism for moving the compression teeth in a cycle of movement. The cycle includes the compression teeth entering into the compression region, moving along the compression region along a substantially rectilinear path to compress material in the compression region, and returning to the position occupied at the beginning of the cycle, the compression teeth being at least partially removed from the compression region during the return movement.

Abstract: Apparatus for sequentially compacting a plurality of containers includes first and second plates each juxtaposed with respect to the other and having respective compacting surfaces, one of the plates being operated by a cam for effecting the reciprocal operation toward and away from the other plate so as to crush containers between the two compacting surfaces. A magazine is provided above the compacting plates for feeding the containers into the space therebetween, the magazine being pivoted above the plates such that downward rotation of the magazine occurs responsive to the weight of a predetermined number of the containers to operate a switch which energizes the cam mechanism.

Abstract: A baling machine for particulate material such as wood chips and bark includes a vertically elongated compression chamber provided at its upper end with an inclined inlet feed chute, a downwardly facing vertically movable compression ram in the chamber, an upwardly facing vertically movable gate ram forming the lower end of the chamber during compression, and a bale-strapping assembly associated with the lower end portion of the chamber. A horizontally movable door operating between open and closed positions at the inner end of the feed chute forms part of the wall of the chamber when closed. The leading edge of the door is specially shaped to penetrate the material in the chute and to cooperate with anvil surfaces at the end of its travel to prevent jamming of the door as it closes.

Abstract: Apparatus for packing rows of flat articles, such as side-seamed folding carton blanks, in a box. A flat table top is provided with a cavity in the packing region which receives interchangeable inserts. Sets of rear abutment fingers and front compression fingers are mounted for vertical movement between hidden retracted positions and operative raised positions protruding through apertures in an insert. When the operator slides a first row of blanks to the packing region, a switch in the table surface causes a moveable wall to be extended and the rear fingers to rise. Another switch near the rear fingers causes a modular drive mechanism to extend the front fingers and then move them longitudinally to compress the row of articles. A nozzle blows a stream of air across the insert to hold a divider in place against the edge of the compressed row. A second row is then arranged against the next set of rear fingers and the divider, as a second set of front fingers extend and then compress the second row.

Abstract: A compacting apparatus is described which is operated by pressures derived from a municipal or household supply of water under pressure. The apparatus includes a compression chamber having a feed opening therein for introducing material to be compacted in said chamber. The compression chamber is generally elongated and in one end portion thereof a closeable opening is provided for removal of a slug of compacted material. A moveable cylinder is closely received in the compression chamber, and has one end thereof which operates as a ram for compacting the material therein. The cylinder houses a stationary piston which includes a plate in sealed engagement peripherally of the cylinder to divide that cylinder into two sections. A fluid circuit is connectable in flow communication with each of the sections of the cylinder, and with an external supply of water under pressure.

Abstract: A waste compacting system for use in commerical establishments is described. Refuse to be compacted is fed via a chute into a first chamber and when a given level is reached, a first hydraulically actuated ram is automatically or manually activated to push the refuse from the collecting chamber into a compacting chamber. A second hydraulically actuated ram or platen then operates to apply a high compaction force to the refuse, forcing it into a container in the bottom of the compaction chamber. An electrical control network which includes various interlocks insures safe and reliable operation of the system.

Abstract: A dual press having hydraulic units which are controlled to regulate the pressure exerted on material being treated. A control system includes sensing means along the path of materials passing to the press and sensing means along the path of materials passing from the press. Thus, sensing means control the hydraulic units and regulate the pressure so as to maintain a predetermined maximum pressure when a continuous supply of material is passing through the press. The pressure is reduced or removed completely when the supply of material is decreased or interrupted.

Abstract: An improved closed chamber baler includes a hopper into which is fed waste paper or other compressible materials to be baled. The material to be baled is forced into a bale chamber by means of a piston operated ram. Means are provided for sequentially guiding a strapping wire about the outside periphery of the compressed material at a plurality of vertically spaced intervals along the compressed material. The strapping wire is tensioned and then twisted or knotted together to form a continuous strap about the compressed material, thereby forming a bale. When the bale has been completely strapped, the compression ram is retracted and an output gate is opened. The bale is then ejected from the bale chamber by an automatic bale ejector. While the invention is disclosed in connection with baling waste paper, the closed chamber baler is capable of other uses, e.g.

Abstract: This invention teaches a compression extractor device for removing excess water from laundered goods. The device has one or more tubs, each having pervious sides and an open top and an open bottom, and frame structure that supports the tub(s) for movement relative to the frame between and to spaced load, extract, and unload operating stations. There is structure for registering and holding the tub(s) at the respective stations, particularly the extract station. There is frame clearance above the open tub top at the load station and frame clearance below the open tub bottom at the unload station, although a frame base plate underlies and closes the open tub bottom at and between the load station and the extract station. The wet goods are thus adapted to be loaded into the open tub top at the load station and the extracted goods are adapted to be ejected from the open tub bottom at the unload station.

Abstract: Method and apparatus of refuse collection in a city for disposal in a landfill characterized by the steps of sending portable collecting and baling units on routes throughout the city for collecting refuse and simultaneously baling the refuse into large bales, then periodically discharging the bales along the route. A transport unit which is capable of carrying several bales is then notified to pick up the bales and transport them to a landfill. The baling unit has a hopper collector for manually dumping the refuse, a ram for compressing the refuse within a compaction chute into a bale once the refuse fills the hopper collector. After the bale achieves a selected size, wires previously threaded through guides are tied and the bale ejected. An attached conveyor extracts the bale and carries one or two bales temporarily until at a satisfactory place along the route they are unloaded for later pickup by the transport unit.

Abstract: Apparatus automatically stacks and compresses a preselected number of batts of compressible material, such as fiberglass insulation, and then loads each compressed stack of batts into a sleeve wrapper or bag. When the apparatus is started up it is preferable to initially accumulate a stack of batts in the apparatus prior to changing the apparatus to an automatic mode of operation.

Abstract: An object compacting device having a housing with a bearing plate and an entrance opening; a wall, having an object receiving passage, mounted in the housing to divide the housing into an object discharge compartment between the wall and plate and an object receiving compartment communicating with the entrance opening; a workbed secured in the receiving compartment of the housing in endward alignment with the receiving passage and in alignment with the entrance opening; a compression member; and a mechanism mounting the compression member for movement across the workbed to and from the receiving passage in response to the insertion of an object through the entrance opening and on to the workbed.

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

Abstract: Apparatus for stacking and compressing batts of compressible material comprising a vertical stacking chamber, indexing gates in the upper portion of said stacking chamber normally disposed to receive batts, an indexing and compression plate, means for repeatedly cycling said indexing and compression plate around a first path a predetermined number of times and then around a second path once, said first path extending upwardly of the outside of said stacking chamber laterally into said stacking chamber at a level above said indexing gates, downwardly in said stacking chamber, through said indexing gates, and laterally out of said stacking chamber, said second path extending upwardly of the outside of said stacking chamber, laterally into said stacking chamber, downwardly in said stacking chamber to a compression level in the lower portion thereof that is below the extent of downward travel of said first path and laterally out of said stacking chamber, said indexing gates being operable in response to the passa