Abstract: A device for pressing cylindrical containers holding nuclear facility waste materials into disk pellets includes an initial press and a main press. In the initial press, the container is deformed by an arrangement of movable dies and tension-relieving rams into a shape suitable to fit into a compaction chamber in the main press. After the container is collapsed by the dies and rams of the initial press, the initial press is opened and the collapsed container is deposited into the compaction chamber of the main press where it is compacted into a disk-like pellets and discharged from the compaction chamber.

Abstract: A can crusher comprises a bottom plate and a handle that rotate about a first axis. A top plate is slidable along the handle. A link pivotally connects the top plate to a second axis offset from the first axis. Rotating the handle and bottom plate tends to revolve the top plate away from the second axis, but the link keeps the top plate at a fixed distance from the second axis by controlling the top plate to slide along the handle toward the bottom plate. A can or other object placed between the top and bottom plates is crushed between them as the handle rotates. The handle normally rotates from a vertical attitude toward a horizontal attitude during the crushing operation. The handle and bottom plate can rotate to a stable rest configuration below the first axis.

Abstract: A metal container crushing device comprising a base member and an arm which are each pivotable attached to one another at one end. The arm fixedly supports a compact member adjacent the pivoted end of the arm and a dent member. The compact member includes a lip which, along with the compact surface, captively engages with one end of the container. The metal container crushing device is lightweight and manually operated so that metal containers and the like can be conveniently crushed in a three step operation.

Abstract: An apparatus is for crushing at least one of a plurality of metal cans having a predetermined diameter and a predetermined length less than about twice the predetermined diameter. The apparatus includes a pair of cylindrical rollers mounted for rotation in opposite directions about parallel horizontal axes with a predetermined distance therebetween. Each of the rollers has a predetermined roller diameter greater than four times the predetermined diameter of the can. An array of extensions on the cylindrical surface of each of the rollers extends a predetermined height from the cylindrical surface and is separated from adjacent extensions on the cylindrical surface to cause the extensions of the array to cover less than ten percent of the cylindrical surface to allow general alignment of and positioning of the metal cans therebetween.

Abstract: Mounted in a frame are: (a) a hopper having at its base an opening and slots delimiting optionally articulated, inclined and vertical walls which open into the opening; (b) an inclined conveyor or chute for supplying the hopper with containers through a lock; and (c) a tool controlling one or a plurality of knives for cutting the container, which tool is mounted in the frame so as to be displaced against the containers and is provided with a manual actuator, the knife having a contour adapted to the shape of the containers and being positioned so as to partly and transversely sever the containers in the medial region of their bodies; (d) the tool including a ram for opening and flattening the containers against the inclined walls of the hopper, after the containers have been cut by the knife, while causing the containers to be emptied into a receptacle placed under the hopper.

Abstract: A can crusher comprising a vertical hopper to receive empty cans laid horizontally in a vertical stack one above the other, with the bottton can in the stack being positioned in end-to-end registration with a plunger head which reciprocates horizontally between a withdrawn position out of contact with the bottom can and an extended position to crush and compress the bottom can. When the plunger is withdrawn, the crushed can drops through a discharge opening just large enough for the compressed can to drop through but small enough to prevent an uncrushed can from falling through. The crushed can drops into a container placed below the discharge opening, and the next can in the vertical stack falls in place in registration with the plunger for crushing. The plunger head is moved between its withdrawn and extended positions by a drive rod pivotally connected to an intermediate portion of a lever which in turn is pivotally connected at one end to a pivot pin mounted in front of the vertical hopper.

Abstract: In a can crusher, cans lying in a semicylindrical compaction chamber are crushed between a movable ram and a stationary anvil plate. The ram is driven by a ram rod extending from the ram, a ram rod crank arm pivoted to the ram rod and rotated by a power driven crankshaft. Crushed cans are ejected from between the ram and anvil plate after being crushed, and uncrushed cans are fed to a lengthwise position in the compaction chamber each time the ram moves back from the anvil plate. The uncrushed cans are fed, end to end, into the compaction chamber from a feed tube located above the chamber. The feed tube has a skewer receiving opening provided in it, and a skewer retaining sleeve extends out from the feed tube in surrounding relationship to the opening. The skewer crank arm is fixedly mounted on the crankshaft in fixed angular relationship with respect to the ram rod crank arm.

Abstract: A compression apparatus for reducing solid waste in volume, including: a base; an axial compression mechanism for axially compressing a columnar container containing the solid waste, the axial compression mechanism including a punching mechanism having first teeth projecting radially outwards from an outer periphery thereof at equal angular intervals about an axis thereof, a bottom mold mechanism mounted on the base, and a drive mechanism for driving the punching mechanism toward the bottom mold mechanism for axial compression; and a mold adapted to be placed on the bottom mold mechanism to be concentric with the punching mechanism and having a cavity wall for coaxially receiving the container, the cavity wall including a plurality of mold projections projecting radially inwards therefrom and extending axially at equal angular intervals about the axis, each mold projection including an inclined inner face inclined to the axis and in contact with a conical plane tapering toward both the axis and the bottom mol

Abstract: A compression apparatus for solid waste includes a precompression device and main compression device. A precompression device includes a precompression sleeve for receiving therein a cylindrical vessel filled with the solid waste and a press ram arranged above said precompression sleeve and movable upward and downward for compressing, at high pressure, the cylindrical vessel in the precompression sleeve. The compression sleeve includes an upper straight large diameter portion, and an intermediate tapered portion, thereby compressing the cylindrical vessel and reducing its volume in three dimensional directions by compressing the vessel radially inwardly at the tapered inner surface of the intermediate tapered portion. The main compression device includes a main compression press ram and a main compression sleeve having an inner diameter no more than the inner diameter of a lowermost end of the intermediate tapered portion.

Abstract: A scrap metal collection system having apparatus for separating ferrous from non-ferrous material for which the weight exceeds a pre-determined amount and separating metallic materials from non-metallic materials. The resulting material remaining after these separations is typical aluminum cans. The cans are compacted by a crushing apparatus weighed and distributed in a storage area. Coins are returned to the operator of the apparatus determined by the weight and rounded to the nearest penny for the cumulative weight. Apparatus is disclosed for determining the excessively heavy material by allowing the excessively heavy material to fall and impact a plate. The separation of ferrous material has been implemented in a manner to avoid jamming of the conveyor belt. The distribution is of the compacted material in the storage compartment. Other improvements in the apparatus and in the control of the apparatus relative to prior scrap metal collection systems are described.

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: An improved electrically powered can compacting apparatus including a piston-type plunger to longitudinally crush cans and then deposit them either in a container therebelow or onto the surface upon which the compactor is supported. The improved compacting apparatus incorporates an automatic feed safety hopper and is powered by a non-reversing electric motor which drives a series of low-friction reduction gear assemblies. The final reduction gear assembly, in turn, reciprocally drives the compacting piston.

Abstract: Apparatus for crushing waste containers such as cans, oil filters, and the like. The apparatus includes a platform having a drain leading to a reservoir below the platform; a vertical support frame secured to the platform and having two spaced apart vertical columns joined together, near the top thereof, by a horizontal member; a hydraulic ram mounted on said horizontal member, a ram head secured to the lower end of the hydraulic ram adapted for downward and upward movement; and a compartment for receiving waste containers. The base of the compartment is secured to the platform and the sidewalls thereof are secured to the vertical support frame. The compartment has an opening for introducing a waste container onto the platform and removing the container after crushing and a piercing device for puncturing containers placed in the compartment. A hydraulic pump mounted on the platform and connected to the hydraulic ram causes upward and downward movement of the ram head.

Abstract: Apparatus for crushing cans or the like comprises a conveyor formed from a plurality of endless chains cooperating with a fixed inclined crushing plate converging toward the discharge end of the conveyor. The crushing plate includes an actuator strip-like member hinged to the plate which when depressed engages an electrical switch to operate a drive mechanism for the conveyor. A can deposited into the apparatus depresses the actuator which operates the electrical switch to start the drive mechanism. The can is gripped by the chain conveyor and pulled downward between the conveyor and crushing plate flattening the can. When the flattened can exits the crushing apparatus the actuator is released stopping the drive mechanism. A support housing for the apparatus is provided with an opening for receiving cans which is spaced a distance from the crushing plate and conveyor to reduce the risk of injury.

Abstract: A portable can crusher for reprocessing cans such as beer cans and the like. The crusher includes a hopper in which a baffle (16) is provided for directing cans towards an elongate aperture (19) formed between a casing base and a driven reprocessing wheel (20). The wheel (20) has deformation means (24) on its periphery not only to compress cans fed to the aperture (19) but also to assist in the feeding of cans through the aperture. The can crusher may be trailer or vehicle mounted.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for handling compactible articles, and particularly recyclable articles includes a housing forming a compaction chamber with a bottom door movable between a closed position and an open position and having a feed opening through which articles are passed to be collected in said chamber. A retractable loading chute into which articles are discharged directs the articles into the feed opening when in the open extended position is movable to a retracted position to form wall portion of said chamber closing the feed opening. A first drive has a platen that is moved between extended and retracted positions in said compaction chamber to compress the collected articles in the chamber into a unitary block of mechanically interconnected compacted articles and move the block from the chamber. A second drive connected to the bottom door moves said bottom door between a closed position for compaction and a retracted position for the discharge of said block from said chamber.

Abstract: A process for crushing objects, primarily to crush cans, which is comprised of the steps of using manual forces assisted by resultant inertia a ramming action impacted against the device. The process involves lifting the ram, lowering it by force against the can, with a subsequent optional measurement of the can's final height after being so impacted. The process involves the measurable characteristics in degrees of offset rim alignment, as well as the quantity and quality measurements made on the layers of stratification in the crushed can's sidewalls.

Abstract: A press is provided for compacting small scale objects such as beverage cans. The press includes a hollow, cylindrical housing having a floor and sidewalls extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom to define a housing cavity, a compacting arrangement slidable within the cavity, the compacting arrangement being arranged to travel within the cavity in close proximity to the sidewalls of the housing, and an arrangement for drawing the compacting means downwards toward the floor of the housing. The drawing arrangment may include an arrangement for producing negative pressure within the housing cavity or an electromagnet and is capable of drawing the compacting arrangement toward the floor of the housing with sufficient force to substantially crush an object positioned between the compacting arrangement and the floor of the housing.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for crushing differently shaped and/or sized containers of waste material without disassembly of the device. A mold, having an inner cavity sized so as to accommodate a larger container, has a sleeve located therein which can be locked to the mold for simultaneous operation. The sleeve has an inner cavity of a shape and size so as to contain the smaller container and also to allow a ram to move through the sleeve cavity and compress the smaller container. The ram also has a structure for locking the sleeve to the ram so as to permit the sleeve ram combination to crush a larger container which has been located in the mold cavity. The locking and unlocking of the mold/sleeve or sleeve/ram as well as the mold movement and ram movement are all remotely controlled so as to permit crushing of various sized and shaped containers without disassembly of the press and the consequent exposure of workers to possible hazardous conditions.

Abstract: A manually-operated device specifically for crushing cans, such as aluminum cans, includes a relatively heavy tramping element which is connected to an elongated handle, whereby when the tramping element is held over a can and driven downward, the can is crushed.The tramping element may include either a groove or rib for venting air that may become compressed in the can as the can is crushed.

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.

Abstract: A magnetic can separator where a supply device drops crushed cans onto a mechanism that includes a non-magnetic separator disc positioned by a shaft for permitting rotation of the disc at a controlled speed, a plurality of magnetic members secured to the under surface of the disc for attracting magnetic cans and retaining them on the disc, and a guide secured adjacent to and above the top surface of the disc to engage any articles thereon and extending generally radially of the disc offset from its center to engage cans or articles on the upper surface of the disc and as the disc is rotated, the crushed cans are progressively stripped from the upper surface of the disc by the guide whereas the non-magnetic cans are thrown circumferentially from the disc substantially immediately upon deposit thereon. The separator disc can be positioned at an angle of up to about 50 degrees to the horizontal for improved operation.

Abstract: A reciprocating ram crushes cans along their longitudinal axis. First and second cams move with the ram and operate first and second holding members which feed the cans one by one into a ram passageway for crushing. A valve actuator is movable with the ram for alternately operating a switching valve for directing hydraulic fluid alternately to opposite ends of the ram to operate it in opposite directions during its cycle of operation.

Abstract: A reverse vending machine provides for the separation, counting and crushing of beverage containers of a predetermined size range and composition. The machine includes an in-feed station for receiving multiple, disarrayed containers, an on-load station, and an in-feed conveyor operable to transport multiple, disarrayed containers from the in-feed station to the on-load station. A separator/conveyor is provided for separating, singularly, a container from the disarrayed containers, and for transporting a container so separated from the on-load station to the off-load station. Mechanisms are provided to reject unacceptable containers between the on-load station and the off-load station. A counter is provided for counting the number of acceptable containers. The containers pass into a crusher which reduces the volume of the containers. A receipt printer is provided to print a receipt indicating the number of acceptable containers processed by the machine. A microprocessor coordinates machine operating cycles.

Abstract: A can compactor in which there is relative movement between a cam and a can, in a direction generally tangential to the can. Such relative movement progressively collapses the can sides, following which the can ends are bent over further than they were bent as the result of the can-side collapsing.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for crushing aluminum beverage cans after the contents have been emptied. The can crusher includes a frame having an anvil mounted at one end thereof and a movable ram positioned on the frame and facing the anvil, a crushing chamber is affixed to the frame for supporting the can between the anvil and the ram and a means is provided for moving the ram toward the anvil and then away from the anvil.

Abstract: This invention is a combination can crusher and exercise device. A spring loaded jaw means acts as an exerciser for the user thereof while at the same time being adaptable for use as a can crusher. The present invention has the additional feature of being self-adjustable for either short or tall cans, particularly cans of the beer and soft drink type.

Abstract: A machine for crushing metal cans into rectangular blocks or bales wherein cans are fed through a precrusher, which flattens and rips open the cans to drain liquids therefrom and leaves protruding torn tabs and flaps that facilitate bonding of the cans into a self-sustaining bale. The flattened cans are collected in a charging bin until a predetermined weight is reached; then the cans are released into a bale-forming chamber, which is closed by a hinged door forming an initial compression member. A ram then compresses the cans longitudinally in the chamber, the ram having ribs on the compression face to form grooves in the bale for future stack-retaining straps. A sliding door opens the end of the baling chamber for ejection of the formed bale by continued extension of the ram.

Abstract: Crushing apparatus for crushing containers which includes a tray on which the container is received and which can be positioned along side the housing of a crushing unit. A wiper panel is operated to move the container off the tray and into the crushing unit and onto a lower crushing platen. An upper crushing platen is then stroked down to crush the container. Following crushing, the lower platen is slid away from the crushing unit housing and the crushed container falls to a collection location.

Abstract: An impact crushing apparatus, primarily adapted to crush aluminum or steel beverage cans, which is powered by manual forces assisted by resulant inertia which achieves axial compression of metal containers between parallel surfaces supported on a stationary base and moveable ramming assembly. The subject device has a ram with attached slide appendage which appendage is adapted to reciprocate through base, and has a ramming head on one end and a handle for securing firm grasp of said ramming assembly on the opposite, upper end.

Abstract: The method of redeeming returnable containers includes a plurality of remotely-located machines receiving returnable containers and storing information about the numbers of such containers received according to different values of an identifying parameter. A central coordination facility accesses the stored information and determines how many returned containers the different facilities have collected, and ensures that all parties are properly reimbursed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recycling cans is disclosed. After separating magnetic material from the material input and separating conductive material from the remainder of the material input, overweight magnetic and/or conductive material is removed. The remaining metallic portions are then recombined for storage.

Abstract: A can crushing apparatus has an outer, bottomless drum housing, which is tubular and mounted on rollers to be freely rotatable, and a central inner roller which is mounted on the interior of the tubular drum, is urged against one side wall of the drum, and is power driven. Cans to be crushed are guided on a suitable guide into a nip between the roller and the outer drum, and are crushed as they pass between the roller and drum under spring load. Crushed cans will drop through the open bottom of the drum into a collecting bin or sack.

Abstract: An electrically actuated can crusher having a housing, a motor mounted within the housing and a shaft rotatable by the motor and downwardly driven thereby having a crush plate thereon. The housing also includes a bottom crush plate allowing a can to be crushed to be placed in the housing between the crush plates. The housing includes an access door which, when in the open position, deactivates the motor. In this manner, when the door is closed, the motor can be activated to lower the shaft crush plate to crush a can placed therebetween. The shaft crush plate may include a lever movable in a slot in the housing to align the shaft crush plate in its movement and a reversing switch may be provided in the lever and slot to reverse the direction of movement of the shaft crush plate after crushing of a can.

Abstract: A manually operable apparatus is provided for crushing metal cans and unscrewing lids of jars. The apparatus is comprised of a base, a guide rising upwardly from the base, an overhead assembly which slidably engages the guide, and a handle adapted to cause vertical movement of the overhead assembly. A can or jar to be acted upon is positioned upright upon the base. Forceful downward movement of the overhead assembly accomplishes the desired effect.

Abstract: A one-step, manually operated apparatus for one-handed flattening and folding of cylindrical crushable containers, so as to enable them to be stored in a smaller space when they are in their normal dimensions, and to flatten them in a manner that the vendor identification marks are readily discernible after flattening.

Abstract: A soft drink can crusher, including a piston slidable in a cylinder, and a motor drive for a connecting rod pushing the piston against a metal can placed in one end of the cylinder and crushing the can against an anvil.

Abstract: An apparatus for the receipt of a recyclable container is disclosed. The apparatus includes a manually rotatable carrier having a container receiving station. The recyclable container is inserted into the receiving station where the presence or absence of a container having a metallic sidewall is determined prior to any movement apparent to the user. If the object inserted into the receiving station is determined to be a container having a metallic sidewall, rotation of the carrier for further processing of the recyclable container is permitted. The initial passive screening may include detecting the orientation of the container, detection for the type of metal sidewall, and may also include optical scanning of the container for reading a product code thereon.

Abstract: An apparatus for compacting refuse providing an ability to compact refuse in a drum or in a bag or providing for the compaction of drums themselves which are unwanted. The apparatus provides a supportive frame having a platform on the frame upon which a drum or bag can be supported at its bottom. A provided jacket assembly can be opened for placement about the drum or bag, the jacket after closure supporting the drum or bag about its sides during compaction. A hydraulic ram having an attached compacting disk is supported vertically above the support platform and during operation compacts refuse within the jacket and in the drum or bag as desired maximizing the quantity of trash contained within a particular drum or bag for later disposal. During the compacting operation, a drum or bag is supported on its bottom by the platform on its side by the jacket and the trash is compacted from above by the compaction disk. When a bag is used, the jacket assembly supports compaction. By leaving the lid on a drum (as e.

Abstract: A device for sorting packagings such as cans having overall dimensions within a pre-determined range as regards length and diameter, comprising a first sorting stage, including a pivoted supporting member for carrying the packagings and a frame with an opening through which the supporting member is movable to the second stage. The second stage includes pressing members cooperating with the supporting member to effect axial compression of the packagings carried by the supporting member. The opening of the frame is of a size which limits the dimension in at least one direction of the packagings passing through the opening. The second stage is provided with a second opening through which compressed packagings pass whereby the second opening maximizes the axial length of the compressed packagings which pass through the second opening and are thereby sorted out.

Abstract: Apparatus for sorting packagings such as cans of a certain type of material from packagings of other types of materials comprising a support member transporting the packagings one by one to a compression station at which are disposed first and second pressing members arranged to move relative to each other to compress the packagings transported by the supporting member. The relative movement of the pressing members and transfer of the packagings when relative movement of the pressing chambers has ceased is controlled by a regulating mechanism such that when compressive forces of a magnitude within a predetermined range required for packagings of the type of material in question allow the pressing members to move towards each other to complete the pressing operations whereby the packagings are compressed to a size before transfer to a collecting device. In the case of compressive forces of a magnitude outside the predetermined range, the packagings are prevented from being transferred to the collecting device.

Abstract: A container disposal apparatus raises containers to an elevated position from which they traverse a downwardly inclined chute. Rotatable interrupter plates associated with the chute intermittently align apertures of limited extent with the chute so as to pass along the chute containers arriving at the interrupter plates when the apertures are aligned with the chute and to clear them from the chute otherwise. Containers successfully traversing two successive interrupter plates trigger prize-dispensing mechanism.

Abstract: A method for converting low-density objects into a bale that is suitable for transportation and storage. A bale made in accordance with the method of the invention comprises a first compressed biscuit having a recessed groove; a second compressed biscuit adjacent the first biscuit and a strapping means inserted into the groove and extending circumferentially around the first and second biscuits. The invention is particularly useful for making bales of compressed biscuits from recycled aluminum containers.

Abstract: This invention is a strength measuring device utilizing changes in air pressure. The bellows portion of the device is a standard soft drink or beer can. The purposes of the present invention are two-fold; first, to measure the strength of the user thereof and secondly, to crush the can for more compact storage prior to disposal.

Abstract: A can crusher is composed of two basic components. A base member is mountable to a stationary surface and a lever is pivotably mounted to the base. The base includes a stationary anvil surface for receiving the side wall of a can. An inclined stationary abutment surface is affixed to the base surface to receive and abut one end of a can. The abutment surface is inclined at an acute angle to the anvil surface. An elongated lever is pivoted to the base end opposite the inclined abutment surface. The lever includes a flat crusher surface thereon for engaging a can end opposite the end presently engaging the inclined abutment surface. The lever can be manually operated to crush the can by initially moving the can axially against the inclined abutment surface. This folds the engaged end over. The remaining end is folded over by the crusher surface. The folding action may continue until the two can ends are crushed flat against the previously cylindrically can side wall.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for identification and separation of metal boxes or cans, said can (1) being placed in a motor controlled cradle (7), and said cradle with the can being rotated in a first direction (a) to a first position with a first, preferably low stepping frequency, and then being rotated or influenced for rotation (b) back in a second and opposite direction (starting point position) with a second, preferably high stepping frequency, the time of said return movement simultaneously being measured as a function of the moment of inertia caused by said can and wherein said can as a function of the measurement of time and possibly of additional measurement of the can length and metal type is thrown out (A;B) of the cradle (7) either because said cradle is rotated further in said second direction (c) or because said cradle is rotated back (d) in the first direction and past said first position. Before the can is placed in said cradle it may be scanned inductively (3) and/or capacitively (21).

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for receiving and processing used containers including an enclosure with a rotatable carrier having one or more container receiving stations therein. Means are provided for detecting the presence of a container inserted into the receiving station. Means are also provided for crushing a container accepted for processing by the apparatus comprising a fixed crushing jaw and a movable crushing jaw adapted for dual engagement with a container to provide two stages of crushing.

Abstract: An improved feeding mechanism is provided for apparatus used for evacuating and compacting filled aerosol cans. The feeding mechanism is made up of a support plate adapted to be fitted into an inclined feed chute of a compaction and evacuation apparatus. Connected to the support plate is a rocker stop which by reciprocating between first and second positions serves to feed one can at a time into the crushing mechanism. By use of a toggle mechanism connected to both the rocker stop and a chamber door and operated by a pneumatic cylinder, the chamber in which the compaction and evacuation of the containers takes place is separated from the feed mechanism. The feeding mechanism and rocker stop are retained by quick-disconnect devices so that an entire feeding mechanism may be quickly substituted to adapt to feeding cans of different sizes.

Abstract: Plants are used for the reduction in volume of solid, bioinjurious wastes, especially radioactive wastes, in closed sheet metal containers, which consist of a closed containment enclosure having roller conveyors and other transportation elements, a container receiving lock, a high pressure press and a container discharge lock; a compacting apparatus is characterized by a container charging lock rotatable around the vertical axis and having a hydraulic cylinder for transporting the sheet metal container into the high pressure press and having a hydraulic for ejecting the shaped sheet metal container whereby a movable gripping element takes charge of transportation of the formed sheet metal container to the container discharge point.

Abstract: A process for recycling containers such as used aluminum beverage cans comprises sensing the presence of an acceptable container inserted into a receiving station in a rotatable carrier and unlatching a latching mechanism to permit the carrier to be rotated if the presence of an acceptable container is sensed. Rotation of the carrier conveys the container to a station where the container is crushed. A receipt is then issued for the crushed container. The process is controlled by a central control unit which may include a computer having a program to monitor and control the process steps.