Patent ID: 6367377
Filing Date: 2002-04-09
Classification: B30B

Abstract:
An apparatus for compacting refuse, comprising:a compression member moveable to compress refuse collected in a receptacle; a drive connected to move said compression member; a sensor for gauging the level of refuse in the receptacle; a structure to which said drive is mounted, said structure including a housing enclosing said drive, said compression member and said sensor, said housing defining an enclosure having a space for accommodating the receptacle; said drive and said compression member being operable in response to a signal from said sensor; said drive including a scissors mechanism having a pair of input legs extending from a common fulcrum, said input legs having input feet mounted to said structure, and a pair of output legs having output feet mounted to said compression member; one of said input feet being mounted to pivot about a first axis whose location is fixed relative to said structure; and said compression member being constrained to move in a direction parallel to the bisector of the angle defined between said input legs.