Multi-unit automatic compacting, packaging, and disposal machine for plural materials

This present invention relates to a multi-unit, automatic machine for compaction, packaging, and disposal of plural types of material such as newspaper, plastic containers, glass bottles, aluminum cans, or other household and commercial waste. Each type of material is automatically processed in a separate unit and than separately packaged and sealed in a special bar coded bag, which is then disposed of the machine. The automatic recycling machine is constructed as an appliance and includes housing with inlet for each material type where material is inserted to a specific unit. The material is crushed and compacted as a movable container is moved upwards towards a static container thus reducing the volume of the material between them. The actuation system consists of double scissors member mechanism and pneumatic actuator connected in between members of the mechanism, thus amplifying the travel of the actuator. Alternate actuator type consists of gearmotor with lead screw as output shaft, which convert rotary motion to linear motion using a drive nut. The material is compacted within a special type packaging means which is inserted through an opening in the back of the machine and into a special guided slot, in which it is supported during the process. When the bag is filled, it is automatically sealed by means of two parallel bars, which are moving towards each other by means of pneumatic actuators. A seal is created along their contact line where the parallel bars meet each other by means of electrical heating elements. The package is then conveyed out of the machine as said movable container is moved upwards and the package is pushed down by said static container through a lower opening in said moveable container after that said opening covers are moved out by pneumatic actuators. The package is then conveyed out of the machine through a side cover of the housing by means of a conveyor. The control panel of the machine includes push buttons to override the automatic control of the compaction and package removal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
(A) Field of the Invention 
As known, waste, refuse, trash and garbage is a critical problem for the 
world today. It covers almost every place on earth where people live and 
create waste material that is polluting the land, air, water, and 
environment. 
Compaction and packaging waste materials help in the recycling and reusing 
of these materials and is the most effective, economical and healthy way 
of solving the waste disposal problem. Therefore, building automatic 
compaction and bagging machines will make recycling easier and more 
efficient and therefore very important to well being of our world. 
(B) Description of Prior Art 
Prior art, which related to recycling devices includes ways to improve and 
organize the waste collection and recycling duties and proposes several 
types of storage containers for helping with the sorting of the household 
waste materials. Other patents include means to mechanically reduce the 
volume of some waste containers such as aluminum cans with mechanical 
means of crushing plastic containers of certain shapes. 
Few examples of the patent which are related to this prior art are: U.S. 
Pat. No. 5,072,833 to D. Hansen and P. F. Mahoney, No. 5,042,634 to C. 
Gulmini and No. 5,048,903 to E. Loblein. 
Other prior art patents relates to compacting means for waste material. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,241,562 by Kurt H. Smedlund disclosed means to compact 
plural refuse receivers on an indexable support, by a power-operated 
movement programming mechanism which is controlled manually. Also, its 
mechanism for compacting multiple refuse receivers one after the other in 
a cyclic motion is not suitable for multiple types of waste, where usually 
only one receiver needs compacting at a time. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,620,479 by Fredrick L. Diamond provides special collapsible 
box in which the waste material is compacted by hydraulic ram. However, 
the compact operation and the removal of the filed bag is done manually 
and there is no sorting of the waste material. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,638,730 by Robert W. Bonacorsi disclosed means to remove 
the filled bag by a wheeled bin which is removed from the compactor 
housing and moved on the wheels to the site of waste disposal. However, 
the compact operation and the removal of the filed bag is done manually 
and there is no sorting of the waste material. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,275,651 by Hugh F. Groth and Guilbert M. Hunt disclosed 
compacting means, which include a ram driven by scissors-type actuator. 
The container is made of molded rigid plastic, which is attached to 
two-wheel cart for moving the container. However, the compact operation 
and the removal of the filed bag is done manually and there is no sorting 
of the waste material. 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,155,975 by James T. Knower disclosed a ratable driven tooth 
shaft-rotor which mesh with static teeth located on anvil member is used 
to shred waste material and also compact it into the waste box. However, 
shredding operation and the removal of waste box with fork lift-type jack, 
may be more suitable for industrial waste rather then for household use. 
In addition, the waste material is not sealed inside housing and there is 
no sorting of the waste material. 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,259,304 by Mark A. Roberts disclosed a Carousel Compactor 
for Multi Component Refuse. The specific waste containers are being turned 
to certain angular location for receiving new waste, for compacting and 
for removal of the filled bag. However, the control of all operations 
including introducing new waste, compacting, and removal of filled bag is 
done manually through microprocessor. 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,447,017 by Yona Becher and Dan Lemieux provided solution to 
the sorting, compaction, packaging, sealing, and disposal of waste 
material. 
However, the prior art has not provided yet an easy, low cost solution to 
the household and commercial waste recycling and collection task, which 
could be widely utilized by the public. 
According to said prior art; the recycling the waste material handling 
still requires tedious and mostly manual effort every single day. 
Even by utilizing the prior art techniques for recycling and reducing the 
volume of the waste, there is still no efficient way to help the public in 
the daily effort of coping with the new recent waste recycling laws, which 
were enforced in many states throughout the country. 
Generally, the prior art has not solved the waste material recycling and 
disposal problems, in every household and business. 
OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION 
The objects of this invention is to provide an automatic multi waste 
materials types compaction, packaging and sealing machine with disposal 
means for household or business. 
More particular object of the invention is to provide a novelty means of 
automatic multi-waste and recyclable material types compaction, packaging 
and sealing machine with disposal system for the household and commercial 
waste which is convenient, easy to use and maintain, odorless, safe, 
efficient and affordable. Also, a special designed packaging bag enables 
automation in the compaction, sealing, and disposal of the packaged 
material. 
The recycling of waste materials in household and businesses has become 
important part of our daily life after that some strict laws in many 
states require the recycling of most of the waste material. Recycling by 
the law requires a daily effort from every citizen. The object of this 
invention is to improve waste recycling process by reducing its volume by 
compaction and crushing. In addition, it provides packaging and sealing 
means to avoid spillage and odor and then complete the operation by 
automatic disposal of the package from the machine. The automation of all 
these processes, helps to make the recycling process fast and comfortable 
routine in our everyday life. 
Furthermore, The object of this invention is to provide each household and 
commercial facility with an affordable new appliance which is neat 
looking, clean and odorless which will replace the kitchen garbage 
container and the plural bags and plastic containers used for recyclable 
waste, by one automatic waste compacting and packaging machine for plural 
types of recyclable waste materials and non-recyclable waste. 
In addition, the object of the automatic waste compaction machine is to 
improve the quality and thereby the value of the recyclable materials by 
crushing and compacting it so as to reduce the volume to a minimum, 
thereby reducing conveying expenses per pound waste. 
According to this invention, the package is specially prepared to be 
collected in a special automatic central collection system, which will 
read an identifying bar-code marking on the package and will sort the 
waste according to its type, and also will provide credit to the household 
or commercial source of the waste as identified by the bar-code. 
In general, it is the primary objective of this invention to help solving 
the waste disposal problem by providing affordable automatic recycling and 
disposal system for at least the following waste material types: 
1. Recyclable materials: 
Paper types: Newspaper, Magazine paper, and cardboard. 
Glass types: Clear Glass, Green Glass, and Blue Glass. 
Aluminum: Aluminum Cans. 
Metal Cans: BI-metal Cans. 
Plastics: Plastic types 1,2,3 including Bags, Plastic Bottles of beverage, 
Plastic jags for milk, spring water, laundry, cosmetic containers, etc. 
2. Non recyclable materials such as household garbage.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring to FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of the automatic material 
processing machine is shown in three-dimensional view. The machine 
assembly consists of main frame 1 with a cubicle shape, which resembles a 
configuration of an appliance such as household washer or dryer. The 
machine shown in FIG. 1 consists of two independent material processing 
compartments A and B. each compartment is allocated to one specific 
material type. However, the two compartments A and B are shown as example 
only and the machine may consists of more material processing 
compartments, with each compartment allocated to a specific material type. 
Referring to FIG. 2, a top view of a machine with compartments A and B 
shown with their inlet covers at open position. 
The following description relates to FIGS. 1 and 2. The material is 
inserted into compartments A and B through material inlet openings 12 and 
13 respectively which are located in the upper panel 4. The openings 12 
and 13 are provided with sealed covers 5 and 6 respectively. The covers 5 
and 6 are equipped with handles 7 and 8 respectively and they are pivoted 
on hinges 28 and 15 respectively to upper panel 4. The normally closed 
position of the inlet covers 5 and 6 is controlled by torsion springs 16 
and 17 respectively, which apply torque to keep the inlet covers in closed 
position. In addition, permanent magnet bars 19 and 20 are attached to 
each inlet cover respectively. The permanent magnet bars remotely operate 
the position indication magnetic switches 21 and 22, which are located on 
the top panel 4. When cover is in closed position, the magnetic field 
created by permanent magnet bar affects the position indicator magnetic 
switches to indicate closed position of the inlet cover. When inlet cover 
is open, the distance between the permanent magnet bar and the magnetic 
switch is too large to affect the switch. Located at the lower side of the 
front panel 3 is outlet opening 29 for processed material packages, 
through which packages of both compartments A and B are disposed out of 
the machine. The outlet opening 29 is provided with outlet cover 14. The 
outlet cover 14 is pivoted on horizontal hinge 25 to front panel 3. The 
normally closed position of the outlet cover 14 is controlled by torsion 
springs 26, which apply torque to keep the outlet covers in closed 
position. The outlet cover is opened as it is pushed outward by processed 
material package, which is conveyed by conveyor outside the machine. A 
side opening 240 located at the side panel 27 for the introduction of 
special packaging bag into the machine is provided for each compartment. A 
control panel 2 includes two control knobs 9 and 10 for compartment A and 
two control knobs 23 and 11 for compartment B. Knob 9 controls the 
electrical power to compartment A. Knob 10 controls the manual commanded 
compacting of the material in compartment A and disposal of sealed package 
from the machine. Knob 11 controls the electrical power to compartment B. 
Knob 23 controls the manual commanded compacting of the material in 
compartment B and disposal of sealed package from the machine. 
Static containers 31 and 32 are rigidly attached to main frame. The outlet 
covers 33 & 34 of compartment A are shown in closed position, while the 
outlet covers 35 & 36 of compartment B are shown in open position. The 
material for processing in compartment A is inserted into static container 
31 through top opening 12 when inlet cover 5 is in open position. The 
material then flows down by gravitation onto the bottom of static 
container 31. 
Shown in FIG. 3 is a sectional view parallel to side panel 27 through 
compartment A of the machine before compacting operation. Shown in FIG. 6 
is same sectional view after the compaction operation, with the pneumatic 
actuators of the actuation system pressurized. 
Shown in FIG. 4 is a sectional view parallel to front panel 3 through 
compartment A of the machine before compacting operation. Shown in FIG. 7 
is same sectional view after the compacting operation, with the pneumatic 
actuators of the actuation system pressurized. 
Shown in FIG. 5 is a top view of compartment A of the machine before 
compacting operation with the top cover removed. Shown in FIG. 8 is same 
top view after the compacting operation, with the pneumatic actuators of 
the actuation system pressurized. 
The following description relates to FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8. The static 
container 31 attached to main frame 1 with screws 183 and is provided with 
a two lower outlet covers 33 and 34 that cover the bottom outlet openings 
49 of static container 31. The L shape construction of the bottom outlet 
covers 33 and 34 allows the covers to uncover the outlet cover 49 at a 
turning angle lower than 90 degrees, therefore allowing flow of the 
material from the static container downwards into dynamic container 60 by 
gravitation. The covers 33 and 34 are pivoted on hinges 37 and 38 to 
static container 31, and are opened by turning over said hinges in the 
outward direction. 
The normally closed position of the outlet covers 33 and 34 is controlled 
by torsion springs 41 and 42, which apply torque to keep the outlet cover 
in closed position. In addition, permanent magnet bars 45 and 46 are 
attached to the outlet covers 33 and 34 respectively. The permanent magnet 
bars remotely operate the position indication magnetic switches, 51 and 
52, which are located on the static container 31. When cover is in closed 
position, the magnetic field created by permanent magnet bar affects the 
position indicator magnetic switches to indicated closed position. When 
outlet cover is open, the distance between the permanent magnet bar and 
the magnetic switch is too large to affect the switch. 
Pneumatic cylinder 54 is hinged to static container 31 through hinge 55, 
and to outlet cover 34 through hinge 56. When pressurized with compressed 
air, the cylinder 54 turns the outlet cover 33 to open position as shown 
in phantom lines in FIG. 3. With the removal of the pressure by control 
valve (not shown), the cylinder rod is retracted and the outlet cover 33 
will turn to closed position. 
Dynamic container 60 is open in its upper side to allow flow of unprocessed 
material 193 through the static container 31 with its outlet covers 33 and 
34 open. The dynamic container 60 is provided with two bottom outlet 
covers 133 and 134 that when in closed position support the unprocessed 
material during compacting operation and when open allow the filled and 
sealed packaging bag moving downwards from the dynamic container through 
bottom outlet opening 135 onto conveyor belt. The L shape construction of 
the outlet covers 133 and 134 allows the covers to uncover the outlet at a 
turning angle lower than 90 degrees. The covers 133 and 134 are pivoted on 
hinges 137 and 138 to dynamic container 60, and are opened by turning over 
the hinges in the outward direction. The normally closed position of the 
outlet covers 133 and 134 is controlled by torsion springs 141 and 142, 
which apply torque to keep the outlet cover in closed position. In 
addition, permanent magnet bars 145 and 146 are attached to each one of 
the outlet covers. The permanent magnet bars remotely operate the position 
indication magnetic switches, 151 and 152, which are located on the 
dynamic container 60. When cover is in closed position, the magnetic field 
created by permanent magnet bar affects the position indicator magnetic 
switches to indicate closed position. When outlet cover is open, the 
distance between the permanent magnet bar and the magnetic switch is too 
large to affect the switch. 
Pneumatic cylinder 154 is hinged to dynamic container 60 through hinge 155, 
and to outlet cover 133 through hinge 156. When pressurized with 
compressed air, the cylinder 154 turns the outlet cover 133 to open 
position as shown in phantom lines in FIG. 3. With the removal of the 
pressure by control valve (not shown), the cylinder rod is retracted and 
the outlet cover 133 will turn to closed position. 
The dynamic container 60 is capable of moving in the vertical direction up 
and down. When dynamic container 60 moves upwards towards the static 
container it compacts the material 193 in the dynamic container which is 
locked between the dynamic container 60 and the static container outlet 
covers 33 and 34 in closed position. 
Four pairs of co-linear low friction bearings 70 are mounted into the 
dynamic container 60, of which four are mounted at its upper portion and 
four in its lower portion. The dynamic container 60 up and down motion is 
guided by four vertical guiding rods 61, 62, 63 and 64 which are round and 
slide into the bearings 70 when the dynamic container 60 moves up and 
down. The vertical guiding rods are rigidly supported by lower horizontal 
support bars 65 and 66 and upper horizontal support bars 67 and 68. The 
lower and upper horizontal support bars 65, 66, 67 and 68 are rigidly 
attached to main frame 1 by screws 69. 
Attached to dynamic container 60 is a packaging bag holder 72 which support 
the packaging bag frame 78 of the packaging bag 112 during the compacting 
and sealing processes of the material inside the bag. The packaging bag 
holder 72 consists of two parallel and horizontal bars 75 and 76 with 
horizontal and parallel slots 77 and 79 respectively, where the packaging 
bag frame 78 is inserted from outside through a horizontal slot 240 in the 
machine. 
Attached to dynamic container 60 is a packaging bag sealing mechanism 74. 
The packaging bag sealing mechanism consists of two horizontal moving 
sealing bars 80 and 81 which moves relative to the dynamic container 60 
towards each other to seal the filled packaging bag, and then move away 
from each other to release the sealed packaging bag. Each moving sealing 
bar 80, 81, 131, and 132 is provided with two parallel and horizontal 
strips of an electrical heating elements 251 and 252 respectively. When 
the moving sealing bars 80 and 81 of Compartment A hit each other, the 
packaging bag 112 resilient plastic material portion 115 is trapped 
between them and is heated locally by heating elements 251 to create a 
line seal. When energized, heating elements 252 of sealing bars 80 and 81 
cut the plastic material 115 of the packaging bag 112 above the sealing 
line created by heating elements 251. The packaging bag is then cut and 
therefore separated from its frame 78. 
Four pairs of co-linear low friction bearings 87 are mounted into the 
moving sealing bars 80 and 81 of compartment A, of which four are mounted 
at their upper portion and four in their lower portion. The horizontal 
movement of the moving sealing bars 80 and 81 towards and away of each 
other is guided by four horizontal guiding rods 82, 83, 84 and 85 which 
are round and slide into the bearings 87. The moving sealing bars are 
actuated by pneumatic cylinders 210, 211, 221 and 213 of Compartment A 
which are connected to the dynamic container 60 of Compartment A. The rod 
ends of these pneumatic cylinders 220, 221, 222 and 223 of Compartment A 
are threaded to moving sealing bars 80 and 81 of Compartment A so that 
when the cylinders are pressurized, the rod ends will pull the moving 
sealing bars towards each other to create the seal in the packaging bag 
and then cut the sealed packaging bag from its frame 78. Then when 
pressurized to move in opposite direction, the moving sealing bars will be 
pushed back to their original position. 
Attached to bottom of main frame 1 is a conveying means 90 for conveying 
the sealed bags 112 out of the machine through the outlet opening 29, that 
consists of pivoted rollers 93, each consists of a rolling member 91 which 
turns over two end bearings 94. A belt 92 turning on rollers 93 which are 
driven by air motor 128 (not shown), carries the bag towards the outlet 
opening 29 which is provided with outlet cover 14 and located at the lower 
side of the front panel 3. The outlet cover 14 is opened as it is pushed 
outward by a sealed package, which is then conveyed by conveyor outside 
the machine. 
The dynamic container 60 is moved upwards and downwards by means two 
actuation systems located at front end and rear end of the machine. Shown 
in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are the actuation systems before pneumatic actuator 
100 is pressurized. Shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are the actuation systems 
after pneumatic actuator 100 is pressurized. A pneumatic actuator 100 is 
pivoted to a dual scissors parallelogram mechanism which consists of 
identical arms 161, 162 163 and 164 which are pivoted to each other 
through hinges 165, 166, 167 and 168. Arm 164 of the upper side of the 
dual scissors parallelogram mechanism is pivoted to upper actuation bar 
104 by hinge 106 with the other arm 163 consists of a roller 105 that 
slides relative to the upper actuation bar 104. Arm 161 of the lower side 
of the dual scissors parallelogram mechanism is pivoted to lower actuation 
bar 103 by hinge 107, while arm 162 consists of a roller 111 that slides 
relative to the lower actuation bar 103. Upper actuation bar 104 up and 
down motion is guided by two vertical guiding rods, 202 and 203, which are 
round and slide into the bearings 205 when the upper actuation bar moves 
up and down. The vertical guiding rods are rigidly supported by lower 
horizontal support bars 65 and 66 and upper horizontal support bars 67 and 
68. The lower and upper horizontal support bars 65, 66, 67 and 68 are 
rigidly attached to main frame 1 by screws 69. 
Pneumatic clutch 170 is used to engage the upper actuation bar to either 
one of the dynamic containers 60 of compartment A or B, so that only one 
dynamic container 60 of compartment A or B is moved upwards or downwards 
with the actuation system at a time. The pneumatic clutch consists of 
housing 171, piston 172, return spring 173, and spring retainer 174. When 
pressurized air is provided to the clutch 170 by a control valve (not 
shown), the piston 172 will be pushed to engagement with cavity 175 in the 
dynamic container 60 of either A or B compartments. When the pressurized 
air is removed, the return spring 173 will push the piston 172 to 
disengage from the dynamic container 60 when in position before compacting 
operation. 
Shown in FIG. 9 is a top view of packaging bag 112. The bag is made of a 
rigid cardboard frame 78. Attached to the frame 114 is a resilient plastic 
portion 115, which is attached to a cardboard centerpiece 116. Handle 118 
is provided to facilitate installation and removal from the side of the 
machine. 
Shown in FIG. 10 is a sectional view of packaging bag 112 before being used 
in the machine. Paper sheets 119 are glued to the upper and lower sides of 
frame 116 and encapsulate the resilient plastic portion 115, which is 
folded underneath the cardboard centerpiece 116. 
Shown in FIG. 11 is a sectional view of packaging bag 112 after being used 
in the machine. The plastic portion 115 is extended down with the 
centerpiece pulled all the way down and supported against the bottom of 
the moving container 60. 
The bag is made of recyclable materials and is constructed with strong 
materials which prevent it from being torn apart due to the crushing and 
compacting forces acting during the compaction process. The bag is marked 
with bar-code sticker 117, which includes information on the waste type, 
and on the identification of the household or commercial. 
End Of Specification