Machine for processing scrap metal containers

A machine agitates and rips scrap metal containers such as scrap aluminum cans to expose their interiors and shake out sand, dirt, and other material in the cans. Alternatively, the containers may comprise shell casings which the machine deforms by thrashing. The machine has an enclosure in which a rotatable shaft is supported. A plurality of blade sets are mounted on the shaft within the enclosure to rotate the shaft. The blade sets are distributed along the shaft and interleaved with a plurality of angled, stationary vanes that are mounted to an inside surface of the enclosure. These parts cooperate when the shaft is rotated by propelling containers on a helical path on which the blade sets batter, thrash, and rip the containers, throwing them against the vanes and the sides of the enclosure. As cans are battered and agitated by the blades, their contents are emptied and the cans are ultimately propelled to a collection point. As shell casings are thrashed by the blades and thrown against the sides of the enclosure, they are deformed to the point where they cannot be reloaded.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The invention is in the field of machines for processing recyclable 
material, and particularly concerns machines that process scrap metal 
containers such as used cans and shell casings. 
Scrap aluminum cans, such as soft drink containers, when collected for 
processing may contain material such as sand and dirt. If not removed, 
such material results in an apparent increase in the weight of these cans, 
thereby making calculation of their value difficult. Further, the material 
contained in the cans may contaminate machinery and product when the cans 
are processed for further recycling. 
Other metal containers, such as shell casings, in the form of either spent 
rounds or live rounds, must be processed by being deformed to a point 
where they cannot be reloaded, in order to permit recycling of the 
material (chiefly brass) of which they are made. 
Therefore, there is an urgent need for an effective, inexpensive way to 
empty scrap cans of their contents quickly, easily, and to deform shell 
casings, both with a high rate of throughput (thousands of pounds per 
hour). 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The invention is based upon the inventor's critical realization that 
simultaneous agitation and controlled ripping of scrap aluminum cans would 
expose their interiors while shaking out their contents, and that 
controlled thrashing of shell casings would deform them to the point where 
reloading would not be possible. The inventor has built a machine that 
accomplishes these purposes by means of a plurality of blade sets that are 
mounted on and rotate with a shaft within an enclosure. The blade sets are 
distributed along the shaft and interleaved with a plurality of angled, 
stationary vanes. These parts cooperate when the shaft is rotated by 
propelling scrap metal containers on a helical path. Relatedly, as the 
shaft rotates, the blade sets rotate with it, imparting a centrifugal 
force to the containers which throws them against the vanes. The vanes are 
angled with respect to the shaft in such as way to deflect the containers 
from one blade set to the next along the shaft, thereby directing the 
containers on a helical path. 
As the blade sets propel them, the cans are struck by the blades, their 
contents are emptied, and the cans are ultimately propelled to a 
collection point. 
Alternatively, as the blade sets propel the shell casings, they are struck 
by the blades and thrown against the enclosure, which results in 
deformation. The shell casings are ultimately propelled to a collection 
point. 
Accordingly, one objective of this invention is the provision of a machine 
that empties scrap cans of their contents. 
Another objection is provision of a machine that deforms shell casings. 
Another objective is to provide a machine that uses rotating blades to 
propel containers on a helical path while striking the containers. 
A still further objective is provision of a machine having a plurality of 
blade sets mounted to rotate with a shaft that propel, rip, agitate and 
empty scrap cans of their contents. 
Still a further objective is provision of the machine having a plurality of 
blade sets mounted to rotate with a shaft that propel, agitate, thrash, 
and deform shell casings to such an extent as to prevent their being 
reloaded. 
These and other objectives and advantages will be manifest when the 
detailed description is read in conjunction with the below-described 
drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
The invention is a machine that processes either of at least two types of 
containers in order to render them in recyclable form. For a first type of 
container including scrap cans, such as empty aluminum soda cans, the 
machine operates to extract contents from and otherwise empty the cans in 
order that an accurate weight and therefore a truer value of the cans 
might be determined prior to their further processing or rendering. For a 
second type of container, including shell casings, such as are found in 
spent or live rounds, the machine operates to thrash and otherwise strike 
the casings in order to deform them to such an extent that they cannot be 
reloaded. For either of these scrap metal containers, and for other scrap 
metal containers or similar objects for which agitation, thrashing, 
emptying, and/or deformation may be required precedent to recycling, the 
following embodiments are presented. 
In this regard, refer to FIGS. 1 and 3-6 which illustrate the invention in 
one preferred embodiment that is preferred for emptying used cans. The 
machine of the invention, indicated generally by 8, includes an enclosure 
(or housing) 10 in which a rotatable shaft 12 is supported for rotation by 
a motor 16. The motor 16 is coupled to a drive belt 17 that imparts a 
rotational force to the rotatable shaft 12. The enclosure 10 comprises a 
generally right cylindrical section which is constructed using durable, 
heavy duty materials, such as rolled steel. It is not absolutely necessary 
to the invention that the enclosure be perfectly right cylindrical; it 
may, for example, comprise a polygonal cylinder or any other cylinder that 
is appropriate for containing the scrap cans as they are being processed 
and for cooperating with parts to be described later that propel the scrap 
cans in a generally helical path. This path extends from near a first end 
of the enclosure where the scrap cans are introduced into the enclosure 
through an input hopper 18 to near a second end of the enclosure 10 where 
the processed cans are discharged from the machine through a discharge 
opening that communicates with an output hopper 21. As can thus be seen in 
FIG. 1, the scrap cans follow a processing path comprising an input path 
section 19 through the input hopper 18, a generally helical processing 
path section 20 within the enclosure, and an output path section indicated 
by the arrow 22. 
In this preferred embodiment, the motor 16 is supported near the second end 
of the enclosure 10 on an angled piece of iron 23 that may be welded to 
the outside cylindrical surface of the enclosure 10 and to the generally 
square or rectangular end plate 24 that provides supporting structure at 
the second end of the enclosure 10. In addition to providing support for 
the motor 16, the end plate 24 also provides support for the enclosure 10 
on the ground or another surface. Another end plate 25 is provided on the 
first end of the enclosure 10. This end plate provides structure and 
support for the enclosure at its first end. The respective first and 
second ends of the enclosure 10 are closed by end disks 27 and 28, which 
are bolted to the end plates 25 and 24. As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 4, and 6 
respective ends of the rotatable shaft 12 extend through the end disks and 
are supported in bushing assemblies 29 and 30. The rotatable shaft 12 is 
driven with a drive wheel 34 mounted to one end of the rotatable shaft 12 
which, together with a drive wheel 32 mounted to the motor 16, engages the 
belt 17 so that the shaft may be rotated by the motor 16. Although the 
preferred embodiment couples the motor to the shaft by a belt drive 
assembly, the inventor contemplates that other couplings may be used 
including, but not limited to, a transmission coupling, a geared coupling, 
a direct coupling, and so on. Further, although the motor is located at 
the second end of the enclosure above the discharge hopper 21 the inventor 
contemplates location of the motor at other positions both on and off the 
enclosure 10 at either of its ends as design and installation 
considerations dictate. 
Refer now to FIGS. 1-4 and 7-10 for an understanding of how scrap cans are 
received into the machine 8. The input hopper 18 includes opposing angled 
side surfaces 36 and 37 that describe the sides of a funnel that is wider 
at the top of the enclosure 10 and narrower within the enclosure. The 
funnel opens into the top of the enclosure 10 near its first end. A feed 
plate 39 (FIG. 7) extends downwardly along ends of the angled surfaces 36, 
37 and terminates at an angled bottom surface 40. As can be appreciated 
with reference to FIG. 7, cans fall through the input hopper 18 into the 
enclosure 10, contained in a space defined by the angled surfaces 36, 37, 
and the feed plate 39 and bottom surface 40. From the defined space, cans 
drop past the rotatable shaft 12 onto an angled feed plane 41 that slopes 
downwardly from near the first end of the enclosure 10 toward the bottom 
of the enclosure 10. The feed plane 41 provides a ramp down which scrap 
cans are fed to a plurality of blade sets, later described. 
Although the input hopper has a particular funnel shape in the preferred 
embodiment, it is possible to use other input configurations to accomplish 
the function of feeding scrap cans into the enclosure 10 in a concentrated 
stream that is delivered to the blade sets, without departing from the 
spirit of the invention. Further, although the input hopper is directly on 
top of the enclosure 10 near its first end, this is not intended to so 
limit the introduction of scrap cans into the machine 8. Indeed, if design 
or installation considerations dictate, an input hopper may be provided on 
the outside of the end plate 25. Location of the hopper may also be 
rotated to the left or right with respect to the end disk 27. 
In the preferred embodiment, sand, grit, dirt, and other material, 
including liquid, that is extracted from inside scrap cans according to 
the invention falls inside the enclosure 10 to the bottom of the 
enclosure. This material, which is agitated by the flow of scrap cans is, 
in the preferred embodiment, screened out of the enclosure by a screen 
opening 45 (see FIG. 11) that comprises a plurality of apertures 46 that 
open through the bottom of the enclosure. Other appropriate screen 
configurations may be employed to filter material dislodged from the 
interior of scrap cans out of the enclosure 10. FIG. 11 shows the screen 
opening 45 enclosed on the outside of the enclosure 10 by a trap 47 that 
may be removed or otherwise accessed to extract and discard the material 
dislodged from inside the scrap cans. 
Refer now FIGS. 2 and 7-10 which illustrate a plurality of blade sets 55-1 
through 55-10 that are made from a hard durable material, such as steel 
and are mounted on the rotatable shaft 12 for rotation with the shaft. The 
blade sets all have identical structures, which correspond to the 
structure of the blade set 55-1 shown in FIG. 9. In this regard, the blade 
set 55-1 in the preferred embodiment includes four blades 56-1 through 
56-4 and a disk 57 to which the blades are bolted and which is mounted on 
the rotatable shaft 12 by brazing, welding, or any other mode of 
attachment. As best seen in FIGS. 2, 7, and 8, the blade sets 55-1 through 
55-10 of the preferred embodiment are mounted in a sequence along the 
rotatable shaft 12 with generally equal spacing between the sets, although 
the spacing may be unequal, if desired or necessary. 
A plurality of stationary vanes 58-1 through 58-10 are fixedly mounted to 
the top of the inside surface of the enclosure 10 in a spaced sequence 
that interleaves the vanes with the blade sets. Preferably, the vanes are 
made from a hard durable material, such as rolled steel and are attached 
to the inside surface of the enclosure by conventional means such as 
brazing or welding. In the preferred embodiment, the vanes are distributed 
generally in line along the top of the interior of the enclosure 10. As 
shown in FIGS. 2 and 8, each vane is non-orthogonal with respect to the 
rotatable shaft 12, forming non-perpendicular angles with the rotatable 
shaft 12. Further, all of the vanes 58-1 through 58-10 have two ends and 
are mounted such that, for each vane, a first end is relatively nearer the 
first end of the enclosure 10 than its second end and its second end is 
relatively nearer the second end of the enclosure than its first end. In 
FIG. 8 this is illustrated for the vane 58-6 which has a first end 61 and 
a second end 62, the first end 61 being nearer the first end of the 
enclosure (and a corresponding first end of the rotatable shaft 12) than 
its second end 62 and the second end 62 being relatively nearer the second 
end of the enclosure 10 (and a corresponding second end of the rotatable 
shaft 12) than the first end 61. 
The just-described arrangement is preferred; however, the locations of the 
vanes can also be distributed or otherwise arranged circumferentially 
around the cylinder in, for example, the form of a helical path. 
Referring now to FIG. 2, 9, and 10, the rotatable shaft 12 and blade sets 
55-1 through 55-10 are rotated counter-clockwise as indicated by the arrow 
59. Viewing the machine from the first end in FIG. 9, it will be 
appreciated that the blade sets propel the cans in a generally downward 
direction in the left half of the enclosure, and generally upwardly in the 
right half of the enclosure. This rotation imparts centrifugal force to 
the cans. The cooperative relationship between the blade sets 55-1 through 
55-10 and the vanes 58-1 through 58-10 can be appreciated with reference 
to FIGS. 7 and 8. With rotation in the counter-clockwise direction, the 
blade tip 60 on blade set 55-4 moves past the vane 58-4 from the end 61 to 
the end 62 of the vane 58-4. The angle .theta. which the vane 58-4 makes 
with respect to the axis of the rotatable shaft 12 will deflect a can that 
is propelled by the blade 60 from the blade set 55-4 in the direction of 
the blade set 55-5 where the can will next be propelled by the blade tip 
63 of the blade set 55-5. In this fashion, the cooperative relationship of 
the blade sets and vanes moves scrap cans that are fed into the machine 8 
through the hopper 18 incrementally from the input hopper 18 toward, to, 
and through the output hopper 21. The mean path followed by the cans is 
helical, although any one can may not trace a perfectly helical path from 
the input hopper 18 to the output hopper 21. 
As the tips of the blades on the blade sets encounter the cans, the mass of 
the blade tips and their rotational speed deform and perforate the cans, 
thereby agitating and opening the cans. In addition, within the enclosure, 
the cans are hurled against the inside surface of the enclosure and 
against the vanes. On any one can the force of numerous impacts with blade 
tips, vanes, and the inside surface of the enclosure will agitate the can, 
loosening its contents, perforating it, and shaking the contents out of 
the can. Contents dropped to the bottom of the enclosure tin through which 
they exit by way of the screen opening 45. 
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that reversal of the rotation of 
the rotatable shaft in blade sets, coupled with a change in the angles 
which the vanes make with the shaft will allow the invention to operate as 
intended. 
In the best mode for can processing, the general diameter of the enclosure 
is 36" and the diameter of the blade set is 32-1/2". Each blade set weighs 
approximately ten (10) pounds. Preferably, there are ten blade sets 
arrayed in the enclosure, which is eight to ten feet in length. The motor 
16 is rated at 7.5 horsepower. At full speed and with the general 
relationship between the drive wheels 32 and 34 shown in FIG. 5, the blade 
sets may be rotated at approximately 600 RPM. With these specifications, 
the inventor has determined that the standard aluminum drink can would be 
battered, crumpled, and perforated, but not shredded in such a way as to 
generate aluminum flakes or shards. Advantageously, these specifications 
meet the objective of emptying the cans, without wasting aluminum. In 
operation, the machine with these specifications processes approximately 
5,000 pounds per hour of scrap aluminum soft drink cans. 
One aspect of the cooperative relationship between the blade sets and the 
vanes may be appreciated with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. In FIG. 9, the 
location of the axis of the rotatable shaft 12 with respect to the center 
line of the enclosure 10 is such that the shaft 12 rotates on the central 
axis of the enclosure 10. Further, the length of each blade on a blade set 
is such that the tip of each blade rotates through a plane met by the 
lower edge of each vane. However, it maybe advantageous to vertically 
separate the blade tips and vanes. In FIG. 10, this is represented by a 
small space between the tip of the blade 56-3 and the lower edge of the 
vane 58-1. With spacing between the tops of the blade sets and the bottoms 
of the vanes, if a blade bends, it is less likely to hit a vane and jam 
the machine. However, there may be a tradeoff with respect to the 
processing of the cans. In this regard, more space between the top of the 
blade set and the bottom of the vane might result in reduction of the 
battering and splitting which the scrap cans undergo. Closure of the space 
between the bottoms of the vanes and the tops of the blade sets by either 
increasing the size of the vanes, offsetting the axis of the rotatable 
shaft toward the vanes, or other steps might result in a better agitation 
of the scrap cans. Further, the generally helical trace of the path 
traveled by the cans may be achieved by many blade/vane combinations, and 
by variations of the components discussed above. For example, the vanes 
may be curved. Also, the blades themselves may be twisted like a fan or 
propeller blade so that they not only strike the cans, but also propel 
them forwardly. In this latter regard, vanes may be disposed with. In any 
event, these tradeoffs and many other modifications, changes, and 
additions to the machine may be made without departing from the spirit and 
scope of this invention. 
The preferred embodiment and best mode of a machine 100 according to the 
invention that is adapted for processing shell casings of spent and live 
rounds is illustrated in FIGS. 12A-12C. The machine 100 of FIG. 12A-12C is 
the same as the machine of FIGS. 1-11 in most respects. It includes an 
enclosure 110 in which a rotatable shaft 112 is supported for rotation by 
a motor 116. The motor 116 is coupled to a belt drive 117 that imparts a 
rotational force to the rotatable shaft 112. An input hopper 118 receives 
shell casings 101 that drop onto an angled feed plane 141. A plurality of 
blade sets 155-1 through 155-4, each with four blades and mounted to the 
rotatable shaft 112, cooperate with vanes 158-1 and 158-2 to propel shell 
casings on a generally helical path through the enclosure 110. The blade 
sets and vanes are made and mounted in the enclosure 110 as described 
above with reference to FIGS. 1-11. The shell casings are propelled, 
agitated, thrashed, and thrown against the interior surface of the 
enclosure 110. One pass through the enclosure 110 in this manner is enough 
to deform the shell casings to the extent that they are rendered unfit for 
reloading. At the end, the deformed shell casings exit the enclosure 110 
through output hopper 121. In the best mode, the general diameter of the 
enclosure 110 is 24" and the diameter of each blade set is 22". Each blade 
set weighs approximately six (6) pounds. Preferably, there are four blade 
sets arrayed in the enclosure, which is approximately 3 feet, in length. 
In this embodiment, the motor 116 is rated at 5.0 horsepower and with the 
blades driven for example as illustrated in FIG. 5, the blade sets may be 
rotated at approximately 600 RPM. With these specifications, the inventor 
has determined that rounds such as 0.30 and 0.50 caliber, as well 20 mm, 
would be thrashed, battered, crumpled, and deformed in such a way as to 
prevent their being reloaded. Advantageously, these specifications meet 
the objective of deforming the shell casings, without wasting the material 
of which they are made. In operation, the machine illustrated in FIGS. 
12A-12C processes approximately 5,000 lbs/per hour of shell casings. 
Assuming no need to empty the shell casings, a screen would not have to be 
provided on the bottom portion of the machine shown in FIGS. 12A-12C. 
Otherwise, if necessary, a screen may be provided.