Glass disposal system

A disposal apparatus for breaking and shattering glass containers wherein a housing includes a device for shattering the glass, and there are at least two different receptacles for receiving the shattered glass positioned below the housing. The housing is located in different positions over the containers so as to deposit the shattered glass in one of the containers in one instance, and in another container in another instance. In the preferred embodiment, there is a platform for the housing and a support post connected to the platform. The support post is raised and rotated by a foot level so as to allow easy orientation of the housing with respect to the containers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a disposal system for glass containers such as 
bottles. More particularly, this invention relates to a glass compacting 
system which pulverizes bottles and provides a sorting mechanism to 
separate different colored glass from the containers into at least three 
separate sorting receptacles. 
It is known in the prior art to utilize a crusher and separator for cans 
and bottles wherein three containers can receive crushed aluminum cans, 
steel cans or crushed glass. This is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,373,435. 
In this patent, there is shown a gate 40 which is employed in conjunction 
with a drum 42 to separate glass as well as the cans and deposit them in 
their respective containers. A chute 36 is utilized in conjunction with 
the gate 40 for depositing the respective crushed articles in their 
respective containers. 
In U.S. Pat. No. 2,800,159 there is shown a can and bottle crushing and 
disposal machine wherein cans and glass are deposited in receptacles 78 
and 82 by means of a butterfly valve plate 84. In German patent 27 45 378 
there is disclosed two rotatable receptacles 3 and 17 for apparently 
receiving some type of crushed or shredded material. In U.S. Pat. No. 
4,573,641 there is illustrated a two receptacle container system 50 for 
receiving crushed glass. However, there is no detail as to how they are 
employed in conjunction with the crushing area 39 and the crushing wheels 
40. 
In utilizing crushing and separator type devices such as the type 
previously described, there is a problem in conjunction with glass 
containers in that there is a variety of colors of glass which need to be 
separated. These usually are clear, green and brown. It would be highly 
desirable if there would be provided a glass crushing apparatus which 
cannot only crush the glass containers in a compacting like manner, but 
can also readily separate them into individual bins or receptacles 
according to their color. The prior art does not provide such a crushing 
and compacting mechanism which can effect the sorting of the different 
colors of crushed glass in an apparatus which is constructed with a 
minimum number of parts and in a compact manner. 
It is an advantage of the present invention to provide an improved glass 
crushing and separating device. 
It is another advantage of the present invention to provide a device of the 
foregoing type which has a minimum number of parts in its construction, 
yet compact in its design. 
It is still another advantage of the present invention to provide a device 
of the foregoing type which has a high degree of reliability and a minimum 
amount of maintenance. 
Still another advantage of the present invention is to provide a device of 
the foregoing type which has an exterior configuration that is 
aesthetically pleasing and is portable. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The foregoing advantages are accomplished, and the shortcomings of the 
prior art are overcome by the present disposal apparatus for breaking and 
shattering glass containers or other glass articles of different colors. A 
housing has glass shattering means with the housing having an input 
portion for the glass containers or other glass articles and an out 
portion for shattered glass. There are at least two different receptacles 
for receiving the shattered glass with the receptacles adapted to be 
positioned below the housing with the glass shattered means for depositing 
shattered glass therein. There is also provided a locating means to 
alternatively position the housing over one of the receptacles in one 
instance and another of the receptacles in another instance. 
In a preferred manner, the locating means is defined by a support platform 
for the housing, and there is a support post connected to the platform 
with means to raise the support post and rotate the support platform. 
Also in a preferred manner, there are means to raise and pivot the platform 
which includes a foot operated lever pivotally connected to a base support 
member supporting the receptacles. 
In another aspect of the invention, the support post includes indexing 
means for positively positioning the housing over one of the receptacles. 
Also in another aspect, the glass shattering means is defined by a motor 
driven shaft having striking blades and a striking block.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Proceeding to a detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the 
present invention, and referring particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is 
shown the disposal apparatus, generally 10, having a cover 11 and 
containers or receptacles 13, 14 and 15 supported on a base support 17 
having casters 18. 
As shown in FIG. 4, there is a housing 19 with a chute 31 for receiving 
glass bottles to be crushed such as 21. The housing 19 has enclosed 
therein the striking blades 22 and 23 and a striking block 24 with the 
latter being specifically shown in FIG. 5. The striking blades 22 and 23 
are mounted on the shaft 25 journaled in the bearings 26. The shaft 25 is 
driven by the motor 28 which is mounted on the support 29. Both the motor 
28 and the housing 19 are supported on the support platform 38. The 
housing 19 is secured to the platform 38 by the bolts 40. There is 
provided in the chute 31 spring loaded doors 33 and 34, as well as brushes 
35. These reduce the possibility of crushed glass pieces from being 
ejected from the chute 31. Chute 31 is mounted in the cover 11 by the 
mounting screws 36. 
An outer support post 44 is connected to the base support 17 such as by the 
annular collar 43. Telescopingly received in the outer support post 44 is 
an inner support post 42 which is connected to the platform 38 by the 
collar 45. A pocket 46 is provided in the inner support post 42 and 
receives a ball 48 provided at the end of the rod 50. Rod 50 is pivotally 
connected to the lever 52 by the pivot pin 51 with the lever 52 pivotally 
supported by the bracket 54 and the pivot pin 58. A foot portion 56 is 
provided at the end of the lever 52 opposite the rod 50. 
Referring specifically to FIG. 3, it is seen that an indexing pin 60 
extends from the inner support post 42 for selectively positioning in the 
indexing slots 62 of the outer support post 44. This provides an indexing 
means in conjunction with the chute 31 as will be more fully described in 
conjunction with the following Operation. Before turning to the Operation 
and referring back to FIG. 2, it is seen that the three containers 13, 14 
and 15 all have top openings such as 13a, 14a and 15a for receiving 
crushed glass from the housing 19. Each of the containers also have side 
handle portions such as indicated at 14c and 15c for containers 14 and 15. 
A circumferential groove portion indicated at 13b, 14b and 15b receives a 
flanged portion 11b of the cover 11. This is best illustrated in FIG. 4. 
There is also a lower circumferential grooved portion such as 14d and 15d 
for seating inside the base support 11. Further, compartments such as 14e 
and 15e (See FIG. 4) are provided in the bottom of the containers 14 and 
tioned over the block portion 17a in the base support 17. 
Operation 
A better understanding of the advantages of the disposal apparatus 10 will 
be had by description of its operation. As illustrated in FIG. 4, glass 
bottles such as represented at 21 are placed in chute 31 where they will 
engage the striking blades 22 and 23 as well as the striking block 24. The 
striking blades 22 and 23 are driven by the motor 28 and the shaft 25. 
This action of the striking blades breaks the glass bottle into small 
pieces which then will drop downwardly from the housing 19 and through an 
opening 38a in platform 38. Depending upon the color of the bottle, the 
housing or chute 19 is orientated over one of the three containers 13, 14 
or 15. In the instance of FIG. 4, the chute 19 is positioned over the 
container 15 so as to deposit the crushed glass 63 therein through the 
opening 15a. Assuming that the bottles 21 were of a different color, for 
example, green or brown, and it is desired to separate them into different 
containers, this is effected by positioning the chute 19 over one of the 
other containers such as 13 or 14. To do this, the foot portion 56 is 
depressed which then raises the rod 50 to raise the inner support post 42. 
This in turn raises the platform 38 and consequently the housing 19. It 
will be seen that the inner support post 42 with the pocket 46 is easily 
rotated over the ball 48, and this rotation is continued until the housing 
19 is placed over container 13 or 14. Different colored crushed glass 64 
is shown in container 14. The positioning of the housing 19 over the 
container 13, 14 or 15 is coordinated with the indexing pin 60 for seating 
in the indexing slot 62. The containers 13, 14 and 15 are orientated with 
respect to the base support 17 by the projection 17a for seating in the 
compartment 14e. With one of the containers such as 14 so or:entated, the 
other containers will likewise be automatically orientated with their 
openings 13a, 14a and 15a spaced 120.degree. apart. This is accordingly 
synchronized with the spacing of the indexing slot 62. When the containers 
13, 14 or 15 have a determined amount of crushed glass placed therein, 
they are easily removable by means of the handle portions such as 14c and 
15c. The containers are easily removable from and held between the 
platform 38 and the base support 17 by the circumferential indentations 
13b, 14b and 15b at the top and similar indentations such as 14d and 15d 
at the bottom. 
It will thus be seen that there is provided a compact and easily oriented 
disposal apparatus wherein different colored glasses can be easily 
separated. The orientation of the glass crushing function with the 
containers 13, 14 and 15 is easily effected. All that is required to 
orientate the chute 31 or the housing 19 is a depression of a foot portion 
56. This raises the platform 38 as well as the motor 28, the chute 31 and 
the housing 19 above the containers 13, 14 and 15 so that the platform 38 
is easily rotated to the desired position. Rotation is easily effected as 
the weight of the platform 38 and the motor 28, the chute and housing 19 
are supported on ball 48 which acts as a bearing. By its design, the unit 
is also aesthetically pleasing in having a conical top and a rounded 
bottom. 
In the preferred embodiment there are shown three containers 13, 14 and 15, 
it is obvious that the number of these containers can vary and could be as 
few as two and as many as four. Neither is the positioning of the housing 
19 near the outer portion of the platform 38 essential. This can be 
located in various postions depending upon the openings such as 13a, 14a 
and 15a in the respective containers. An indexing means as represented by 
the indexing pin 60 and the indexing slots 62 has been described. This 
could be eliminated if desired. Alternatively, an electrically operated 
indexing means could be substituted employing controls to activate 
solenoid valves for locating purposes and in conjunction with a motor and 
a suitable drive mechanism to rotate the platform 38 and the chute 19. 
The foregoing invention can now be practiced by those skilled in the art. 
Such skilled persons will know that the invention is not necessarily 
restricted to the particular embodiments presented herein. The scope of 
the invention is to be defined by the terms of the following claims as 
given meaning by the preceding description.