Patent Number: 046612904
Section: abstract

An apparatus for compacting a solid waste material includes a hollow cylindrical body having a charging inlet for charging the solid waste material therethrough into the hollow cylindrical body, a heating portion for heating the solid waste material in the hollow cylindrical body, and a discharging outlet for discharging the solid waste material from the hollow cylindrical body; a rotatable shaft disposed in the hollow cylindrical body and having a helical screw blade thereon, the screw blade and an inner wall surface of the hollow cylindrical body being spaced from each other with a clearance provided therebetween for allowing the solid waste material in the hollow cylindrical body to form a bridge therein; a support for radially movably supporting an end of the rotatable shaft; a prime mover coupled to the end of the rotatable shaft through the support; and an outlet nozzle coupled to the discharging outlet for compressing the solid waste material discharged from the discharging outlet. The compacting apparatus can compact various solid waste materials including plastics discharged from homes, factories, nuclear power plants, and other facilities, and compacted solid waste materials can be solidified into solid masses or pelletized.