Abstract:
A can crushing device, which crushes the can along its cylindrical axis, supports the can on a can platform, dents the side of the can and flattens the can. A can chute or feed hopper feeds cans to the crush chamber, while various collection devices receive the crushed cans.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Recycling aluminum cans provides a very efficient use of many resources. Typically, cans to be recycled are gathered in a certain place. The crushed cans are then transported to a place, where the metal (usually aluminum) therein may be reused, reprocessed, or further transported. The metal is usually reshaped into cans, much less expensively, than the cost of forming cans starting with a metal ore. 
   To facilitate transportation of the cans, it is very much preferred to crush the cans other or otherwise reduce the volume of cans or other material being transported. Some can crushers operate to crush the can substantially perpendicularly to its cylindrical axis. However, cans crushed in this fashion are harder to transport, especially since such cans are difficult to form into bales. 
   With a purpose of transporting the cans in bales, crushing along the cylindrical axis makes forming a bale of the cans tremendously more efficient. Yet the devices to crush in that fashion tend to be more complicated and harder to use. Still it is necessary to achieve the desired amount of crushing, in order to make transporting of the crushed cans in bales more efficient. 
   Among the can crushers available, it is required to open the prior art crusher, drop in the can, close the crusher, activate the crusher, reopen the crusher and remove the can. Then, the can or container is not crushed as small as possible. It is very desirable crush the can more efficiently and leave it smaller, while recovering it more efficiently. 
   These features are especially contradictory with the crushing of the can along its cylindrical axis. The sturdiness of the can is necessary for strength and use of the can, can interfere greatly with efficient recycling thereof. Yet, the crushing of the can along its cylindrical axis is very desirable. 
   A device directed to the solution of these problems can provide great advantages relative to the prior art. Such a more efficient device can have a major, positive on the environment. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Among the many objectives of the present invention is the provision of a can crushing device, which can efficiently crush the can along the longitudinal or cylindrical axis of the can. 
   Another objective of the present invention is the provision of a can crushing device, in which the crushed can is capable of being included in a bale of cans. 
   Also, an objective of the present invention is the provision of a can crushing device, which can crush the can to a reduced volume. 
   Moreover, an objective of the present invention is the provision of a can crushing device which repeatedly crushes a series of cans. 
   A further objective of the present invention is the provision of a can crushing device, which can eliminate a repeated opening and closing of the crushing device. 
   A still further objective of the present invention is the provision of a can crushing device, which has a feeding mechanism to direct the cans to the crushing device. 
   Yet a further objective of the present invention is the provision of a can crushing device, which can senses the activation of the crushing mechanism. 
   These and other objectives of the invention (which other objectives become clear by consideration of the specification, claims and drawings as a whole) are met by providing a can crushing device which crushes the can along its cylindrical axis. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  depicts a front view of can crushing device  100 . 
       FIG. 2  depicts a rear perspective view of can crushing device  100  of this invention. 
       FIG. 3  depicts a side perspective view of can crushing device  100  of this invention. 
       FIG. 4  depicts a block diagram of can crushing device  100 . 
       FIG. 5  depicts an exploded perspective view of crank case assembly  106  for can crushing device  100  based on  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 6  depicts an exploded perspective view of crush chamber assembly  108  for can crushing device  100  based on  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 7  depicts an exploded perspective view of plunger assembly  104  for can crushing device  100  based on  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 8  depicts an exploded perspective view of feed hopper assembly  110  for can crushing device  100  based on  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 9  depicts a top view of crush chamber assembly  108  for can crushing device  100  operating on can  112  based on  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 10  depicts a top view of crush chamber assembly  108  for can crushing device  100  operating on can  112  with crankcase assembly  106 . 
       FIG. 11  depicts a top view of crush chamber assembly  108  for can crushing device  100  operating on can  112  for middle crush  126 . 
       FIG. 12  depicts a top view of crush chamber assembly  108  for can crushing device  100  operating on can  112  with crankcase assembly  106  for middle crush  126 . 
       FIG. 13  depicts a top view of crush chamber assembly  108  for can crushing device  100  operating on can  112  for rod crush  128 . 
       FIG. 14  depicts a top view of crush chamber assembly  108  for can crushing device  100  operating on can  112  with crankcase assembly  106  for rod crush  128 . 
       FIG. 15  depicts a top view of crush chamber assembly  108  for can crushing device  100  operating on can  112  for rod withdrawal  172 . 
       FIG. 16  depicts a top view of crush chamber assembly  108  for can crushing device  100  operating on can  112  with crankcase assembly  106  for rod withdrawal  172 . 
       FIG. 17  depicts a top view of crush chamber assembly  108  for can crushing device  100  operating on can  112  for can crimp  176 . 
       FIG. 18  depicts a top view on crush chamber assembly  108  for can crushing device  100  operating on can  112  with crankcase assembly  106  for can crimp  176 . 
       FIG. 19  depicts a top view of crush chamber assembly  108  for can crushing device  100  operating on can  112  for rod withdrawal  178 . 
       FIG. 20  depicts a top view of crush chamber assembly  108  for can crushing device  100  operating on can  112  with crankcase assembly  106  for rod withdrawal  178 . 
       FIG. 21  shows beverage can  112  reduced to crushed can  114 . 
       FIG. 22  depicts can crushing device  100  mounted with a soft drink machine  700 . 
       FIG. 23  depicts can crushing device  100  as free standing unit  710 . 
       FIG. 24  depicts can crushing device  100  mounted in a kitchen cabinet  730 . 
       FIG. 25  depicts can crushing device  100  mounted in a commercial bar  740 . 
     Throughout the figures of the drawings, where the same part appears in more than one figure of the drawings, the same number is applied thereto. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The can crushing device has a crushing assembly fed by a can chute or feed hopper. The crushing assembly communicates with a crush chamber assembly as does the feed hopper. The crush chamber assembly includes a can platform supports the can to be crushed during crushing process and permits the crushed can to leave the platform. A ram from the crushing assembly of the can crushing device slides over the can platform, into the crushing chamber and flattens the can against the rear wall of the crushing chamber. 
   Also as the ram approaches the can, a rod extends therefrom and makes a dent in the side of the can. As the ram contacts the can and causes a dent therein, the dent facilitates crushing of the can along its cylindrical axis and permits more efficient crushing, and provides for the top and the bottom of the can to be on the same side of the can as the can is crushed. The crushed then may pass through a travel slot in the can platform and into a desired container. With the can flattened along its cylindrical axis, a group of the cans, so flattened, can be formed easily into a bale for transport. 
   Turning now to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2 , and  FIG. 3 , the can crushing device or can crusher  100  includes a plunger or ram assembly  104 , a crankcase assembly  106 , a crush chamber assembly  108 , and a feed hopper assembly  110 , which work together to flatten beverage can  112  along its cylindrical height and form flat or crushed can  114 . Feed hopper assembly  110  permits a repetitive flattening of a plurality of can  112  into a series of crushed can  114 . 
   The crankcase assembly  106  drives the plunger assembly  104  into the crush chamber assembly  108 . An electric circuit box  120  has a gear box  118  between it and an electric motor  122 . Gear box  118  is powered by the electric motor  122  and is connected to crankcase assembly  106 . The presence of can  112  at a proper point in feed hopper assembly  110  trips a sensor  124  and activates the electric motor  112  and hence the plunger assembly  104  of the crush chamber assembly  108 . As the crushed can  114  drops out of the feed hopper assembly  110 , another can  112  drops into the crush chamber assembly  108  to repeat the process. 
   Turning now to  FIG. 4 , the can crusher assembly  100  includes a ram or plunger assembly  104 , which communicates with the crusher chamber assembly  108 . Also communicating with the crusher chamber assembly  108 , is the feed hopper assembly  110 . Connected to the plunger assembly  104  is the crankcase assembly  106 . Crankcase assembly  106  is powered by electric motor  122 . In a preferred form, motion switch  124  activates electric motor  122  through its connection with electric circuit box  120 . Junction box  118  provides power to the electronic circuit  120 . In this fashion, beverage can  112  becomes crushed can  114 . 
   As crushed can  114  falls into container  102 , container  102  may be any suitable device. Container  102  may store the crushed cans  114 , may be used to transport the crushed cans  114 , may package the crushed cans  114 , for example into a bale, or take other appropriate actions. 
   Adding  FIG. 5  to the consideration, a crank case assembly  106  provides the necessary function for the can crusher  100 . Base cover  130  of crank case assembly  106  is spaced from the case base  132 . Left case wall  134 , right case wall  136 , and rear case wall  138  cooperate with case base  132  to form part of a case for crank case assembly  106 . Front case wall  140  completes the case for the crank case assembly  106 . Front case wall  140  communicates with the plunger assembly  104  ( FIG. 7 ). 
   Secured to front case wall  140  is left bracket spacer  142  and right bracket spacer  144 . On left bracket spacer  142  is mounted left bracket  146 . On right bracket spacer  144  is mounted right bracket  148 . Between left bracket  146  and right bracket  148  is travel passage  150 , through which, the plunger assembly  104  ( FIG. 7 ) operates. A stop  152  is secured to rear case wall  138  oppositely disposed from travel passage  150 . Mounted on the stop  152  is a shock absorber  154  to absorb the recoil of the plunger assembly  104 . 
   The return spring  160  is fastened to case base  132  by fastener block  162  at one end and to the plunger assembly  104  at the other end. Return spring  160  passes through spring cavity  164  into spring tunnel  166 . Pusher bar  168  for plunger assembly  104  surrounds the spring  160 . 
   Adjacent to the pusher bar  168  is the coupling flange  170  which supports a denting rod  172  due to the action of cam  174 . Cam  174  permits rod  172  to cause can crimp  176 . As the withdrawal of rod  172  occurs, can  112  is crimped to a position of rod withdrawal  178 , before final crushing. 
   A left guide track  180  and a right guide track  182  mounted on case base  132  support travel plate  188 , which carries the plunger assembly  104 . A bushing aperture  194  appears in a base bushing  196  in order to receive gear shaft  198 . Mounted on gear shaft  198  is bar assembly  200 . 
   At least one of cam  174  contacts bar assembly  200 , in order to activate can crusher  100  and specifically plunger assembly  104 . Bar assembly  200  includes action bar  202 . Within action bar  202 , shaft aperture  204  also receives gear shaft  198 . Additionally present in action bar  202  bolt aperture  220 . Roller  222  has threaded aperture  224 . Roller washer  226  is positioned over bolt aperture  220  and receives roller bolt  228 , as roller bolt  228  passes therethrough into bolt aperture  220  before being secured in threaded aperture  224 . 
   After passing through shaft aperture  204 , gear shaft  198  receives action gear  232  at its action gear aperture  234 . Drive gear  240  meshes with action gear  232  and rotate through the action of motor shaft  242 . Top washer  250  includes a washer aperture  252 , concentrically aligns with action gear aperture  234  to receive gear shaft  198 . 
   Base cover  130  includes a shaft aperture  260  to receive gear shaft  198 . Offset from shaft aperture  260  in base cover  130  is drive shaft aperture  270 . Drive shaft aperture  270  receives motor shaft  242  of electric motor  122  ( FIG. 4 ). 
   Adding  FIG. 6  to the consideration, the crush chamber assembly  108 . The crush chamber assembly  108  includes a top crush cross member  500  and a bottom crush cross member  510 . Top crush cross member  500  and a bottom crush cross member  510  hold left side crush panel  512  and right side crush panel  514  in a desired position relative to compound side crush panel  516  completes the crush chamber assembly  108 . Additionally, first right triangle brace  518  and second right triangle brace  522  may be used as an additional support for left side crush panel  512  and right side crush panel  514  in relation to compound side crush panel  516 , if desired. 
   Further considering  FIG. 7 , the structure of plunger assembly  104  is clarified. Plunger assembly  104  includes a denting rod  172  having a spring seat  302  at one end thereof and spear end  304  at the other and opposing end thereof. Spear end  304  fits into travel slot  306 , while spring seat  302  receives crush spring  310  to rest thereon. Top plate  320  fits over denting rod  300  while bottom plate  350  fits under the denting rod  300 . 
   A finger cavity  352  is on each side of travel slot  306  in bottom plate  350 . A left finger  370  proceeds from one finger cavity  352  while a right finger  372  proceeds from the other finger cavity  352 . A finger spring  374  rests on a pin shaft  376 , which in turn rests in pin aperture  378  of left finger  370  or right finger  372 . Pin shaft  376  is also received at its opposing end by shaft aperture  380 . 
   Now including  FIG. 8 , the structure of feed hopper assembly  110  communicates with  FIG. 6  and the crush chamber assembly  108 , shows a motion switch  124  cooperating therewith. Front hopper wall  198  is oppositely disposed from rear hopper wall  182 . Motion switch  124  is mounted in rear hopper wall  182 . When a can  112  is adjacent motion switch  124 , the electric motor  122  is activated to form can  112  into crushed can  114 . 
   Right hopper wall  184  and left hopper wall  186  are oppositely disposed from each other and complete part of the feed hopper assembly  110 . Right bracket  188  secures right hopper wall  184  to right side crush panel  514  ( FIG. 6 ), with right spacer  190  therebetween. Left bracket  194  secures left hopper wall  186  to left side crush panel  512  ( FIG. 6 ), left spacer  192  therebetween. In this fashion feed hopper assembly  110  communicates with crush chamber assembly  108 . 
     FIG. 9 ,  FIG. 10 ,  FIG. 11 ,  FIG. 12 ,  FIG. 13 ,  FIG. 14 ,  FIG. 15 ,  FIG. 16 ,  FIG. 17 ,  FIG. 18 , FIG,  19 , and  FIG. 20  cooperate to show the crushing of can  112 .  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10  show the can  112  in the crush chamber assembly  108  prior to any crushing action.  FIG. 11  and  FIG. 12  show the can  112  in the crush chamber assembly  108  as denting rod  300  contacts the can  112  to create a dent therein along with the appropriate position for cam  174  and roller  222 . 
     FIG. 13  and  FIG. 14  show the can  112  in the crush chamber assembly  108  as denting rod  300  further contacts the can  112  to increase the dent therein along with the appropriate position for cam  174  and roller  222 . Right finger  370  and left finger  372  contact can  112  to continue the crushing process. Denting rod  300  begins to retract from the can  112 . 
     FIG. 15  and  FIG. 16  show the can  112  in the crush chamber assembly  108  along with the appropriate position for cam  174  and roller  222 . Right finger  370  and left finger  372  contact can  112  to complete the crushing process. Denting rod  300  continues to retract from the can  112 . 
     FIG. 17  and  FIG. 18  show the can  112  as completely crushed can  114  in the crush chamber assembly  108  along with the appropriate position for cam  174  and roller  222 . Right finger  370  and left finger  372  retract from can  112  as plunger assembly  104  completes the crushing process. Denting rod  300  is completely retracted from any contact with the can  112 . 
   FIG  19  and  FIG. 20  show the can  112  as completely crushed can  114  in the crush chamber assembly  108  along with the appropriate position for cam  174  and roller  222 . Right finger  370  and left finger  372  retract from can  112  as plunger assembly  104  withdraws from the can  112 . Crushed can  114  then drops into crush can container  102 , for any desired further processing. More specifically, roller  222  slips off of cam  174  and releases plunger assembly  104  back to shock absorber  152  and stop  154 . 
     FIG. 21  depicts a final product of the crushed can  114 . With crushed can  114  having this shape, further transportation or use of the crushed can  114 . Baling or container transportation is very possible. 
     FIG. 22 ,  FIG. 23 ,  FIG. 24  and  FIG. 25  combine to depict can crushing device  100  in some if the variety of uses therefor.  FIG. 22  shows can crushing device  100  mounted with a soft drink machine  700  with container  102 . Such a strategic location greatly facilitates the use thereof, thereby improving recycling opportunities. 
   With  FIG. 23  depicting can crushing device  100  with container  102  as free standing unit  710  in a lunchroom  650 , it becomes clear that portable versions thereof may be transported to a desired position. With can crushing device  100  so conveniently located, more efficient use thereof is achieved. Can crushing device  100  may be located at a site where beverages in aluminum cans are being consumed. Such convenience makes it more like that can crushing device  100  will be used. 
   Whether can crushing device  100  with container  102  is mounted in a kitchen cabinet  730  as in  FIG. 24  in a commercial bar  740  as in  FIG. 25 , time, space and efficiency are maximized. With crushing device  100  so convenient, space is saved for crushed cans  114 , and permit either area to have more efficient use. 
   This application—taken as a whole with the abstract, specification, claims, and drawings—provides sufficient information for a person having ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention disclosed and claimed herein. Any measures necessary to practice this invention are well within the skill of a person having ordinary skill in this art after that person has made a careful study of this disclosure. 
   Becausse of this disclosure and solely because of this disclosure, modification of this device can become clear to a person having ordinary skill in this particular art. Such modifications are clearly covered by this disclosure.