Patent GB-1411289-A (GB)
Title: Compactors
IPC: B30B9/30
Filed: 1972-09-26
Abstract: 1411289 Refuse compactors HOBART CORP 26 Sept 1972 [27 Sept 1971 12 Oct 1971 2 Nov 1971 3 Jan 1972 9 Feb 1972 (2) 17 April 1972 8 June 1972 21 July 1972 28 July 1972 11 Aug 1972 (2)] 44472/72 Heading B8C [Also in Division E2] A refuse compactor comprises a hollow compacting ram 40, a waste-receiving receptacle 24 movable between a compacting position beneath the ram and non-compacting positions displaced from the compacting position, means mounting the ram for reciprocating movement between an inactive position out of the receptacle and positions within said receptacle to compact material therein, and drive means 54, 109, 88 and 66, for causingthe reciprocating movement of the ram housed within the hollow ram. As shown, the drawer 24 is horizontally slidably mounted on movable slides 20 in a housing 16 which has a refuse shoot 251 and a door 34 for depositing refuse, the ram 40 having a pressing cap 46, being vertically reciprocable into, and out of, the drawer 24, when closed, by an electric motor 59 which, with its chain-and-sprocket drive 109, 88 and timing-belt mechanisms 66, is wholly accommodated within the hollow ram 70. The chain drive mechanism, provided with chain tensioning means (120, 121, 124) Fig. 16 not shown, is driven by three triangularlydisposed, jack-screws 38 each of which is fixed between the upper and intermediate wall members of the housing and co-operates with an internally threaded sprocket (88) universally mounted in a bearing assembly (76 = 100), Fig. 5 not shown, supported in a corresponding front 70, or, rear 72, bracket on the ram 40, Fig. 4. When the drawer 24 is closed the motor 54 can be energized by pressing a start button (112), Fig. 3 not shown, a safety interlock (160, 161), Figs. 13-16 not shown, and safety switches (269, 270), Fig. 40 not shown, and 116 Fig. 1, being incorporated to prevent actuation of the ram 40 when the drawer 24 is not closed. Means is provided for reversing and retracting the ram after a predetermined compacting load has been imposed on the motor 54 and, in order to prevent large compression forces from being transferred to the drawer slides 20, the latter are supported from the frame of the housing by springs (129), Figs. 7, 8 not shown, so that, under heavy load, the drawer can descend to be supported on the base of the housing. The drawer 24 may be provided with a re-usable liner 80, Figs. 18 and 19, comprising a pair of co-operating ribbed sections 180, 182 made, e.g. of polyethylene and having handles 192, 193. The cross-section of the liner may be other than rectangular for instance, it may be cylindrical, Fig. 22 not shown, the ram 40 being correspondingly-shaped. The liner can be used as a support for conventional disposable bags, Figs. 23 and 31, 32, not shown. Seamless disposable bags, with gussetted sides and perforations (243) in their upper, foldable-down, ends, can be made from flattened tubular material, Figs. 36-37 not shown. In order to prevent outward buckling of the liner a back up plate (220), Figs. 25, 27, not shown, located between a liner (180) and the wall (222) of a compacting receptacle, is movable inwardly to clamp the liner (180), by a pivotally-mounted handle (224). A circulating fan 263, driven by a twospeed, time controlled, motor 264, Fig. 42, is mounted in the intake end of a duct 260 in the other end of which is detachably secured an odour-absorbing filter 262. The door 34 may be arranged to deposit refuse directly into the receptacle in the drawer 24 and the door (304), Fig. 47, not shown, may be connected along its lower edge to the upper edge of the drawer. Control circuits for the operation of the ram and the fan 263 are described, and illustrated.