Patent GB-1270478-A (GB)
Title: A compacting device for refuse
IPC: B30B9/30
Filed: 1970-05-04
Abstract: 1,270,478. A compacting device for refuse. INTERNATIONAL DYNETICS CORP. 4 May, 1970 [8 May, 1969; 29 Oct., 1969], No. 21389/70. A refuse compacting device for automatically and successively compacting and bagging a series of refuse loads comprises a compaction ram 40 which is operated by an hydraulic cylinder 28, works in a compression chamber 10, and has a forward end of half-cylindrical form complementary to the forward end 22 of the chamber 10, an expulsion ram 58 which is located above the compaction zone 22 and which is operated by an hydraulic cylinder 59, a door 62, which is slidable, by an hydraulic cylinder 68 to close and open an outlet aperture 50 in the base of the chamber 10, and a rotatable platform 78 which is indexable about a pivot 82, by an electric motor 92 and gearing 86, 96 to place, in turn, each of the six containers 80 carried thereby to a position below the opening 50. The chamber 10 has a feed opening 24 and a hopper 26 with a photo-electric eye 132, the platform being provided with a number of coaster wheels 88. The operating cylinders 28, 59, 68 are controlled respectively by four-way valves (100, 110, 114) each cylinder being associated with a number of micro-switches which are arranged in a control circuit, Fig. 7 (not shown), so that the device functions in a cyclical fashion proceeding from one filled can 80 to the next empty can until all of the cans are filled with a slug of compacted garbage. The ram 40 reciprocates indefinitely until either the shoot 26 is empty or the photoelectric eye 132 senses no material therein and when the compacted slug of trash has reached the predetermined density and is ready for extraction by the ram 58 which descends to push the slug through the open opening 48 and into a corresponding can 80. The ram 40 also reciprocates indefinitely until the final extraction is completed and the last of the complement of cans is full and when the ram 40 is blocked in its forward movement by an obstacle within the chamber 10 preventing movement of the ram through the position B. In the latter case, a ten second time delay relay allows the ram 40 to attempt to shear, or destroy, the obstacle against a row of teeth 46. If the obstacle is destroyed the ram 40 moves forward as with a normal cycle, if not, the ram is immediately retracted whereupon it continues repeated reciprocal movement at high pressure. If, at the end of the 60 seconds the blockage is still not cleared the compaction cycle stops and a red warning light is illuminated. If, however, the obstruction is now cleared normal compaction operation proceeds. Successive sequential compactions of trash are made and extraction cycles completed until the platform 78 indexes through each container position to its starting position whereupon a re-loading operation amber light comes on. For maintenance purposes an extraction cycle may be initiated without a compaction cycle. In a modification, Fig. 8 (not shown), the door which controls the opening 50 is circular and is pivotally mounted, and the platform (78) may be driven by an electric motor (92) through pinion and ring gear 162.