Patent Publication Number: US-7210404-B2

Title: Compressing and binding device for elastic member

Description:
This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Japanese Patent Applications 2004-145830, filed on May 17, 2004, and 2004-327574, filed on Nov. 11, 2004, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention generally relates to a compressing and binding device for compressing and binding an elastic member. More specifically, the present invention relates to the compressing and binding device, which compresses a large elastic member, such as a spring mattress, so as to be a small piece and binds it. 
   BACKGROUND 
   A used spring mattress has been disassembled into combustible materials, such as an outer covering body or the like, and a spring unit, and the combustible materials are incinerate, and the springs are recycled as steels. For example, by used of a device that is disclosed in JP2001-96265A, the mattress has been disassembled by the device for separating and removing the outer covering body from the spring unit of a mattress. Specifically, such device includes transportation rollers for transporting the mattress in a predetermined direction, a couple of peeling plates for each peeling one side of an outer covering body, which covers one side of the spring unit, and also peeling another side of the outer covering body, which covers another side of the spring unit, from the corresponding spring unit of the mattress that is transported by the transportation rollers, and a couple of separating means which are each arranged at the opposite side with a predetermined space in the direction perpendicular to the transporting direction of the mattress in order to separate the outer covering body from the spring unit by sending out the outer covering body peeled by the plates while each holding one part and another part of the outer covering body. 
   Thus, even when the outer covering body is firmly bound together with the spring unit, the outer covering body can be separated from the spring unit by means of the device. Further, the spring unit and the outer covering body, which is separated from the spring unit, are transported respectively in the predetermined directions, and thus the separated spring unit and the outer covering body are further easily processed. Further, such separating operation can be continually conducted, as a result an efficiency on the separating operation can be enhanced. 
   However, because such used mattress, that will be put into the device so as to be disassembled, needs to be transported from a home or a hotel by a truck, and a space of a rear deck of the truck in which the used mattress is loaded is limited, and thus, transportation becomes inefficient. 
   A need exists for provide a device by which a spring mattress can be compressed into a small piece and bound so as to be easily disassembled. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   According to an aspect of the present invention, a compressing and binding device for a spring mattress comprises a housing formed therein with a compression chamber into which a spring mattress is accommodated; a compression board member compressing the spring mattress in the compression chamber in a parallel direction with a bed surface of the spring matters and forming a compressed article; and a binding means for binding the compressed article with string means. 
   According to another aspect of the present invention, a compressing and binding device for an elastic member comprises a casing in which a chamber is formed so as to house an elastic member; a first plunger provided in the housing and moved in a first direction so as to press the elastic member housed in the chamber; a first driving means for moving the first plunger in the first direction; a second plunger provided in the housing and moved in a second direction so as to press the elastic member housed in the housing; a second driving means for moving the second plunger in the second direction; the second direction being orthogonal relative to the first direction; the elastic member being formed into a compressed article when compressed by both the first plunger in the first direction and the second plunger being in the second direction; and a binding means for binding the compressed article by means of a biding mechanism. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The foregoing and additional features and characteristics of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description considered with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a compressing and binding device for a spring mattress in the first embodiment according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view in which the spring mattress is compressed by the compressing and binding device illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a condition where a binding operation starts; 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a condition during the binding operation; 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a condition where the binding operation ends; 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a front view of a compressing and binding device for a spring mattress in the second embodiment according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a front view of the compressing and binding device illustrated in  FIG. 6  form which doors are taken off; 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a flat view indicating the inner portion of the compressing and binding device illustrated in  FIG. 6   
       FIG. 9  illustrates a schematic view of a holding portion according to the second embodiment; 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a schematic view indicating an actuation of a first plunger and a second plunger of the compressing and binding device according to the second embodiment; 
       FIG. 11  illustrates a cross sectional schematic view indicating a structure and an actuation of an inner pressure releasing mechanism according to the second embodiment; 
       FIG. 12  illustrates a diagram indicating a structure of a lock mechanism according to the second embodiment; 
       FIG. 13  illustrates a diagram in which the mattress is housed in a housing of the compressing and binding device according to the second embodiment; 
       FIG. 14  illustrates a diagram in which the mattress is compressed by the first plunger in a horizontal direction within the housing according to the second embodiment; 
       FIG. 15  illustrates a diagram in which the mattress is compressed by the first plunger in a horizontal direction and further compressed by the second plunger in a vertical direction according to the second embodiment; 
       FIG. 16  illustrates a diagram which indicates a lock mechanism when an inner pressure of the mattress is released; 
       FIG. 17  illustrates a diagram in which the a gap is formed between the door hook portion and the frame hook portion by releasing the inner pressure of the mattress according to the second embodiment and 
       FIG. 18  illustrates a diagram in which a lock lever is rotated after the inner pressure of the mattress is released according to the second embodiment. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Embodiments of the present invention will be explained in accordance with drawings attached hereto. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the compressing and binding device  100 , according the first embodiment of the present invention, includes a housing  210  in which a the compression chamber  211  is formed. Specifically, string rollers  60  are provided at an upper portion of the housing  210 , and each of string members  110  are extended from each of the string rollers  60  along a surface of a compression board member  215 , which is provided in the compression chamber  211 , and further extended along a back surface of the compression chamber  211 , and then the string member  110  is extended toward outside of the housing  10 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , a spring mattress M, which is put into the compression chamber  211  so as to be in a vertical position. Then, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the compression board member  215  moves down in order to reduce an internal volume in the compression chamber  211 , and then a pressure applied in a parallel direction with a bed surface to the spring mattress M. Because the spring mattress M is vulnerable in a parallel direction with the bed surface, the spring mattress M can be compressed by means of a small pressure. Then, as shown in  FIG. 3 , after the spring mattress M is compressed, the string members  110  are cut by use of a cutting tool (not shown), then, as shown in  FIG. 4 , each of the upper end of the string members  110  is inserted into a looped end portion  110   a , which is formed on each of the other ends of the string members  110 , and then, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the upper end of the string member  110  is pulled so as to bind the compressed spring mattress M in the same manner as a slipknot (binding means). 
   Thus, the spring mattress M can be compressed so as to be quarter in volume, and bound in order to be transported effectively to an incinerator. 
   Further, because the spring mattress M is vulnerable to a pressure applied in a parallel direction with a bed surface to, the spring mattress M may be placed on its side in the compression chamber  11  and pressed in a horizontal direction. 
     FIG. 6  illustrates a front view of a compressing and binding device according to the second embodiment. The compressing and binding device compresses the spring mattress (elastic member) so as to be bound.  FIG. 7  illustrates a front view of the compressing and binding device from which front covers are taken off for convenience. 
   As shown in  FIG. 7 , a compressing and binding device  100  in the second embodiment includes a casing  10 , a first plunger  20  and a second plunger  30 . 
   Specifically, the casing  10 , formed in approximately a rectangular solid shape, includes an opening portion on its, front surface. In the second embodiment, the casing  10  is designed to be 3100 mm in width, 1200 mm in overall depth and 2500 mm in height, however, the size of the casing  10  is not limited to these values. Further, a housing  11  is formed in the casing  10  so as to be in a rectangular solid shape, and an elastic member such as a spring mattress is housed in the housing  11 . The casing  10  is made of a steel material in order to enhance its stiffness. 
   A first plunger  20  is formed so as to extend in a vertical direction in  FIG. 6  within a vertical length of the housing  11 . Specifically, the first plunger  20  includes a front surface  21 , which faces the housing  11 , and a back surface  22 , which is provided on the other side of the front surface  21 . In such circumstances, when the compressing and binding device  100  is not operated (stand by state), the first plunger  20  is served as one of the walls (right wall in  FIG. 2 ) of the housing  11 . The movement of the first plunger  20  is limited by means of a guide, which is positioned on the backside of the compressing and binding device  100  in a vertical direction in  FIG. 2  and an orthogonal direction in  FIG. 2 . Thus, the first plunger  20  can move only in a horizontal direction. A second plunger  30  is formed so as to extend in a horizontal direction in  FIG. 6 . Specifically, the second plunger  30  includes a front surface  31 , which faces the housing  11 , and a back surface  32 , which is provided on the other side of the front surface  31 . In such circumstances, when the compressing and binding device  100  is not operated (stand by state), the second plunger  30  is served as one of the walls (upper wall in  FIG. 2 ) of the housing  11 . The movement of the second plunger  30  is limited by means of a guide, which is positioned on the back side of the compressing and binding device  100  in a horizontal direction in  FIG. 2  and an orthogonal direction in  FIG. 2 . Thus, the second plunger  30  can move only in a vertical direction. 
   Further, an upper bracket  41  and a lower bracket  42  are attached to the back surface  22  of the first plunger  20 . Specifically, the upper bracket  41  is fixed to an upper portion of the back surface  22 , and the lower bracket  42  is fixed to a lower portion of the back surface  22 . More specifically, the upper bracket  41  is connected to an upper guide plate  43 , which extends in a horizontal direction, and the lower bracket  42  is connected to a lower guide plate  44 , which also extends in a horizontal direction. The upper guide plate  43  is connected by means of a first connecting rod  45  to the lower guide plate  44 . Further, a first nut portion  46  is attached to the first connecting rod  45 , and a first ball screw  47  is attached to the first nut portion  46 . Specifically, the first nut portion  46  includes a female screw portion extending in a horizontal direction, and the first ball screw  47  included a male thread portion extending in a horizontal direction, and the first ball screw  47  is attached to the first nut portion  46  in circumstances where the male threads portion of the first ball screw  47  is screwed into the female screw portion of the first nut portion  46 . Further, a first motor (not shown) is positioned concentrically with the first ball screw  47  in order to rotate the first ball screw  47 . In this way, the first plunger  20  is moved in a horizontal direction by use of the upper bracket  41 , the lower bracket  42 , the upper guide plate  43 , the lower guide plate  44 , the first connecting rod  45 , the first nut portion  46 , the first ball screw  47  and the first motor, and such configuration is a first driving means  40 . 
   In the same manner as the first plunger  20 , a left bracket  52  and a right bracket  51  are attached to the back surface  32  of the second plunger  30 . Specifically, the left bracket  52  is fixed to a left portion of the back surface  32 , and the right bracket  51  is fixed to a right portion of the back surface  32 . More specifically, the right bracket  51  is connected to a right guide plate  53 , which extends in a vertical direction, and the left bracket  52  is connected to a left guide plate  54 , which also extends in a vertical direction. The right guide plate  53  is connected by means of a second connecting rod  55  to the left guide plate  54 . Further, a second nut portion  56  is attached to the second connecting rod  55 , and a second ball screw  57  is attached to the second nut portion  56 . Specifically, the second nut portion  56  includes a female screw portion extending in a vertical direction, and the second ball screw  57  included a male thread portion extending in a vertical direction, and the second ball screw  57  is attached to the second nut portion  56  in circumstances where the male threads portion of the second ball screw  57  is screwed into the female screw portion of the second nut portion  56 . Further, a second motor (not shown) is positioned concentrically with the second ball screw  57  in order to rotate the second ball screw  57 . In this way, the second plunger  30  is moved in a vertical direction by use of the right bracket  51 , the left bracket  52 , the right guide plate  53 , the left guide plate  54 , the second connecting rod  55 , the second nut portion  56 , the second ball screw  57  and the second motor, and such configuration is a second driving means  50 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 7 , horizontal slits  13   a  and  13   b , and vertical slits  14   a  and  14   b  are formed on a back surface wall  12  of the casing  10 . Specifically, the horizontal slits  13   a  and  13   b  are positioned in parallel in a circumstance where the back surface wall  12  is divided into three portions in a vertical direction. More specifically, the horizontal slit  13   a  is formed so as to be at a same level in height as the position of the upper guide plate  43 , which is connected to the first plunger  20 . In the same manner, the horizontal slit  13   b  is formed so as to be at a same level in height as the position of the lower guide plate  44  that is connected to the first plunger  20 . Thus, the first plunger  20  can move in a vertical direction in circumstances where the upper guide plate  43  is inserted into the horizontal slit  13   a , and the lower guide plate  44  is inserted into the horizontal slit  13   b.    
   On the other hand, the vertical slits  14   a  and  14   b , are positioned in parallel in a circumstance where the back surface wall  12  is divided into three portions in a horizontal direction at a left portion of the back surface wall  12  in  FIG. 6 . The vertical slit  14   a  is formed so as to be at a same level as the position of the right guide plate  53 , which is connected to the second plunger  30 . In the same manner, the vertical slit  14   b  is formed so as to be at a same level as the position of the left guide plate  54  that is connected to the second plunger  30 . Thus, the second plunger  30  can move in a horizontal direction in circumstances where the right guide plate  53  inserts into the vertical slit  14   a , and the left guide plate  54  inserts into the vertical slit  14   b . Thus, the second plunger  30  can move in a horizontal direction in circumstances where the right guide plate  53  is inserted into the vertical slit  14   a , and the left guide plate  54  is inserted into the vertical slit  14   b.    
   As shown in  FIG. 7 , a slit portion  15  is also formed in addition to horizontal slits  13   a  and  13   b  in a horizontal direction on the back surface wall  12  of the casing  10 . The groove portion  15  or the horizontal slit  13   b , which is positioned at lower than the horizontal slit  13   a , serves as a horizontal direction string guiding groove for guiding a string so as to bind the compressed elastic member in a horizontal direction. Further, two rollers  61  and  62 , to which string is winded, are mounted to the right-bottom portion of the casing as shown in  FIG. 6 . The string winded to the rollers  61  and  62  is extended within the housing  11  and served as a binding means for binding the compressed elastic member 
     FIG. 8  illustrates a cross section seen from a top of the compressing and binding device  100 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , a string A extended from the rollers  61  and  62  passes through the front surface  21  of the first plunger  20 , then, the string A is hooked to an intermediate holding portion  65 , and further extended in a different direction so as to be guided by the horizontal direction string guiding groove. The string A is hooked to another intermediate holding portion  65  at a connected portion between the back surface wall  12  and a left wall portion  16 , and further extended in a different direction so as to pass through the left wall portion  16 . Finally, the string A is bound to a stopper  66 , such as a spring, positioned on a front portion of the left wall portion  16 . 
     FIG. 9  illustrates a structure of the intermediate holding portion  65 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , the intermediate holding portion  65  includes a recessed portion B into which a part of a bracket  68  is inserted, and a spring member  69  is provided on the bracket  68 . The string A is hooked to the spring member  69 . Because the spring member  69  can be deformed, the string A, which is held by the spring member  69 , can be detached from the spring member  69  by pulling the string A so as to deform the spring member  69  as shown in a dotted line in  FIG. 9 . 
   The vertical slits  14   a  and  14   b  serves as a vertical direction string guiding groove for guiding a string so as to bind the compressed elastic member in a vertical direction. Further, two rollers  63  and  64 , to which the string is winded, are mounted to the left-upper portion of the casing  10  as shown in  FIG. 10 . The string winded to the rollers  63  and  64  is extended in the housing  11  and served as the binding means for binding the compressed elastic member. A string extended from the rollers  63  and  64  passes through the front surface  31  of the second plunger  30 , then, the string is hooked to a intermediate holding portion  65 , and further extended in a different direction so as to be guided by the vertical direction string guiding groove. The string is hooked to another holding portion at a connected portion between the back surface wall  12  and a bottom wall  17 , and further extended in a different direction so as to pass through the bottom wall  17 . Finally, the string A is bound to a stopper  66 , such as a spring, positioned on a front surface portion of the bottom wall  17  left wall portion  16 . The holding portion has a same structure as the intermediate holding portion  65  as shown in  FIG. 9   
   As shown in  FIG. 6 , the casing  10  includes an opening portion on its front surface, and a doorframe  81  is fixed to the opening portion. To the doorframe  81 , three door panels (a right door panel  82   a , a left door panel  82   b  and an inner pressure releasing door panel  85 ) are fitted so as to be opened outward. The right door panel  82   a  includes a panel portion and reinforcing rods. Specifically, the panel portion of the right door panel  82   a  is formed in a rectangular shape and supported at three portions by means of the hinge members  83   a  to a frame body  81   a , which is a right portion of the doorframe  81 . The reinforcing rods are provided to the panel portion so as to be in a gridiron form in order to reinforce the right door panel  82   a . Thus, the right door panel  82   a  serves as a cover unit for covering the right-half of the opening of the housing  11 . On the other hand, the left door panel  82   b  includes a panel portion and reinforcing rods. Specifically, the panel portion of the left door panel  82   b  is formed in a rectangular shape and supported at two portions by means of the hinge members  83   b  to a frame body  81   b , which is a left portion of the doorframe  81 . The reinforcing rods are provided in the panel portion so as to be in a gridiron form in order to reinforce the left door panel  82   b . Thus, the left door panel  82   b  serves as a cover unit for covering the left-half of the opening of the housing  11 . 
   The inner pressure releasing door panel  85  is fitted to the door frame  81  below the left door panel  82   b . The inner pressure releasing door panel  85  includes a panel portion, which is fitted to a left-lower portion of the door frame  81 , and reinforcing rods, which are provided in the panel portion so as to be in a gridiron form in order to reinforce the inner pressure releasing door panel  85 . Further, two hinge portions  83   c  are provided to a frame body  85   a , which is positioned on the left portion of the door frame  81 . 
     FIG. 11  illustrate a cross section for explaining a structure of the inner pressure releasing door panel  85 . As shown in  FIG. 11 , a through hole is formed on the hinge portion  83   c  of the inner pressure releasing door panel  85 , and a supporting pin  86  is inserted into the through hole. Thus, the hinge portion  83   c  can rotates relative to the supporting pin  86 . 
   Further, a cylinder fixing bracket  87  is attached to a rear portion of the left wall portion  16  of the casing  10  so as to protrude outward, and a hydraulic cylinder  88  is fixed to the cylinder fixing bracket  87  in circumstances where a cylinder rod  89 , which is inserted into the hydraulic cylinder  88 , can be moved in a longitudinal direction of the casing  10  so as to be extended and contracted. Furthermore, a connecting bracket  90 , on which a through hole is formed, is connected to one end portion of the cylinder rod  89 . 
   Further, on a front portion of the left wall portion  16  of the casing  10 , a rotating plate fixing bracket  91  is attached so as to protrude forward relative to the casing  10 , and a rotating plate  92  is attached to the rotating plate fixing bracket  91 . 
   Three through holes are formed on a central portion and both end portions of the rotating plate  92  (a central through hole  92   a , a first through hole  92   b  and a second through hole  92   c ). The rotating plate  92  is rotatably supported by the rotating plate fixing bracket  91  by means of a pin inserted into the central through hole  92   a . A supporting pin  86  is inserted into the first through hole  92   b  and a hole formed on the hinge portion  83   c  of the inner pressure releasing door panel  85  so that the inner pressure releasing door panel  85  can rotate relative to the first through hole  92   b  of the rotating plate  92 . The rotating plate  92  is also rotatably supported by the connecting bracket  90  by means of a pin inserted into the second through hole  92   c  and a through hole formed on the connecting bracket  89 . 
   Normally, the cylinder rod  89  of the hydraulic cylinder  88  is in an extended position, and in such circumstances, the cylinder rod  89  prevents by means of a valve that air flows within the hydraulic cylinder  88 . When the cylinder rod  89  is in the extended position, the second through hole  92   c  is positioned forward relative to the central through hole  92   a , and the first through hole  92   b  is positioned rear relative to the central through hole  92   a . Further, when the cylinder rod  89  is in the extended position, the fixed so as to be extended, the position of the first through hole  92   b  is identical to a position, where a rotational axis of the inner pressure releasing door panel  85  is identical to a rotational axial axis of the left door panel  82   b  (a position shown in a solid line in  FIG. 11 ), and this position is a basic position. Thus, inner pressure releasing door panel  85  is moved by a configuration that is comprised of the hinge member  83   c , the inner pressure releasing door panel  85 , the supporting pin  86 , the cylinder fixing bracket  87 , the hydraulic cylinder  88 , the cylinder rod  89 , the connecting bracket  90 , the rotating plate fixing bracket  91  and the rotating plate  92 , and such configuration comprises an inner pressure releasing mechanism  99  (door moving mechanism). 
   As shown in  FIG. 6 , a lock mechanism  93  is attached to the right door panel  82   a . Specifically, the lock mechanism  93  includes a shaft  94 , which extends in a vertical direction and is attached to an upper frame body and a lower frame body of the right door panel  82   a . A lock lever  95  is attached to a central portion of the shaft  64  so as to be rotated integrally with the shaft  94 . Each of door hook portions  96  is attached to an upper portion and a lower portion of the shaft  94 . Further, to the each of the door hook portions  96 , each of frame hook portions  97 , which are fixed to the door frame  81 , is engaged. 
   The door hook portion  96  is engaged with the frame hook portion  97  as shown in  FIG. 12 . Specifically, the door hook portion  96  protrudes from the shaft  94  so as to be in a L-shape, and on a tip end of the door hook portion  96 , a protrude portion  96   a  is formed so as to further protrude in an inward direction. On the other hand, the frame hook portions  97  are attached to the door frame  81 , which is fixed to the casing  10 . Each of the frame hook portions  97  are attached in corresponding to each of the door hook portion  96 . As shown in  FIG. 12 , the frame hook portion  97  protrudes from the frame body so as to be in a L-shape, and on a tip end of the frame hook portion  97 , a protrude portion  97   a  is formed so as to further protrude in an inward direction. Further, as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 12 , plural holding portions  98  are formed on the frame body of the right door panel  82   a . Specifically, when each of the doors is closed, the left door panel  82   b  and the inner pressure releasing door panel  85  are pressed by the holding portions  98  of the right door panel  82   a . Thus, the right door panel  82   a , the left door panel  82   b  and the inner pressure releasing door panel  85  are locked by fixing the right door panel  82   a  to the door frame  81  by means of the lock mechanism  93 . 
   An actuation of the mattress compressing and binding device  100  will be explained follow. 
   First, the right door panel  82   a , the left door panel  82   b  and the inner pressure releasing door panel  85  are opened, and the mattress M (elastic member) is housed in the housing  11  of the casing  10 . A condition of the mattress M at this point is shown in  FIG. 13 . Then, the doors are closed. In this embodiment, because the holding portions  98  are formed on the frame body of the right door panel  82   a , the left door panel  82   b  and the inner pressure releasing door panel  85  are closed first, and then right door panel  82   a  is closed so that the holding portions  98  are not engaged with the left door panel  82   b  and the inner pressure releasing door panel  85 . 
   Then, the doors are locked by means of the lock mechanism  93 . In this embodiment, by rotating the lock lever  95  so as to be in a state shown in  FIG. 12 , the door hook portion  96  is engaged with the frame hook portion  97 , as a result, all the doors are locked. Then, an actuation button on a control panel (not shown) is pressed in order to actuate the device. Once the device is actuated, the first motor is driven so as to rotate the first ball screw  47 . In accordance with the rotation of the first ball screw  47 , the first ball screw nut  46  and the first plunger  20 , which is connected to the first ball screw nut  46 , are moved along with the first ball screw  47  in a horizontal direction. Then, the first plunger  20  is moved from a stand-by position shown in  FIG. 7 , in leftward horizontally within the housing  11 . 
   As the first plunger  20  is moved in leftward, the mattress M housed in the housing  11  is pressed by the first plunger  20  and engaged with the left wall portion  16  at a left end thereof. Then, the first plunger  20  is further moved in leftward, and the mattress M is pressed so as to be in a vertically long shape. Then, the first plunger  20  is stopped short of a position where it interferes with an area in which the second plunger  30  moves in a vertical direction. The position of the first plunger  20  is detected by means of a limit switch or a proximity switch, and on the basis of the position detected by these switches, the first plunge  20  is controlled so as to be stopped. In this way, the mattress M is pressed in a horizontal direction as shown in  FIG. 14 . 
   After the mattress M is pressed in a horizontal direction, and the first plunger  20  is stopped at the stopped position as shown in  FIG. 14 , the second motor is driven. When the second motor is driven, while the first plunger  20  remains in the stopped position, the second ball screw  57  that is connected to the second motor, is rotated, and in accordance with the rotation of the second ball screw  57 , the second ball screw nut  56  and the second plunger  30 , which is connected to the second ball screw nut  56  is moved in a vertical direction along the second ball screw  57 . Thus, the second plunger  30  is moved within the housing  11  from its stand-by position shown in  FIG. 5  in a vertically-downward direction 
   As the second plunger  30  is moved in a vertically-downward direction within the housing  11 , the mattress, which has been compressed in a horizontal direction by the first plunger  20 , is compressed in a vertical direction. When the mattress is compressed in a vertical direction so as to be third in volume, the second plunger  30  is stopped. The position of the second plunger  30  is detected by means of a limit switch or a proximity switch, and on the basis of the position detected by these switches, the second plunger  30  is controlled so as to be stopped. In this way, the mattress M is pressed in a vertical direction as shown in  FIG. 15 . 
   Thus, the mattress M is pressed by means of the first plunger  20  in a horizontal direction, and pressed by means of the second plunger  30  in a vertical direction so as to be in a small piece. 
   After the mattress is pressed by the first plunger  20  and the second plunger  30 , the pressed mattress M is bound by means of a string member while the first plunger  20  and the second plunger  30  remain in the stopped position. At this point, the compressed mattress M is bound as follow. First, the pressed mattress M is bound in a horizontal direction by means of the string member that is provided within the horizontal direction string guiding groove. Specifically, the string member runs from the rollers  61  and  62  through the front surface  21  of the first plunger  20  and the horizontal direction string guiding groove of the back surface wall  12 , and finally reaches the left wall portion  16 . Thus, while the first plunger  20  is in the stopped position, the string member runs around the mattress M on its three surfaces (a surface that faces the front surface  21  of the first plunger  20 , a surface that faces the back surface wall  12  of the casing  10 , and a surface that faces the left wall portion  16 ). Thus, an operator can cut the string member at an appropriate point, and the end portions of the string portion, one is cut at an appropriate point, and the other is held at a holding portion  66  at the front portion of the left wall portion  16 , are tied together through the inner pressure releasing door panel  85  so as to bind the mattress in a horizontal direction. Because the string member is hooked to the intermediate holding portion  65 , which is comprised of the spring member  69 , the string member can be taken off from the intermediate holding portion  65  by pulling out the string member so as to deform the spring member  69 . 
   Then, the pressed mattress M is bound in a vertical direction by means of a string member that is provided within the horizontal direction string guiding groove. The pressed mattress M is bound in a vertical direction by means of the string member that is provided within the vertical direction string guiding groove. Specifically, the string member runs from the rollers  63  and  64  through the front surface  31  of the second plunger  30  and the vertical direction string guiding groove of the back surface wall  12 , and finally reaches bottom wall  17 . Thus, the operator can cut the string member at an appropriate point, and the end portions of the string member, one is cut at an appropriate point, and the other is held at a holding portion  66  at the front portion of the left wall portion  16 , are tied together through the inner pressure releasing door panel  85  so as to bind the mattress in a vertical direction. Because the string member is hooked to the intermediate holding portion  65 , which is comprised of the spring member  69 , the string member can be taken off from the intermediate holding portion  65  by pulling out the string member so as to deform the spring member  69 . 
   The pressed and bound mattress M is then removed from the housing  11 . At this point, a repulsive force (inner pressure) of the mattress M, which is generated relative to the pressure applied to the mattress M, is applied to the doors. The inner pressure is applied in a direction in which the doors opens, however, because the doors are locked by means of the lock mechanism  93 , the doors cannot be opened by the inner pressure. Further, while the inner pressure is applied to one of the doors, even when the operator tries to rotate the lock lever  95  without discretion, the lock lever  95  cannot be operated. Specifically, as shown in  FIG. 12 , when the doors are in a locked state, the door hook portion  96  is engaged with the frame hook portion  97 . In such circumstances, when the inner pressure is generated by the mattress M, the inner pressure is applied to the inner pressure releasing door panel  85  and the left door panel  82   b . Such inner pressure is further applied to the right door panel  82   a  via the holding portion  98 . The inner pressure applied to the right door panel  82   a  forces the right door panel  82   a  so as to be opened, however, because the right door panel  82   a  is connected to the door hook portion  96  by means of the shaft  94 , the door hook portion  96  is also moved so as to be opened. Then, the door hook portion  96  is tightly engaged with the frame hook portion  97 , and the protrude portion  96   a  is also tightly engaged with the protrude portion  97   a . Thus, while the door hook portion  96  is tightly engaged with the frame hook portion  97 , the lock lever  95  cannot be rotated. Specifically, if the lock lever  95  is rotated while the door hook portion  96  is tightly engaged with the frame hook portion  97 , the rotation of the door hook portion  96 , which rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the lock lever  95 , is interfered by the protrude portion of the frame hook portion  97 . Thus, the lock lever  95  cannot be rotated while the inner pressure of ht mattress M is applied to the doors, as a result, the doors cannot be opened. 
   It is required to release the inner pressure when the compressed and bound mattress M is removed from housing  11 . Such pressure can be released by actuating the inner pressure releasing mechanism as follow. First, the valve that is used to close a hydraulic path of the hydraulic cylinder  88  is opened so that air can flows in the hydraulic path of the hydraulic cylinder  88  so as to actuate the cylinder rod  89 . On the other hand, because the inner pressure of the mattress M is applied to the inner pressure releasing door panel  85  so as to be opened, and one end of the rotating plate  92 , which is supported by means of the supporting pin  86  together with the inner pressure releasing door panel  85 , is also pressed in a front direction. By means of the force applied to the rotating plate  92  at one end thereof, the other end of the rotating plate  92 , on which the second through hole  92   c  is formed, is rotated in a different direction (inward direction) relative to the pin inserted into the central trough hole  92   a . Consequently, the connecting bracket  90 , which is connected to the through hole  92   c  of the rotating plate  92 , is moved in an inward direction, and then the cylinder rod  89  is moved in an inward direction so as to be retracted. When the valve is closed, the cylinder rod  89  is not actuated because air in the hydraulic cylinder  88  is sealed, however, when the valve is opened, the cylinder rod  89  is moved so as to be retracted. In such circumstances, when the level of the inner pressure applied by the mattress M to the door is relatively small, and the cylinder rod  89  cannot be actuated by means of only the inner pressure, a supplemental driving source can be used to actuate the cylinder rod  89 . 
   Thus, when the cylinder rod  89  is retracted, the connecting bracket  90 , which is attached to the end of the cylinder rod  89 , and the other end of the rotating plate  92 , which is connected to the connecting bracket  90 , are rotated in an anticlockwise direction in  FIG. 11  relative to the pin inserted into the central through hole  92   a . Then, the one end of the rotating plate  92  is rotated in an anticlockwise direction relative to the pin inserted into the central through hole  92   a , and thus, the hinge portion  83   c  of the inner pressure releasing door panel  85  which is connected to the one end of the rotating plate  92  is moved forward so as to be in a dotted line in  FIG. 11 . Thus, because the supporting point of the inner pressure releasing door panel  85  is moved forward, a supported portion of the inner pressure releasing door panel  85  is moved forward so as to enhance the volume in the housing  11  at the movement of the inner pressure releasing door panel  85 . When the volume in the housing  11  is enhanced, the inner pressure by the mattress M is released, as a result, the inner pressure applied to the inner pressure releasing door panel  85  can be reduced or dissolve. 
   When the inner pressure applied to the inner pressure releasing door panel is dissolved, the inner pressure releasing door panel  85  is moved as shown in  FIG. 16 , and in such circumstances, the inner pressure applied to the lock lever  95  is also dissolved. In this state, by pressing the lock lever  95  inwardly, a gap is formed between the door hook portion  96  and the frame hook portion  97  as shown in  FIG. 17 , and thus, the protrude portion  96   a  of the door hook portion  96  can rotates without interfering with the protrude portion  97   a  of the frame hook portion, and the lock lever  95  can be rotated so as to unlock the doors. After the doors are opened, the compressed and bound body is removed from the housing  11 . 
   In this way, according to the second embodiment, the compressing and binding device  100  includes the casing  10 , the first plunger  20 , the first driving means  40 , second plunger  30 , second driving means  50  and the binding mechanism (rollers  61 ,  62 ,  63 ,  64 , the horizontal direction string guiding groove, the vertical direction string guiding groove, the intermediate holding portion  65 , and the holding portion  66 ). Specifically, the housing  11 , in which the mattress M is housed, is formed in the casing  10 , the first plunger  20  can be moved in a horizontal direction within the space in the housing  11  so as to press the mattress M in a horizontal direction, the first driving means  40  moved the first plunger  20  in a horizontal direction, the second plunger  30  can be moved in a vertical direction within the space in the housing  11  so as to press the mattress M in a vertical direction, the second driving means  50  moves the second plunger  30  in a vertical direction, the binding mechanism binds the compressed mattress M housed in the housing  11 . Thus, the mattress M can be pressed by the first plunger  20  in a horizontal direction, and further pressed by the second plunger  30  in a vertical direction, and then the pressed mattress M is bound so as to be in a small compressed and bound body. Thus, a lot of compressed and bound bodies can be loaded on the rear deck of the truck so as to improve the efficiency of materials transporting. Further, such compressed and bound bodies can be thrown into a melting furnace so as to recycle the spring of the mattress. 
   Further, the compressing and binding device  100  according to the second embodiment includes the inner pressure releasing mechanism (the inner pressure releasing door panel  85 , the hinge member  83   c , the hydraulic cylinder  88 , the cylinder rod  89 , the connecting bracket  90 , the fixing bracket  91  and the rotating plate  92 ). Specifically, by means of the inner pressure releasing mechanism, the inner pressure applied to the door by the compressed mattress M when the mattress M is pressed and bound within the housing  11 . Thus, the mattress can be safely removed from the housing  11  after by releasing the inner pressure in the housing by actuating the inner pressure releasing mechanism. 
   Further, the inner pressure releasing mechanism can also be served as a door moving mechanism, by which the door can be moved in a direction, wherein the inner pressure applied to the door can be released, as a result, the costs can be reduced. Furthermore, the compressing and binding device  100  includes the lock mechanism  93  so as to prevent the doors from opening while the inner pressure of the mattress M is applied to the door. 
   Thus, while the inner pressure is applied to the door, even when the operator tries to rotate the lock lever  95  without discretion, the lock lever  95  cannot be operated, as a result, the doors remain in a closed state. 
   According to the present invention, because the mattress is vulnerable against a force applied in a longitudinal direction, the spring mattress can be easily compressed so as to be approximately fourth in volume. 
   Thus, the mattress or the like can be compressed by means of the first plunger in the first direction, and then the elastic member is further compressed by means of the second plunger in the second direction that is orthogonal relative to the first direction, as a result, the compressed elastic member is bound by means of the binding mechanism so as to be in the small body. Thus, a lot of compressed and bound bodies can be loaded on the rear deck of the truck so as to improve the efficiency on transportation. Further, such compressed and bound bodies can be thrown into the melting furnace so as to be recycled. 
   The elastic member can be compressed in another directions if these directions are orthogonal oriented. Generally, the first direction is a horizontal direction, and the second direction is a vertical direction. Further, the first plunger is moved by means of the first driving means, and the second plunger is moved by means of the second driving means. Generally, a direct driving means such as a ball screw or a motor, or a hydraulic driving means such as a hydraulic cylinder or an air cylinder can be used as these driving means, however, another means may be used alternatively. The compressed elastic member can be automatically bound by means of the binding means. Further, a jig may be attached to the elastic member in order to bind the elastic member by the operator. If the elastic member is bound by means of the jig, the costs can be reduced. 
   Further, the casing includes the opening portion through which the elastic member, which has been compressed and bound can be removed, and the doors are attached to the opening portion so as to cover the opening. Even when the inner pressure is applied to the door, such inner pressure can be reduced by means of the inner pressure releasing mechanism, as a result it can be prevented that the door is broken due to such inner pressure. Thus, the inner pressure releasing mechanism can reduce the inner pressure applied to the door, however, the inner pressure releasing mechanism may completely release the inner pressure. 
   Further, the door is moved so as to reduce the inner pressure applied by the elastic member to the door, in other word, the space of the housing can be enhanced by moving the door so as to be opened. By means of the inner pressure releasing mechanism, the entire door can be moved. For example, the door may be moved by moving the supporting shaft of the door so as to move a part of the door about which the door can rotates. When the level of the inner pressure, which is applied by the compressed elastic member to the door is, relatively small, the supplemental driving source can be used to move the door. Thus, another door moving means can be used if the door is moved by means of any inner pressure of the elastic member. 
   The compressing and binding device includes the lock mechanism so as to prevent the doors from opening while the inner pressure of the elastic member is applied to the door. Thus, while the inner pressure is applied to the door, even when the operator tries to rotate the lock lever without discretion, the lock lever cannot be operated, as a result, the doors remain in a closed state. 
   The principles, preferred embodiment and mode of operation of the present invention have been described in the foregoing specification. However, the invention which is intended to be protected is not to be construed as limited to the particular embodiments disclosed. Further, the embodiments described herein are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Variations and changes may be made by others, and equivalents employed, without departing from the sprit of the present invention. Accordingly, it is expressly intended that all such variations, changes and equivalents which fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the claims, be embraced thereby.