Patent Publication Number: US-2004056062-A1

Title: Derelict product cracker, nest, and cracking method

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
     [0001] This is a divisional of application Ser. No. 10/117,897, filed 8 Apr. 2002.  
     [0002] Reference is made to commonly assigned, co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/117,897 filed 8 Apr. 2002, entitled: DERELICT PRODUCT CRACKER, NEST, AND CRACKING METHOD filed in the name of Gilbert E. Caster. 
    
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003] The invention relates to equipment for recycling and disposal of used equipment, particularly consumer electronics and one-time-use cameras and more particularly relates to a derelict product cracker, cracker nest and method.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004] In some industries, manufacturers receive back from consumers, a stream of used products (also referred to herein as “derelict products”) for recycling or appropriate disposal. Some legislative efforts have been directed toward mandating this approach for many consumer products. The returned products are often restored for consumer reuse. One-time-use cameras are recycled in this manner. The returned products can, alternatively, be recycled as raw material feedstocks or otherwise disposed of in a suitable manner.  
       [0005] Although it is preferred that returned products received are restored for later reuse, even under optimal conditions, not all post-consumer products received back in a post-consumer used products stream can be restored for reuse. Some returned products are excessively damaged for reuse. Other products may be modified in a manner that makes restoration impossible or impractical. The result is that at least a portion of the stream of returned products must be disposed of, preferably by reuse of as many parts as possible as chemical feedstocks and disposal of any residue in sanitary landfill or the like.  
       [0006] One type of approach to disposing of such products is crushing the products into small fragments and then separating the fragments. U.S. Pat. No. 6,300,402 discloses a method in which an electrical product is crushed repeatedly and air separators are then used to remove nonmetallic lightweight materials from heavier fragments. U.S. Pat. No. 5,217,171 discloses a method in which equipment is mechanically crushed to provide a mixture of particles, which are then subject to mechanical concentration by use of hydrocyclone, followed by recleaning, magnetic separation, and hydrometallurgical processing. U.S. Pat. No. 6,164,571 discloses a method for separating metals from thermoset plastics using high temperature and pressure and a solvent. U.S. Pat. No. 5,735,933 discloses a method involving crushing, screening by size of particle, heating to high temperatures, and then recovering metal and nonmetal vapors. These approaches can be effective, but are also energy intensive and difficult.  
       [0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,103,721 discloses a simpler approach suitable for aluminum cans. The empty cans are stood, one at a time, in a chamber and to the top and bottom of the chamber are brought together squeezing the cans flat. The crushed cans are used as raw material feedstock. U.S. Pat. No. 5,333,542 discloses another apparatus in which aluminum cans are aligned, one at a time, and crushed from side-to-side rather than top-to-bottom. These approaches are simple, straightforward, and, in one form or another, widely used for simple products.  
       [0008] Common one-time-use cameras have a shell that covers and must be separated from an internal core for recycling. The shell generally has a pair of covers joined together along a longitudinal scene. A chassis, internal to the covers, provides additional structural support and other features. The separable core is typicaly a circuit board that can be part of the chassis or included with the chassis inside the shell.  
       [0009] One-time-use cameras are recycled by camera manufacturers by careful disassembly followed by testing and reuse of some parts, use of other parts for chemical feedstocks, and disposal of a small fraction of the camera parts. This approach is labor-intensive, but can be automated for returned products having uniform characteristics. Other returned products preclude automation due to damage or non-uniform characteristics.  
       [0010] Another approach to camera recycling, described in the U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,649,236 and 5,682,571, involves impacting the edge of the camera body against the edge of a table to effectively crack the camera open. This approach has sometimes been used during removal of exposed film from one-time-use cameras. The impacting on the table edge tends to cause major damage to internal components, which can include fragmenting of internal electrical components such as circuit boards. Similar results are seen if the cameras are compressed from side-to-side or end-to-end. The result is that much manual sorting is required to separate components and fragments and that it is more efficient to carefully open the cameras rather than crack them in this manner. Similar approaches to recycling raise similar issues for other manufactured products built with a core and shell structure. Examples of such products include most handheld consumer electronics, such as cellular telephones, audio players, calculators, and the like. A great many of these products are similar to common one-time-use cameras in another way; internal components are held together by the shell and will readily separating when the shell is removed.  
       [0011] It would thus be desirable to provide an improved cracking method, cracker, and cracker component in which a product shell is removed with a reduced risk of damage to or fragmentation of internal components of the product.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012] The invention is defined by the claims. The invention, in its broader aspects, provides a method, product cracker, and nest that are used with a derelict product having a shell covering a core. The shell has opposed front and rear faces and a sidewall having at least one pair of diagonally opposed corner-edges extending transversely between the faces, and is separable along the sidewall into a pair of covers. In the method, the front and rear faces of the product are placed in alignment with a first axis and the pair of diagonally opposed corner-edges are placed in alignment with a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. The shell is directly supported near one corner-edge of the pair of diagonally opposed corner-edges and is impacted at the other corner-edge with sufficient force to separate the covers. The alignments are maintained during the impacting. The covers and core are collected and the core is sorted out.  
       [0013] It is an advantageous effect of the invention that an improved cracking method, cracker, and cracker component are provided in which a product shell is separated with a reduced risk of damage to or fragmentation of internal components of the product. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0014] The above-mentioned and other features and objects of this invention and the manner of attaining them will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures wherein:  
     [0015]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the derelict product cracker.  
     [0016]FIG. 2 is a partial enlargement of the view of FIG. 1, with some frame components deleted.  
     [0017]FIG. 3 is a front view of the cracker nest, ram, ram driver, and associated frame components of the cracker of FIG. 1. The ram is in the far position.  
     [0018]FIG. 4 is the same view as FIG. 3, but the ram is in the near position.  
     [0019]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the nest of the cracker of FIG. 1.  
     [0020]FIG. 6 is a semi-diagrammatical cross-sectional view of the nest of FIG. 5.  
     [0021]FIG. 7 is a diagram of an embodiment of the method.  
     [0022]FIG. 8 is a semi-diagrammatical view of a one-time-use camera prior to cracking.  
     [0023]FIG. 9 is a semi-diagrammatical view of the camera of FIG. 8 after cracking and of a sorting step applicable to the method shown in FIG. 7.  
     [0024]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the nest. The flap is shown in the rest position.  
     [0025]FIG. 11 is the same view as FIG. 10, but the flap is shown in the elevated position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     [0026] Referring now particularly to FIGS.  1 - 4 , the derelict product cracker  10  has a nest  12  and a ram  14  disposed over the nest  12 . The ram  14  is movable reciprocally between a far position removed from the nest  12  and a near position closer to the nest  12  to crack derelict products  16 .  
     [0027] The derelict product cracker  10 , cracker nest  12 , and method are used with derelict products  16  having a shell  18  covering a core  20  and are particularly suitable for derelict products  16  having the general configuration shown in FIG. 9. The shell  18  has opposed front and rear faces  22 , 24  and a sidewall  26  extending between the faces  22 , 24 . The sidewall  26  has at least one pair of diagonally opposed corner-edges  28  extending transversely between the faces  22 , 24 . The corner-edges  28  can be sharp or very rounded or anything in between or of a more complex shape. The shell  18  is separable along the sidewall  26  into a pair of covers  30 . Each cover  30  includes one of the faces  22 , 24  and a part of the sidewall  26 . The sidewall  26  can divide along a midline  32 , as shown in FIG. 9, or unequally, or in a more complex manner. The shell  18  has a maximum dimension in a longitudinal direction and a minimum dimension in a depth direction. The core  20  of the derelict product  16  is a part that needs to be separated out, such as a circuit board  34 , or battery (not shown), or both. Other internal parts such as an internal plastic frame can be treated as part of the core or part of the shell as appropriate. The shell  18  can be held in place in any of a wide variety of ways, such as fasteners, adhesive, sonic welding, and integral clips. Cracking breaks or releases the holding means or breaks the shell.  
     [0028] Referring again to FIGS.  1 - 4 , in the illustrated embodiments, the nest  12  and ram  14  are held within an enclosure having a frame  36  and panels (not shown) mounted over the frame  36 . The frame  36  can have movable doors (not shown) for entry and exit of derelict products  16  and access to internal features. Features of the frame  36  are not critical and can be varied to meet the requirements of a particular use.  
     [0029] Referring now to FIGS.  3 - 6 , the cracker nest  12  has a V-block  38 , which holds the derelict product  16  for cracking. The V-block  38  has a datum structure  40 , which defines a nest axis  42 . It is convenient if the datum structure  40  is held in immobile relationship to a mount (not separately illustrated) for joining the V-block  38  to a structural support. The datum structure  40  can be part of the mount or can be separate, but has a known geometric relationship to the mount. For example, in the embodiment shown in the figures, the datum structure  40  is the flat bottom of the V-block  38  and the nest axis  42  is perpendicular to the flat bottom. The mount is a fastening structure, such as tapped holes in the flat bottom of the V-block. The frame  36  has a horizontal table  44  and the bottom is held against the table  44  by fasteners, such as bolts (not shown) engaging tapped holes in the V-block  38 . The bottom of the mounted V-block  38  is horizontal and the nest axis  42  is vertical. For greater robustness, the geometric relationship of the datum structure  40  to the nest axis  42  can be unchangeable, absent remanufacture of the parts. This is the case with the V-block  38  shown. Adjusters, such as shims or the like can, alternatively, be provided if desired.  
     [0030] The V-block  38  has a side support  46  and an end support  48 . The supports  46 , 48  are named after parts of a derelict product  16  for which the respective supports  46 , 48  provide a support function. The defective product  16  has two pair of opposed sides  50  (the faces and the top and bottom) and a pair of opposed ends  52 . One side  50  contacts the side support  46  and an end  52  contacts the end support  48  when the derelict product  16  is in the nest  12 . The nests shown in FIGS.  1 - 6  have a V-block  38  that is a solid piece of steel and the supports  46 , 48  are each continuous with the base  54  of the V-block  38 . This construction is highly resistant to wear and damage. The V-block  38  can, alternatively, be provided as an assembly of multiple pieces, if such robustness is not required for a particular use.  
     [0031] The side support  46  and end support  48  define intersecting side support and end support planes  56 , 58 , respectively. The planes  56 , 58  are indicated in FIG. 3 by dashed lines. Each plane  56 , 58  is inclined relative to the nest axis  42  and the nest axis  42  intersects the line of intersection of the side support plane  56  and end support plane  58 . The supports  46 , 48  define a transverse axis  60  (indicated by a circle in FIG. 6) which follows the line of intersection of the planes  56 , 58  and is perpendicular to the nest axis  42 . In the illustrated embodiments, the side support plane  56  and end support plane  58  are each inclined at a different angle relative to the nest axis  42  and the end support plane  58  is inclined at about double the angle of the side support plane  56 . The planes  56 , 58  can both be inclined at the same angle relative to the nest axis  42 , but such a cracker  10  is optimal for a more limited range of shapes of derelict products  16 , generally those having similar length and width dimensions.  
     [0032] Referring now to FIG. 6, in the embodiment shown in the figures, the two planes  56 , 58  come together at an angle of about 90 degrees, that is, 90±1 degree. This angle can be increased or decreased by 10 degrees or even 20 degrees, however, these changes can degrade performance of the cracker  10  with particular configurations of derelict product  16 . In a plane (defined in FIG. 6 by the page) parallel to the nest axis  42  and perpendicular to the line of intersection of the side support and end support planes  56 , 58 , the side support  46  is disposed at an angle of about 30 degrees (30±1 degrees) to the nest axis  42  and the end support  48  is disposed at an angle of about 60 degrees (60±1) to the nest axis  42 . These two angles can each be increased or decreased by 5 degrees or even 10 degrees, within the limitations of the overall angle between the side support and end support planes  56 , 58  and subject to performance limitations, as earlier discussed.  
     [0033] The size of the V-block  38  can be varied to meet the requirements of a particular derelict product stream. For example, a V-block  38  can be scaled for use with commonly available one-time-use cameras. Such cameras can be defined as having a length of between 10 and 13 cm, a width between 2 and 4 cm and a depth between 5 and 7 cm. In this case, a suitable outward dimension for the side support  46  in a direction perpendicular to the transverse axis  60  (the direction corresponding to the camera length) is 8+0/−0.5 cm. A suitable outward dimension for the end support  48  in a direction perpendicular to the transverse axis  60  (the direction corresponding to the camera width) is 5-5.1±0.5 cm. A suitable crossways dimension for both supports  46 , 48  in directions parallel to the transverse axis  60  is 4±0.5 cm. Longer outward dimensions tends to make the cameras more resistant to cracking. A longer outward dimension of the side support  46  tends to make the cameras more subject to bouncing and improper positioning during loading. A shorter outward dimension of the end support  48  tends to cause the cameras to fall out. A greater depth leads to more mispositioning of smaller cameras in the range. (In use, derelict products can be limited to those that meet particular defined dimensions by sorting non-conforming products out of the product stream prior to cracking.)  
     [0034] In the embodiments shown in the figures, the outward dimension of the side support  46  is larger than the outward dimension of the end support  48  by a ratio of about 3:2. The side support  46  has an outward dimension that is less than the mean average longitudinal dimension of the defined derelict product (that is, the average size product  16  for which the particular cracker  10  is intended). In the embodiments shown in the figures, the outward dimension of the side support  46  is shorter than the mean longitudinal dimension of the defined derelict product by a ratio of 3:4.2 to 3:5. The outward dimension of the end support  48  is related to the width dimension of the product  16  by a ratio of 2:1.9 to 2:2.7.  
     [0035] The surfaces  62 , 64  of the supports  46 , 48  can be solid or can be perforated or relieved or textured in some manner. These changes are unimportant as long as the required robustness of the nest  12  is not compromised and the size and shape of the surface of each support is not reduced to the point that defective products  16  could lodge within perforations or other geometric features of the respective support. This effect is undesirable, since it degrades the positioning provided by the supports  46 , 48 .  
     [0036] In the illustrated embodiments, the nest  12  has a bumper  66  laterally adjoining the supports  46 , 48 . The bumper  66  blocks one direction of lateral movement of the derelict product  16  during cracking. In the embodiments shown, the bumper  66  is L-shaped and has an outward extension from the surfaces  62 , 64  that is much less than the outward or transverse dimensions of the supports  46 , 48 . In an embodiment suitable for use with the one-time-use cameras earlier described, the outward dimension of the bumper  66  from the surface of the adjoining support  46  or  48  is a uniform 1.3 cm. A larger dimension than this tends to increase the resistance of the cameras to cracking.  
     [0037] A second bumper  68  can be provided on the other side of the supports  46 , 48 . The second bumper  68  can have the same shape as the first bumper  66  or can be differently shaped. In the illustrated embodiments, the second bumper  68  has an upper portion  70  that is angled inward at about 30 degrees to help direct the derelict products  16  toward the first bumper  66 . The second bumper  68  also has a lower portion  72  that is part of an auxiliary block  74  joined to the V-block  38 . The auxiliary block  74  is optional and can be used to provide an attachment point for other parts. It is convenient to manufacture the first bumper, V-block, and auxiliary block as three separate parts and then to bolt them together utilizing tapped holes (not shown) in the auxiliary block.  
     [0038] In the illustrated embodiments, a clamp jaw  76  is provided opposite the bumper  66 . The clamp jaw  76  is movable toward and away from the first bumper  66  over a range sufficient to accommodate the maximum and minimum depth dimensions of the derelict product  16 . The clamp jaw  76  is driven by a clamp driver  78 , such as an air cylinder or other linear motor that drives the clamp jaw  76  forward and back. The clamp jaw  76  can also be part of a mechanically operated clamp. The clamp jaw  76  moves linearly in the illustrated embodiments, but movement can be provided in another manner such as pivoting. The clamp jaw  76  holds a derelict product  16  in place against the first bumper  66  when the ram  14  impacts the derelict product  16 . Movement of the clamp jaw  76  is synchronized to occur before the ram  14  is impacted against the product  16 . The clamp jaw  76  can take the place of or be used in conjuction with the second bumper  66 . The shape of the clamp jaw  76  can be varied to match the dimensions of expected derelict products.  
     [0039] The motion of the clamp jaw  76  toward the bumper  66  can be controlled by stalling the driver  78  or by use of a manual control (not shown) or with an automated system that stops jaw movement responsive to an increase in resistance encountered by the clamp driver  78  or the like. The clamp jaw  76  can start moving manually, or can automatically close when a derelict product  16  is detected, or on a regular cycle. Opening of the clamp jaw  76  can be automatic or manual, in the same manner as the closing or different, following impacting of the ram  14  against the derelict product  16 . Opening and closing of the clamp jaw  76  is synchronized with the operation of the ram  14 .  
     [0040] The ram  14  is movable reciprocally between a close position near the V-block  38  of the nest  12  and a far position farther removed from the V-block  38 . In the embodiments shown in the figures, the ram  14  moves linearly along a ram axis  80  that extends through the center of the ram  14 . The ram axis  80  is parallel to or coextensive with the nest axis  42 . The ram  14  is moved by a linear driver  82 , such as an air cylinder or solenoid. The driver  82  is held by a holder  83  that is part of the frame  36 . The driver  82  can move the ram  14  in both directions or, with a vertically mounted ram  14  of sufficiently weight, driven movement can be limited to raising the ram  14  and gravity can provide the impetus for the downstroke. The ram  14  is not limited to linear motion and can be pivoted between close and far positions about a pivot axis or can move in a more complicated manner. For example, the ram  14  can be the head of a triphammer. With such rams, the nest axis  42  extends through the ram  14  when the ram  14  is in the close position.  
     [0041] In the illustrated embodiment, the ram  14  moves rapidly from the far position to the close position, so as to impact rather than squeeze a derelict product  16  in the nest  12 . This approach has the advantage of reduced cycle time. The cracker  10  can be modified to squeeze derelict products  16  if impacting results in excessive core  20  fragmentation. The force required to separate the covers  30  of the derelict product  16  can be initially estimated for a particular stream of derelict products  16  and then can be adjusted up or down based upon results. With the one-time-use cameras earlier discussed, a suitable impact force is 500 psi/3450 kpscl. A suitable stroke is 3 inches/7.6 cm, with the near position being at 2 and ⅞ inches/7.3 cm from the transverse axis  60 .  
     [0042] The ram  14  is shaped so as to impact the derelict product  16  without puncturing through the shell  18  and is, preferably, also shaped so as to impact without applying a torque to the product  16  that could twist the product  16  during cracking. The ram  14  is therefore preferably blunt and uniform in shape about the ram axis  80 . An example of a suitable shape is cylindrical. The suitable size, in a direction parallel to the transverse axis  60 , is the same or larger than the transverse dimension of the supports  46 , 48 , and thus equal to or larger than the depth of the expected derelict products  16 . This size minimizes any possibility of puncture of the derelict product  16 .  
     [0043] Reciprocation of the ram  14  can be controlled to occur only when the derelict product  16  occupies the nest  12  or, alternatively, reciprocation can be continuous. The former can be more energy-efficient. The latter can utilize a more simplified control system such as manual switches (not shown).  
     [0044] In the illustrated embodiments, the cracker  10  includes a sweep  84  that is operatively disposed to clear the V-block  38  after cracking is completed. Following cracking, the cracked product  16  may or may not tend to fall from the nest  12 . The use of the sweep  84  removes the product  16  or any residue from the nest  12  that could otherwise interfere with seating of the next derelict product  16 . The sweep  84  is synchronized with the ram  14  so as to operate in alternation with the ram  14 . Sweeping follows cracking and can occur when the ram  14  reaches the far position or earlier or later, as necessary to meet other process requirements. The type of sweep  84  used is not critical.  
     [0045] FIGS.  1 - 5  illustrates an air sweep  84   a , in which air or other pressurized gas is directed over the V-block  38  so as to blow the cracked derelict product  16  and any residual matter from the nest  12 . Gas outlets (not shown) can blow from a position near or on the nest  12 . The nest  12  shown in the figures has a plurality of gas passages  86  in the side support  46 . The gas passages  86  connect to a plenum (not shown) which communicates with a pressurized gas supply (illustrated in FIG. 1 by a tank  88 ).  
     [0046] FIGS.  10 - 11  illustrate another sweep  84   b . In this case, the side support  46  has a main portion  90  and a flap  92  overlying the main portion  90 . The main portion  90  has gas passages  86  as in the cracker  10  of FIGS.  1 - 5 . The flap  92  is imperforate and provides the surface  62  of the side support  46  contacted by the product  16  during cracking. The support surface  62  is inclined relative to the nest axis  42  and positioned relative to the end support  48  in the same manner as earlier discussed. The flap  92  is pivotably connected to the top of the side support  46  by a hinge (not shown). The flap  92  is freely movable between a rest position, shown in FIG. 10, in which the flap  92  is near and substantially parallel to the surface of the side support  46  and an elevated position, shown in FIG. 11, in which the flap  92  extends outward at an angle from the top of the side support  46 . The pivoting of the flap  92  from the rest position to the elevated position drives a cracked derelict product  16  from the V-block  38 . A blast of pressurized gas is expressed through the gas passages  86  of the side support  46  to provide the impetus to lift the flap  92 .  
     [0047] The sweep  84  can be modified to pivot the flap  92  using a driver (not shown), such as a linear electric motor or an air cylinder or the like. The flap  92  can also be moved linearly along the surface of the end support  48  rather than pivoting, if desired.  
     [0048] Referring now particularly to FIGS. 7 and 9, in the cracking method, derelict products  16  are transported to the nest  12  and placed in alignment in the nest  12 . This alignment is maintained and the shell  18  is impacted at one of the corner-edges  28  with sufficient force to separate the covers  30  of the product  16 . The covers  30  and core  20  are collected and transported away and the core  20  is sorted out.  
     [0049] The derelict products  16  are moved to the nest  12  on a first transporter  94  and are removed on a second transporter  96 . The variety of types of transporter devices can be used. For example, a transporter can combine an immobile transport device (not shown), such as a chute; with a mobile device, such as a turntable or conveyor. In FIG. 7, the first and second transporters  94 , 96  are conveyors. The second transporter  96  is wide so as to accommodate scatter caused by the sweep  84 . Manual efforts can be combined with automated transport in various ways, with the limitation that completely manual loading and unloading of the nest  12  is inefficient and unacceptable.  
     [0050] Derelict products  16  are seated in the nest  12  with diagonally opposed corner-edges  28  aligned with the nest axis  42 . In the embodiments shown, the products  16  also have front and rear faces  22 , 24  aligned with the transverse axis  60  of the nest  12 . The derelict products  16  are aligned during movement to the nest  12 . The products  16  are placed on the first transporter  94  with front and rear faces  22 , 24  directed transverse to the direction of transport (indicated by arrow  98 ). With the conveyor shown, the products  16  are in an orientaion in which the faces  22 , 24  are directed toward the sides of the conveyor. This orientation parallels the transverse axis  60  in the embodiment shown in the figures, but may or may not in other embodiments. For example, the conveyor may curve before reaching the nest  12 .  
     [0051] With one-time-use cameras, the rear faces  24  tend to be flatter than front faces  22  and, in many cases, the front faces  22  bulge outward at the taking lens (not shown). This presents a risk that the front face  22  of the camera could ride over the bumper  66  of the nest  12  and misalign the camera in the nest  12 . This risk can be diminished by enlarging the bumper  66 , or all of the cameras can all be oriented on the first transporter  94  in the same direction, with the rear faces  24  aligned so as to contact the bumper  66  when the cameras enter the nest  12 . The former approach, enlarging the bumper  66 , does not require orienting of the camera faces  22 , 24 , but can increase the resistance of the cameras to cracking. The latter approach is particularly suitable if cameras are manually loaded on the first transporter  94  and then retained in the same front-to-rear orientation upon loading into the nest  12 .  
     [0052] After reaching the end of the first transporter  94 , the derelict products  16  are loaded into the nest  12 , in alignment with the nest axis  42 . The derelict products  16  can be placed in the nest  12  or can be impelled into the nest  12 . Placement can use a pick-and-place device or other automated equipment. An impelling force can be provided by a linear driver, such as an air cylinder; but is conveniently provided by gravity. The impelling is preferably at a velocity insufficient to cause bouncing of the derelict product  16  in the nest  12 , since such bouncing can easily result in misalignment. If the impelling force is gravity, then this adjustment is simply a matter of adjusting the distance of the derelict product  16  drops before being caught by the nest  12 . If desired, derelict product  16  orientation on the first transporter  94  can be conserved during loading, whether the product  16  is placed or impelled.  
     [0053] For example, front-to-rear orientation of the product  16  is conserved by the gravity drop into the nest  12  shown in FIG. 7. A first transporter  94  is a conveyor that is positioned only slightly above the nest  12 . The derelict product  16  travels on the belt of a conveyor.  
     [0054] Near the end of first transporter  94 , a gate  100  opens and shuts as needed to deliver the products  16 , one at a time. The gate  100  is illustrated as an air cylinder that has a piston that extends or retracts to block or permit passage of products  16 . Other types of gate  100 , such as a movable door can also be used. The gate  100  can be controlled manually or can be automated so as to synchronize with ram  14  and sweep  84  operation. Sensors (not shown) can monitor the gate  100  and other operations and automatic control of the gate  100  and other functions, using the sensors can be provided by a microprocessor or other controller (not shown). The first transporter  94  can also be synchronous, rather than asynchronous and can be synchronized with the operation of the ram  14 . In this case, the gate  100  can be eliminated.  
     [0055] Following the gate  100 , the products  16  are moved by an aligner  101  into alignment with the first bumper  66  of the nest  12 . In the embodiments illustrated, the aligner  101  is a fence  102  and a resilient arm  104  and the products  16  are individually pushed against the fence  102  by the resilient arm  104  near the end of the first transporter  94 . The arm  104  and fence  102  of the aligner  101  can be replaced by other structures that provide like positioning. For example, a second resilient arm (not shown) mirroring arm  104 , can be used in place of the fence  102  or a pair of similarly shaped non-resilient guides (not shown) can be used.  
     [0056] At the end of the first transporter  94 , the product  16  is impelled into the nest  12 . In the embodiments shown in figures, transporter  94  is a conveyor and the product travels on a belt  106 . When the product  16  reaches the return end  108  of the conveyor, the belt  106  curves back under and the derelict product  16  tips forward, and plunges off the belt and into the nest  12 . The plunge is a tipping motion that moves a derelict product  16  that is resting on a longitudinal side  50 , into an end  52  downward orientation. As the product  16  continues to tip, a corner-edge  28  strikes the side support  46 , blocking further tipping. The product  16  then slides along the side support  46  until the end support  48  is reached and the product  16  lodges with opposed corner-edges  28  lined up with the nest axis  42 .  
     [0057] In the embodiments shown in the figures, the nest  12  includes a clamp jaw  76  that is movable toward the bumper  66 . The jaw  76  remains in a fully open position until the derelict product  16  is lodged in the V-block  38 , then the clamp jaw  76  is moved (indicated by arrow  112  toward the bumper  66 . Movement of the clamp jaw  76  continues until the shell  18  of the derelict product  16  is gripped between the the clamp jaw  76  and and the bumper  66 . The clamp jaw  76  grips one of the faces  22 , 24 , such as the front face of a one-time-use camera, and the bumper  66  grips the other face.  
     [0058] The derelict product  16  is impacted when the ram  14  moves from the far position to the near position. This movement takes the ram  14  into space that would otherwise be occupied by the derelict product  16 . The near position of the ram  14  can be adjusted, if the product stream can be well predicted, to enter the space occupied by the shell  18  but to not enter the space occupied by the core  20 . This reduces risk of damage to the core  20 .  
     [0059] The ram  14  does not contact the nest  12  and, in the illustrated embodiments, does not closely approach the end support  48 . The impact occurs on the uppermost portion of the derelict product  16 , which is a corner-edge  28 . While the impacting is occurring, the V-block  38  is directly supporting the shell  18  in the vicinity of the diagonally opposite corner-edge  28 . The product  16  is held in alignment with the nest  12  and transverse axes. The nest axis  42  extends through both corner-edges  28 . The transverse axis  60  is parallel to the transverse dimension defined by the corner-edges  28 .  
     [0060] As earlier noted, the force of the impact on the derelict product  16  is sufficient to separate the covers  30  from each other end, in some cases, from the core  20 . The force of the impact can be set so as to minimally accommodate the most cracking resistant product of an expected stream of derelict products  16 . Alternatively, a lower force can be set, based upon an assumption that some products  16  would require multiple impacts. This further assumes automated or manual recracking of more resistant products  16 .  
     [0061] Following impacting, the ram  14  is returned in the opposite direction toward the far position as indicated by arrow  116 . In the illustrated embodiments, the sweep  84  is actuated following cracking to sweep the covers  30  and core  20  of the cracked product  16  off the V-block  38  and onto the second transporter  96  as indicated by arrow  114 . Sweeping may not always be necessary. In some cases, the cracked derelict product  16  may fall out of the nest  12  onto the second transporter  96 . In other cases, separated parts of a product  16  may remain on the nest  12  and other parts fall onto the second transporter  96 . Sweeping ensures that the covers  30  and core  20  reach the second transporter  96  and that the nest  12  is cleared of any residual parts or fragments. In the illustrated embodiments, sweeping is in a direction that is away from both the nest axis  42  and the transverse axis  60 .  
     [0062] After cracking, the covers  30  and core  20  are collected and classified so as to sort out the cores  20  from the shells  18 . Collecting can be limited to catching swept or fallen parts on the second transporter  96  or can include additional procedures. The manner of classifying is not critical. Classification can be manual or automated or a combination of the two. For example, the second transporter  96  can fill bins, which are then dumped and parts are manually sorted into two or more categories. (This is indicated schematically in FIG. 9 by boxes  110 .)  
     [0063] The methods and apparatus have been described primarily in relation to derelict products  16  in the form of one-time-use cameras. Like considerations apply other derelict products  16 . Each cracker  10  is limited to products  16  of particular range of sizes and resistances to cracking; but, within those limitations, the types of product  16  cracked can be varied as desired. Cracker  10  characteristics can be rescaled proportionately for products  16  of larger or smaller ranges of size or greater or lesser resistance to cracking.  
     [0064] The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention.