Patent ID: 7552676

Claim:
A power operated container crushing device, the device comprising: a crushing mechanism, an upper housing, wherein said upper housing includes means for retaining said crushing mechanism, means to power said crushing mechanism, and a switching mechanism functionally linked to said crushing mechanism; a lower housing integral with said upper housing, wherein said lower housing includes a first opening for inserting the container therethrough and a door hingedly attached thereto for gaining or preventing access to said lower housing from said first opening, said lower housing further comprises a second opening to allow a crushed container to pass through and exit from said lower housing, said second opening positioned opposite from said first opening; said crushing mechanism comprising a motor attached to and retained in said upper housing, a drive axle connected to a drive gear, an elongated threaded sleeve fixably attached to said drive axle for rotation thereof, said drive axle is inserted into one end of said threaded sleeve, wherein said motor includes a motor gear for rotational engagement with said drive gear; a threaded shaft for threadably engaging said threaded sleeve; and a crushing plate fixably attached to said threaded shaft; a first support plate integral with said upper housing, said first support plate includes a first bore for said drive axle to pass through, a bearing integral with said first bore for rotational abutment to said drive axle; a second support plate integral with said upper housing, said second support plate includes a second bore for said threaded sleeve to pass through; wherein when said motor rotates said motor gear in one direction, said motor gear rotates said drive gear and said threaded sleeve, and said threaded shaft and said crushing plate move in a downward direction, in which said threaded shaft is not rotated within said threaded sleeve, thereby crushing any container inserted therein, and when said motor rotates in the opposite direction, said crushing plate moves in an upward direction.