Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention provides a plastics waste processor for efficiently compacting and melting plastics waste, so as to form easily disposable compact plastic units having a volume considerably smaller than the unprocessed plastics waste. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus for processing plastic waste which is contaminated with, for example, food, paper, and metal, into densified blocks or slugs suitable for long-term, sanitary storage, in order to reduce the volume of such waste, the corresponding storage space associated therewith and overcome cleanliness issues encountered with conventional plastics waste storage and disposal.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Navy ships generate plastic waste at a rate of approximately 0.2 pounds per man per day. This plastic waste has very low density, approximately 1.4 pounds per cubic foot, and approximately 60% of this waste is heavily contaminated with food residue. Historically, all of this plastic waste was mixed with the remainder of the ship&#39;s waste and discharged at sea. This method of disposal, however, is no longer used due to its negative environmental impact.  
         [0003]     A less environmentally harmful procedure now carried out involves compacting the onboard plastic waste, and storing the compacted waste for disposal upon reaching shore, using a conventional compress/melt waste processor. Such a conventional compress/melt waste processor, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,411,697 and 5,489,200, to McGraw, et al., compacts the plastic waste inside of a compaction chamber having a hatch door thereon, and heats the compacted waste to a target temperature of approximately 325°-350° F. by cycling resistance heaters until the temperature at the center of the slug (compressed plastic waste) exceeds the boiling point of water. During this processing cycle, the ram continues to maintain the target compaction force. At the end of the process cycle, the control system turns off the electrical resistance heaters and begins cooling the processor.  
         [0004]     When the processor reaches a predetermined cooled temperature, the control system stops the cooling process, the ram is retracted far enough to relieve the compaction pressure, and the hatch door is released from the frame by rotating the door about its axis to release a breech lock mechanism. The hatch door is rotated about its hinge axis to open the end of the chamber and the ram is extended to push the completed slug out of the chamber for removal and storage.  
         [0005]     However, it was found that the above conventional compress/melt waste processor disclosed in the McGraw, et al. references suffers from various operational and maintenance deficiencies, such as unacceptably long compaction periods, jamming of the compaction ram due to melted plastic wedging between the ram and the chamber walls, jamming of the hatch door when rotating on its axis to free the breech lock at the end of the process cycle, contamination of the machine surfaces due to excessive build-up of food waste, failures of cable and hose under the ram due to poor cable and hose management, failures of non-robust temperature sensors, difficulty troubleshooting because of an overly complex control system, and performance of excessive scheduled maintenance.  
         [0006]     In view of the above deficiencies of the conventional processes for plastic waste processing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a plastic waste processor capable of efficiently compacting plastic waste, while also being reliable in terms of operability. In particular, it is an object of the invention to provide a plastics waste processor having a pneumatic compacting means capable of avoiding jamming and sudden release problems encountered with the conventional processors. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a plastics waste processor having a waste containment chamber door capable of being easily and safely opened after processing of plastic waste.  
         [0007]     It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a plastics waste processor having a compaction ram capable of overcoming jamming problems associated with the conventional processors. Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide a plastics waste processor having a washdown system for easy cleaning of the processor after processing, as well as an improved system for efficiently maintaining and protecting moving cable and hoses within the device during processing.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     In order to achieve the objects of the invention, in a first embodiment of the present invention, a plastics waste processor comprising:  
         [0009]     a base;  
         [0010]     a frame having a top end, and a bottom end attached to said base;  
         [0011]     a hinge arm assembly movably attached to the frame comprising a hinge fixed to said frame, and a handle portion attached to said hinge;  
         [0012]     a waste containment chamber attached to said frame, said waste containment chamber comprising a waste chamber having a chamber entrance port therein, said chamber entrance port defining a chamber entrance port outer circumference, and a breech-lock door assembly rotatably attached to said hinge arm and adjacent to said chamber entrance port;  
         [0013]     two or more receptor blocks affixed to the frame, and positioned adjacent to the outer circumference of the waste containment chamber entrance port;  
         [0014]     a pneumatically driven waste compaction means interactively adjacent to said waste containment means, said pneumatically driven waste compaction means comprising: 
        (i) a pneumatic drive means attached to said base;     (ii) a pneumatically driven ram in movable connection with said pneumatic drive means, so as to be capable of compressing/compacting waste located within said waste containment means; and     (iii) one or more dampers positioned between the pneumatically driven ram and the base, and parallel to the pneumatically driven ram;        
 
         [0018]     a waste containment chamber heating means integral with or adjacent to the breech lock door assembly and the pneumatically driven waste compaction means;  
         [0019]     a processor temperature monitoring means comprising one or more thermostats located adjacent to one or more components of the plastics waste processor for monitoring a temperature of the processor during operation;  
         [0020]     a cooling means in conductive connection with said processor temperature monitoring means and adjacent to the waste containment means and the pneumatically driven waste compaction means so as to be capable of cooling same, said cooling means comprising a fluid circulation means having a first end, a second end and a flow control means, said fluid circulation means flowably connected to a pressurized fluid source, a fluid entrance port flowably connected to the first end of the fluid circulation means, and a fluid exit port flowably connected to the second end of the fluid circulation means; and  
         [0021]     a user control means conductively connected to one or more of the the waste containment chamber heating means, the pneumatically driven waste compaction means, and the processor temperature monitoring means.  
         [0022]     In a second embodiment, the plastics waste processor of the first embodiment above is provided, further comprising:  
         [0023]     a power source in conductive connection with the waste containment chamber heating means, the pneumatically driven waste compaction means, processor temperature monitoring means, and the cooling means.  
         [0024]     In a third embodiment of the present invention, the plastics waste processor of the first embodiment above is provided, wherein said breech lock door assembly is comprised of:  
         [0025]     a waste containment chamber door adjacent to and in rotatable communication with the chamber entrance port, and attached to the handle portion of the hinge arm assembly, said waste containment chamber door having:  
         [0026]     a rotary bearing disposed on a central axis, for rotatable engagement with the hinge arm;  
         [0027]     an outer circumference equal to or larger than the chamber entrance port outer circumference;  
         [0028]     two or more pivoting lugs attached to the outer circumference of the waste containment chamber door, so as to be capable of rotatable interaction with the receptor blocks;  
         [0029]     one or more release blocks attached to said pivoting lugs;  
         [0030]     a linear actuating means having a first end fixably attached to the hinge and a second end movably attached to the waste containment chamber door, and positioned so as to be able to rotatably move the waste containment chamber door;  
         [0031]     a waste containment chamber door damper means having a first end, a second end, and a damper there between, the first end of the waste containment chamber door damper fixably connected to the hinge, and the second end of the waste containment chamber door damper movably connected to the waste containment chamber door, the damper means positioned so as to oppose rotary motion of the waste containment chamber door;  
         [0032]     a jam breaker bar rotatably connected to one or more of said receptor blocks via a pivoting means, so as to be capable of forcible interaction with one or more of said release blocks, said jam breaker bar having a first end defining a handle, a second end defining a release block interaction point, and a midsection having a a pivot point adjacent to the pivoting means;  
         [0033]     wherein said jam breaker bar pivots around the pivoting means to exert pressure upon the release block of the waste containment chamber door assembly, so as to cause waste containment chamber door to rotate around the central axis thereof.  
         [0034]     In a fourth embodiment of the present invention, the plastics waste processor of the first embodiment above is provided, wherein said waste containment chamber heating means comprises:  
         [0035]     a heating device selected from the group consisting of electric resistance heaters, steam heating tubes or hot water heating tubes; and  
         [0036]     a heating device controller in connection with the heating device.  
         [0037]     In a fifth embodiment of the present invention, the plastics waste processor of the first embodiment above is provided, wherein the cooling means is a direct seawater cooling means, and said fluid circulation means is comprised of titanium tubing embedded in the waste containment chamber door and the pneumatically driven ram.  
         [0038]     In a sixth embodiment of the present invention, the plastics waste processor of the first embodiment above is provided, wherein the control means comprises a computer controller and a user interface.  
         [0039]     In a seventh embodiment of the present invention, the plastics waste processor of the first embodiment above is provided, further comprising:  
         [0040]     a cable and hose management system comprising one or more cable carriers having a first end and a second end, the first end of the cable carrier being affixed to the frame and the second end being affixed to the pneumatically driven ram,  
         [0041]     wherein each cable carrier is comprised of a plurality of connected movable links having a hollow interior portion for containment of cables and/or hoses for encompassing one or more of waste containment chamber heating means cables, pneumatically driven waste compaction means cables and hoses, and processor temperature monitoring means cables.  
         [0042]     In an eighth embodiment of the present invention, the plastics waste processor of of the seventh embodiment above is provided, wherein the cable and hose management system further comprises a thermal isolating means having a first end affixed to the pneumatically driven ram and second end affixed to the second end of the cable carrier, so as to thermally isolate the cable carrier from heat generated by the pnuematically driven ram.  
         [0043]     In a ninth embodiment of the present invention, the plastics waste processor of the first embodiment above is provided, further comprising a washdown system adjacent to the waste containment chamber and pneumatically driven waste compaction means, said washdown system comprising:  
         [0044]     one or more fluid inlet ports;  
         [0045]     one or more fluid distribution manifolds in flowable connection with one or more of the fluid inlet ports;  
         [0046]     one or more fluid supply tubes having a first end and a second end, the first end of each fluid supply tube flowably connected to one or more of the fluid distribution manifolds;  
         [0047]     one or more spray nozzles adjacent to the waste containment chamber and the pneumatically driven ram, and flowably connected to the second end of a fluid supply tube.  
         [0048]     In a tenth embodiment of the present invention, the plastics waste processor of the ninth embodiment above is provided, wherein the washdown system further comprises:  
         [0049]     one or more detergent solution holding tanks flowably connected to one or more of the fluid inlet ports; and  
         [0050]     a detergent solution flow control means in flowable connection with the detergent solution holding tank,  
         [0051]     wherein flow of the detergent solution to one or more of the fluid distribution manifolds from the holding tank may be controlled by the control means.  
         [0052]     In an eleventh embodiment of the present invention, the plastics waste processor of the tenth embodiment above is provided, wherein the detergent solution control means is selected from the group consisting of a programmable logic controller, a relay logic controller, or a mechanical logic controller.  
         [0053]     In a twelfth embodiment of the present invention, the plastics waste processor of the first embodiment above is provided, wherein the pneumatically driven ram comprises:  
         [0054]     a ram compaction face;  
         [0055]     a circumferential ram body portion having a top edge adjacent the ram compaction face, a midsection adjacent the top edge, and a bottom edge adjacent the midsection;  
         [0056]     relief portions formed into the midsection of the circumferential ram body portion, and extending to the bottom edge thereof,  
         [0057]     wherein plastic waste extruded past the top edge of the circumferential ram body portion during compaction and processing of plastic waste is allowed to escape from the waste containment chamber via the relief portions.  
         [0058]     In a thirteenth embodiment of the present invention, the plastics waste processor of the first embodiment above is provided, wherein the pneumatically driven ram comprises:  
         [0059]     a ram compaction head having a face, a circumferential portion adjacent the face, and a base portion portion adjacent the circumferential portion; and  
         [0060]     three or more guide runners integral with or attached to the base portion of the ram compaction head  
         [0061]     wherein plastic waste extruded past the circumferential portion of the ram compaction head during compaction and processing of plastic waste is allowed to escape from the waste containment chamber via space between the guide runners.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0062]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the plastic waste processor of the present invention according to the first embodiment.  
         [0063]      FIG. 2  is partial cross sectional view of the plastic waste processor of the first embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the position of the pneumatically driven waste compaction means fully retracted before the compaction process and with the waste containment chamber door hinged to the open position exposing the chamber entrance port.  
         [0064]      FIG. 3  is partial cross sectional view of the plastic waste processor of the first embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the position of the pneumatically driven waste compaction means fully retracted before the compaction process with the containment chamber door hinged to the closed position and the breech lock engaged.  
         [0065]      FIG. 4  is partial cross sectional view of the plastic waste processor of the first embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the position of the pneumatically driven waste compaction means during the compaction process.  
         [0066]      FIG. 5  is partial cross sectional view of the plastic waste processor of the first embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the position of the pneumatically driven waste compaction means at the end of the compaction process, and before the waste chamber containment door is opened.  
         [0067]      FIG. 6  is partial cross sectional view of the plastic waste processor of the first embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the position of the pneumatically driven waste compaction ram in its fully extended position, wherein the ram compaction face is extended above the top of the chamber entrance port so as to eject the slug (the compressed plastic waste) from the waste containment chamber.  
         [0068]      FIG. 7  is a plan view of the breech lock door assembly of the third embodiment of the present invention, in the locked position.  
         [0069]      FIG. 8  is a plan view of the breech lock door assembly of the third embodiment of the present invention, in the unlocked position.  
         [0070]      FIG. 9A  is a simplified plan view of the breech lock door assembly of the third embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the jam breaker bar in the stowed position.  
         [0071]      FIG. 9B  is a simplified plan view of the breech lock door assembly of the third embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the jam breaker bar engaging the release block before the waste containment chamber door has begun to rotate (i.e., before the waste containment chamber door has begun to unlock).  
         [0072]      FIG. 9C  is a simplified plan view of the breech lock door assembly of the third embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the jam breaker bar engaging the release block while the waste containment chamber door is rotating (i.e., while the waste containment chamber door is unlocking).  
         [0073]      FIG. 10  is a partial cut away perspective view of the plastics waste processor of the present invention, illustrating the cable and hose management system of the seventh and eighth embodiments herein.  
         [0074]      FIG. 11  is partial cut away perspective view of the plastic waste processor of the present invention, illustrating the washdown system of the ninth and tenth embodiments herein.  
         [0075]      FIG. 12  is a perspective depiction of the pneumatically driven ram of the plastics waste processor of the present invention, illustrating the plastic shedding pneumatically driven ram of the twelfth embodiment.  
         [0076]      FIG. 13  is a perspective depiction of the pneumatically driven ram of the plastics waste processor of the present invention, illustrating the plastic shedding pneumatically driven ram of the thirteenth embodiment.  
         [0077]      FIG. 14  is a schematic diagram of the plastic waste processor of the present invention, illustrating the cooling system of the fifth embodiment, the control system of the sixth embodiment, and the washdown system of the ninth and tenth embodiments. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0078]     As discussed above, shipboard plastics waste containment and disposal presents various problems, such as storage limitations, environment concerns, etc. To address these problems, the present inventors have endeavored to provide a processor for efficiently compacting and processing plastics waste for storage and later disposal, capable of compacting the plastics waste and heating the plastics waste to a temperature sufficient to melt the low-melting thermoplastic waste, thereby creating an encapsulated plastics waste “slug”.  
         [0079]     In particular, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a plastics waste processor  1  is provided, having a base  3  and a frame  5 , the frame having a top end  7  and a bottom end  9 . A waste containment chamber  17  is mounted on/attached said base  3 . The waste containment chamber  17 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , has a chamber entrance port  19 , into which plastics waste is placed for processing. The chamber entrance port  19  has an outer circumference  21 .  
         [0080]     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2-6 , a hinge arm assembly  11  having a handle portion  15  is movably attached to the top end  7  of the frame  5  via a hinge  13 . A breech lock door assembly  23 , consisting of a waste containment chamber door  57  and two or more pivoting lugs  63  attached to the outer circumference  61  of the waste containment chamber door  57 , is rotatably attached to the hinge arm assembly  11  via rotary bearing  59 , to enable rotatable engagement of the waste containment chamber door with the hinge arm assembly  11 . The outer circumference  61  of the waste containment chamber door  57  is as wide, or wider than, the outer circumference  21  of the chamber entrance port  19 .  
         [0081]     As illustrated in  FIGS. 4-5 ,  7 - 8  and  9 A- 9 C, the waste containment chamber door  57  can be rotated via the linear actuating means  67 , as well as the jam breaker bar  81 , to open and close the door  57  (i.e., to seal or unseal the door  57 ). More specifically, the waste containment chamber door  57  can be secured, so as to seal the chamber entrance port  19 , by rotating the door  57  sufficiently to cause engagement of the pivoting lugs  63  with receptor blocks  25  attached to the top end  7  of frame  5 , and unlocked by rotating the door  57  so as to disengage the pivoting lugs  63  from the receptor blocks  25 .  
         [0082]     In standard operation, a linear actuating means  67 , such as a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder, is used to rotate the waste containment chamber door  57  to an unsealed position. In particular, as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , a first end  69  of the linear actuating means  67  is fixably attached to the hinge arm assembly  11 , and a second end  71  of the linear actuating means  67  is movably attached to the waste containment chamber door  57 , such that linear force can be exerted upon the door  57  so as to rotate and disengage the pivoting lugs  63  from the receptor blocks  25 .  
         [0083]     In the event that melted plastic waste causes jamming of the waste containment chamber door  57 , the linear actuating means  67  may be unable to exert sufficient pressure to unseal the door. In such case, a user may utilize the jam breaker bar  81 , having a first end  85  defining a handle, a midsection  89  defining a pivot point adjacent the first end  85 , and a second end  87  defining a release block interaction point adjacent the midsection  89 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 7-9C , to exert additional rotational pressure upon the waste containment chamber door  57 . Essentially, torque is applied by the second end  87  of the jam breaker bar  81  through pivoting means  83  to the release block  65  attached to pivoting lug  63  to force the pivoting lugs to disengage from the receptor blocks  25 .  
         [0084]     Occasionally, when unsealing (opening) the waste containment chamber door  57 , pressure applied against the door  57  inside of the chamber  17  causes the door  57  to suddenly and forcefully open. This situation can be hazardous to the user, and potentially damaging to the processor. Thus, as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , a waste containment chamber door damper means  73  is provided, consisting of a damper  79  having a first end  75  thereof fixably connected to the  15  hinge arm assembly  11 , and a second end  77  thereof movably connected to the waste containment chamber door  57 . This damper  79  may be, for example, a gas-charged hydraulic cylinder which limits the speed of opening of the door  57 .  
         [0085]     As shown in  FIGS. 1-6 , a pneumatically driven waste compaction means is provided adjacent to the waste containment chamber  17 , the pneumatically driven waste compaction means consisting of a pneumatic drive means  29  attached to the base  3 , and a pneumatically driven ram  31  movably connected to the pneumatic drive means  29  capable of compressing/compacting plastic waste  2  located within said waste containment means  17 . Further, one or more dampers  33  are provided between, and connected to, the pneumatically driven ram  31  and the base  3 , so as to control the movement of the pneumatically driven ram  31  (i.e., to prevent sudden, potentially damaging, forceful movement thereof).  
         [0086]     In the conventional processors, during the waste compaction and heating process, melted plastic waste frequently wedges between the interior wall of the waste containment chamber  17  and the pneumatically driven ram  31 , thus causing the pneumatically driven ram to become jammed in the waste containment chamber  17 . This situation requires frequent maintenance of the processor, and inefficient operation. To solve this problem, the present invention provides a plastic-shedding pneumatically driven ram  31 , as illustrated in  FIG. 12 , comprised of ram compaction face  131 , a circumferential ram body portion  133  having a top edge  135  adjacent the ram compaction face  131 , a midsection  137  adjacent the top edge  135 , and a bottom edge  139  adjacent the midsection  137 .  
         [0087]     Relief portions  141  are formed into the midsection  137  of the circumferential ram body portion  133 , and extend to the bottom edge  139  thereof. During processing, when plastic waste does extrude into the space between the pneumatically driven ram  31  and the interior wall of the waste containment chamber  17 , instead of remaining in said space, the plastic waste falls down out of the space via the relief portions  141 . Thus, the pneumatically driven ram  31  shown in  FIG. 12  effectively sheds the plastic waste mentioned above, and the plastic waste is allowed to escape (drop down and out of) the processor, or into a catchment provided in the base of the processor.  
         [0088]     In an alternative embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 13 , a plastic-shedding pneumatically driven ram  31  is provided comprised of a ram compaction head  143  having a face  145 , a circumferential portion  147  adjacent the face  145 , and a base portion  149  adjacent the circumferential portion  147 . Three or more guide runners  151  are provided integral with or attached to the base portion  149  of the ram compaction head  143 , so as to maintain stability of the ram  31  within the waste containment chamber  17 .  
         [0089]     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 13 , plastic waste extruded past the circumferential portion  147  of the ram compaction head  143  during compaction and processing of plastic waste is allowed to escape from the waste containment chamber  17  via spaces between the guide runners  151 . Therefore, jamming of the ram  31  during processing is avoided.  
         [0090]     During the compaction process, a waste containment chamber heating means  35 , as shown in  FIGS. 2-6 , is used heat the plastics waste to a temperature at least high enough to melt the low-melting temperature plastics therein. The waste containment chamber heating means  35  may be, for example, electric resistance heaters, steam heating tubes or hot water heating tubes, and is provided integral with or adjacent to the breech lock door assembly  23  and the pneumatically driven ram  31 . As illustrated in  FIG. 14 , a heating device controller  93  is provided to control the heating means  35  by monitoring the temperature of the heating means  35  through processor temperature monitoring means  37 . The processor temperature monitoring means  37  may be comprised of one or more thermostats located adjacent to one or more components of the plastics waste processor  1 .  
         [0091]     At the completion of the compaction and heating of the plastics waste, the processor  1  must be cooled before the plastics waste slug can be removed. A cooling means is thus provided, in conductive connection with the processor temperature monitoring means  37  and adjacent to the waste containment chamber  17  and the pneumatically driven waste compaction means so as to be capable of cooling same. As shown in  FIG. 14 , the cooling means is comprised of a fluid circulation means  39  having a first end  43 , a second end  45  and a flow control means  47 , the fluid circulation means  41  being flowably connected to a pressurized fluid source  48 . A fluid entrance port  49  is flowably connected to the first end  43  of the fluid circulation means  41 , and a fluid exit port  51  is flowably connected to the second end  45  of the fluid circulation means  41 .  
         [0092]     The cooling means  39  may be a direct seawater cooling means or an indirect type cooling means, however, the direct seawater configuration is preferred. Further, the present inventors discovered that by using a cooling means  39  comprised of titanium tubing embedded in the waste containment chamber door  57  and the pneumatically driven ram  31 , corrosion due to contact with seawater and oxidation thereof of the cooling means was greatly inhibited.  
         [0093]     The processor is controlled by a user via a control means  53 . The control means  53 , as illustrated in  FIG. 14 , is conductively connected to one or more of the waste containment chamber heating means, the pneumatically driven waste compaction means, the door linear actuating means, the processor temperature monitoring means, and the cooling means. In addition, the control means  53  is conductively connected to the power source  55 , and is capable of controlling power to the processor. The control means  53  may consist of an electromechanical device, but is preferably a computer controller having a user interface.  
         [0094]     When plastics waste  2  is processed in the processor  1  of the present invention, the pneumatic drive means  29  moves the pneumatically driven ram  31  up and down, so as to compact the waste. Additionally, waste containment chamber heating means  35  heat the plastic waste within the waste containment chamber  17 , so as to melt at least a portion thereof. Cables and hoses are used to connect the ram  31  and heating means  35  to the pneumatic drive means  29  and heating device controller  93 . These cables and hoses, as illustrated in  FIG. 10 , move up and down with the pneumatically driven ram as the waste is processed. This can sometimes lead to tangling and damage to the cables and hoses, and difficulty in servicing and maintenance of the processor  1 .  
         [0095]     Thus, the present invention provides a cable and hose management system  95 , as illustrated in  FIG. 10 , comprising one or more cable carriers  97  having a first end  99  and a second end  101 , the first end  99  of the cable carrier  97  being affixed to the frame  5 , and the second end  101  being affixed to the pneumatically driven ram  3   1 . Each cable carrier  97  is comprised of a plurality of connected movable links  103 , which have a hollow interior portion  105  for containment of cables and/or hoses, and for encompassing one or more of waste containment chamber heating means cables, pneumatically driven waste compaction means cables and hoses, and processor temperature monitoring means cables.  
         [0096]     As mentioned above, the second end  101  of cable and hose management system  95  is affixed to the pneumatic drive ram  31 , which during processing reaches a very high temperature. Thus, there is the possibility that heat transfer from the ram  31  may damage the cable and hose management system  95 . Thus, the cable and hose management system may further be provided with a thermal isolating means  107 , as illustrated in  FIG. 10 , having a first end  109  affixed to the pneumatically driven ram  31 , and second end  111  affixed to the second end  101  of the cable carrier  97 , so as to thermally isolate the cable carrier  97  from heat generated by the pnuematically driven ram  31 . The thermal isolator may be made of any thermally-insulating material, such as ceramic, glass, etc.  
         [0097]     Much of the plastic waste processed in the processor is food, and otherwise, contaminated. Thus, the waste containment chamber  17 , door  57  and ram  31 , tend to become very dirty during use, which requires constant cleaning, and contributes to unreliability due to fouling of components. Conventionally, users were thus required to spend long periods of time cleaning the processor, sometimes needing to disassemble the processor to properly clean same. In order to solve this deficiency, the present inventors discovered that a washdown system  113 , as illustrated in  FIG. 11 , could be built into the processor  1 .  
         [0098]     In particular, as illustrated in  FIG. 11 , a washdown system  113  is provided adjacent to the waste containment chamber  17  and pneumatically driven waste compaction means  29 , for washing the processor of contaminants present in the plastic waste. The washdown system  113  has one or more fluid inlet ports  115 , one or more fluid distribution manifolds  117  in flowable connection with one or more of the fluid inlet ports  115 , one or more fluid supply tubes  119  having a first end  121  and a second end  123 , the first end  121  of each fluid supply tube  119  being flowably connected to one or more of the fluid distribution manifolds  117 .  
         [0099]     Further, one or more spray nozzles  125  is provided adjacent to the waste containment chamber  17  and the pneumatically driven ram  31 , the spray nozzles  125  being flowably connected to the second end  123  of a fluid supply tube  119 . Generally, heated or unheated pressurized water is sprayed through the spray nozzles  125  to clean the chamber  17  and ram  31 . However, in addition to simply pressurized water, detergent solution may be used to more effectively clean the processor  1 .  
         [0100]     In such an embodiment, a detergent solution holding tank  127 , as illustrated in  FIG. 14 , is provided in flowable connection to one or more of the fluid inlet port  115 , and a detergent solution flow control means  129  is provided in flowable connection with the detergent solution holding tank  127 , such that flow of the detergent solution to one or more of the fluid distribution manifolds  117  from the holding tank  127  may be controlled by the control means  129 . The detergent solution control means  129  may be any conventional means of flow control, but is preferably a programmable logic controller, a relay logic controller, or a mechanical logic controller.  
         [0101]     The McGraw, et al. references fail to disclose the claimed jam breaker bar, the waste containment chamber door damper means, the pneumatically driven ram damping means, the washdown system, the plastic shedding ram designs (claims  12  and  13 ), the titanium tubing of the cooling means, and the rotating breech lock mechanism wherein the door rotates to lock and unlock (versus McGraw&#39;s, which slides open and closed to lock and unlock).  
       DRAWING FIGURE ELEMENT NUMBERING GUIDE:  
       [0000]    
       
           1 —plastics waste processor  
           2 —waste plastic  
           3 —base  
           5 —frame  
           7 —top end of frame  
           9 —bottom end of frame  
           11 —hinge arm assembly  
           13 —hinge of hinge arm assembly  
           15 —handle portion of hinge arm assembly  
           17 —waste containment chamber  
           19 —chamber entrance port  
           21 —chamber entrance port outer circumference  
           23 —breech-lock door assembly  
           25 —receptor blocks  
           29 —pneumatic drive means  
           31 —pneumatically driven ram  
           33 —dampers (positioned between the pneumatically driven ram and the base, and parallel to the pneumatically driven ram)  
           35 —waste containment chamber heating means (integral with or adjacent to the breech lock door assembly and the pneumatically driven waste compaction means)  
           37 —processor temperature monitoring means (comprising one or more thermostats located adjacent to one or more components of the plastics waste processor for monitoring a temperature of the processor during operation)  
           39 —cooling means (in conductive connection with the processor temperature monitoring means and adjacent to the waste containment means and the pneumatically driven waste compaction means)  
           41 —fluid circulation means (of the cooling means)  
           43 —first end (of the cooling means)  
           45 —second end (of the cooling means)  
           47 —flow control means (of the cooling means)  
           48 —pressurized fluid source  
           49 —fluid entrance port (flowably connected to the first end of the fluid circulation means)  
           51 —fluid exit port (flowably connected to the second end of the fluid circulation means)  
           53 —user control means (conductively connected to one or more of the the waste containment chamber heating means, the pneumatically driven waste compaction means, and the processor temperature monitoring means)  
           55 —power source (in conductive connection with the waste containment chamber heating means, the pneumatically driven waste compaction means, processor temperature monitoring means, and the cooling means)  
           57 —waste containment chamber door  
           59 —rotary bearing (disposed on the central axis of the waste containment chamber door, for rotatable engagement with the hinge arm)  
           61 —outer circumference of the waste containment chamber door (equal to or larger than the chamber entrance port outer circumference)  
           63 —two or more pivoting lugs attached to the outer circumference of the waste containment chamber door, so as to be capable of rotatable interaction with the receptor blocks  
           65 —one or more release blocks (attached to the pivoting lugs)  
           67 —linear actuating means  
           69 —first end of the linear actuating means (fixably attached to the hinge)  
           71 —second end of the linear actuating means (movably attached to the waste containment chamber door, and positioned so as to be able to rotatably move the waste containment chamber door)  
           73 —waste containment chamber door damper means  
           75 —first end of the waste containment chamber door damper means (fixably connected to the hinge)  
           77 —second end of the waste containment door damper means (movably connected to the waste containment chamber door)  
           79 —damper (between the first end and the second end of the waste containment chamber door damper means positioned so as to oppose rotary motion of the waste containment chamber door)  
           81 —jam breaker bar (rotatably connected to one or more of the receptor blocks via a pivoting means)  
           83 —pivot means of the jam breaker bar  
           85 —first end of the jam breaker bar (defining a handle)  
           87 —second end of the jam breaker bar (defining a release block interaction point)  
           89 —midsection of the jam breaker bar (having a pivot point adjacent to the pivoting means)  
           93 —heating device controller (in connection with the heating device).  
           95 —cable and hose management system  
           97 —cable carrier  
           99 —first end of cable carrier (affixed to the frame)  
           101 —second end of cable carrier (affixed to the pneumatically driven ram)  
           103 —connected movable links (making up cable carrier)  
           105 —hollow interior portion of connected movable links)  
           107 —thermal isolating means of the cable and hose management system  
           109 —first end of the thermal isolating means (affixed to the pneumatically driven ram)  
           111 —second end of the thermal isolating means (affixed to the second end of the cable carrier)  
           113 —washdown system (adjacent to the waste containment chamber and pneumatically driven waste compaction means)  
           114 —source of pressurized wash water  
           115 —fluid inlet ports of the washdown system  
           117 —fluid distribution manifolds of the washdown system (in flowable connection with one or more of the fluid inlet ports)  
           119 —fluid supply tubes of the washdown system  
           121 —first end of the fluid supply tubes of the washdown system (connected to one or more of the fluid distribution manifolds)  
           123 —second end of the fluid supply tubes of the washdown system  
           125 —spray nozzles of the washdown system (adjacent to the waste containment chamber and the pneumatically driven ram, and flowably connected to the second end of a fluid supply tube)  
           127 —detergent solution holding tank (flowably connected to one or more of the fluid inlet ports)  
           129 —detergent solution flow control means (in flowable connection with the detergent solution holding tank)  
           131 —a ram compaction face  
           133 —circumferential ram body portion  
           135 —top edge of circumferential ram body portion  133  (adjacent the ram compaction face)  
           137 —midsection of circumferential ram body portion  133  (adjacent the top edge)  
           139 —bottom edge of circumferential ram body portion  133  (adjacent the midsection  137 )  
           141 —relief portions (formed into the midsection  137  of the circumferential ram body portion  133 , and extending to the bottom edge  139 )  
           143 —ram compaction head of  FIG. 10   
           145 —face of ram compaction head  143   
           147 —circumferential portion of ram compaction head  143  (adjacent the face  145 )  
           149 —base portion of ram compaction head  143  (adjacent the circumferential portion  147 )  
           151 —guide runners (integral with or attached to the base portion of the ram compaction head  143 )

Technology Category: b