U.S. patent number 3,722,404 [Application Number 05/201,839] was granted by the patent office on 1973-03-27 for refuse compactor.
Invention is credited to Jerry W. Moon.
United States Patent |
3,722,404 |
Moon |
March 27, 1973 |
REFUSE COMPACTOR
Abstract
A refuse compactor including a receptacle removably contained
within a cabinet wherein refuse is compacted by a ram to a fraction
of its normal volume. The refuse is compacted within a specially
constructed bag supported by the receptacle and cabinet, permitting
the compacted refuse to be removed as a wrapped package for
convenient and tidy disposal. The ram includes a refuse-compressing
platen actuated through a toggle linkage to which force is applied
by a single screw driven by an electric motor coupled to the screw
through a reduction drive. The screw and its motor drive train are
carried as a unit by the toggle linkage and move bodily therewith
to provide a very compact and high ratio force multiplication
system of reliable and inexpensive construction. Additional
features relating to control circuitry, a safety lock, and bag,
receptacle and drawer construction are also disclosed.
Inventors: |
Moon; Jerry W. (Bloomfield
Hills, MI) |
Family
ID: |
22747520 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/201,839 |
Filed: |
November 24, 1971 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
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148879 |
Jun 1, 1971 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
100/52;
100/295 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B30B
1/006 (20130101); B30B 1/103 (20130101); B30B
9/306 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B30B
9/30 (20060101); B30B 9/00 (20060101); B30B
1/10 (20060101); B30B 1/00 (20060101); B30b
015/14 () |
Field of
Search: |
;100/50,51,52,53,229A,289,53,245,287 ;141/73,80 ;53/124B
;100/295,226 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Wilhite; Billy J.
Parent Case Text
This is a division of application Ser. No. 148,879, filed June 1,
1971.
Claims
I claim:
1. In a refuse compactor comprising a cabinet, a refuse receptacle
removably received in Said cabinet adjacent the lower end of said
cabinet and having an open upper end facing the upper end of said
cabinet, a compacting mechanism mounted in said cabinet adjacent
said upper end thereof including a presser platen movable into and
out of the open upper end of said receptacle between a downwardly
extending position within said receptacle and a retracted position
disposed above and clear of said open upper end of said receptacle,
a motor and drive means operably interconnecting said motor and
said compacting mechanism for causing movement of said platen
between said extended and retracted positions thereof, the
improvement wherein said motor is reversible and is controlled by
control means comprising reversing circuit means connected across a
source of energizing current for said motor and including first
contact means controlled by first relay means, control circuit
means for energizing said first relay means, second relay means in
said motor energizing circuit actuated by motor current exceeding a
predetermined value, second contact means in said first relay
control circuit operable in response to actuation of said second
relay means to actuate said first relay means to cause reverse
application of motor energizing current to said motor, first,
second and third limit switches mounted in said cabinet to be
actuated by said compacting mechanism in the retracted position
thereof, said first limit switch being normally closed and said
second and third limit switches being normally open in said
retracted position of said compacting mechanism, said limit
switches operating sequentially in response to initial movement of
said compacting mechanism from said retracted position toward said
extended position thereof such that said second limit switch
closes, then said third limit switch closes, then said first limit
switch opens, and vice versa, said first limit switch being
connected in series in said motor energizing circuit, said second
limit switch being connected in series in said motor energizing
circuit in shunt relation with said first limit switch and in
series with said second relay means, said third limit switch being
connected in series with said first relay means in said relay
control circuit, said relay control circuit being connected in
series with said second limit switch across said source of motor
energizing current, a fourth limit switch connected in series with
said third limit switch and in parallel with a normally open set of
contacts closed by actuation of said first relay means and in
parallel with a normally open set of contacts closed by actuation
of said second relay means, said fourth limit switch being normally
open and being closed in response to movement of said compacting
mechanism to its fully extended position, said compacting mechanism
comprising an extendable linkage and said drive means including a
lead screw for extending and retracting said linkage between said
extended and retracted positions of said platen, said lead screw
having a traveling nut threaded thereon to travel back and forth on
said lead screw in response to rotation of said lead screw for
actuating said linkage, said lead screw also having bearing means
rotatable thereon and fixed against axial movement relative
thereto, said fourth limit switch being mounted on said bearing
means for actuation by said nut when it approaches said bearing
means as said linkage approaches its fully extended position, and
yieldable abutment means to provide a yieldable resistance to
movement of said nut sufficient to load said motor such that motor
energizing current exceeds said predetermined value to thereby
actuate said second relay means.
2. In a refuse compactor, the combination comprising a refuse
receptacle including compacting mechanism having a presser platen
movable into and out of said receptacle between an extended
position within said receptacle and a retracted position disposed
clear of said receptacle, said compacting mechanism also including
an electric motor and force multiplication drive means operably
interconnecting said motor and said compacting mechanism for
causing movement of said platen between said extended and retracted
positions, said drive means being operable to prevent retrograde
motion of said platen to lock said mechanism against movement from
forces exerted on said platen by compacted refuse in said
receptacle at any point in the travel of said platen toward said
extended position while within said receptacle, energizing circuit
means adapted to be connected across a source of energizing current
for said motor, reversing means for causing said motor and drive
means to reversely move said platen toward retracted position,
current sensing means in said energizing circuit means for
actuating said reversing means in response to motor current
exceeding a predetermined value during movement of said platen from
said retracted position to said extended position to condition said
reversing means for reverse application of force via said drive
means in a direction to move said platen toward retracted position
and a manually operable hold-cycle control having control means
operably associated with said reversing means and being actuatable
to a cycle position enabling said control means to cause said drive
means to reverse said platen motion and actuatable to a hold
position disabling said control means from causing said reverse
platen motion even when said reversing means is conditioned by said
current sensing means for reverse application of force via said
drive means whereby in the hold position of said hold-cycle control
said platen automatically holds pressure on refuse in said
receptacle at whatever point in platen travel toward said extended
position where the refuse in said receptacle creates sufficient
resistance to movement of said platen to cause said motor to draw
said predetermined value of current.
3. The refuse compactor as called for in claim 2 wherein said motor
comprises a reversible motor and said reversing means comprises
reversing circuit means in said energizing circuit means operable
in response to actuation by said current sensing means upon
occurrence of said predetermined value of current to provide
reverse current connections for applying reverse energizing current
to said motor.
4. The refuse compactor as set forth in claim 3 wherein said drive
means comprises a mechanical linkage including a threaded shaft and
nut threadably engaged therewith having sufficient thread angle and
friction resistance to prevent relative rotation therebetween in
response to said axial forces applied thereto by said compacted
refuse via said platen and associated drive means.
5. The refuse compactor as set forth in claim 4 wherein said
control means includes first switch means in series in said
reversing circuit means in the reverse mode portion thereof having
an open circuit position in the hold position of said hold-cycle
control and a closed circuit position in the cycle position of said
hold-cycle control.
6. The compactor defined in claim 5 further including first
position sensing means connected in parallel with second switch
means controlled by said current sensing means, said first position
sensing means being actuated mechanically by said compacting
mechanism in response to movement of said compacting mechanism to
its fully extended position to cause said reversing circuit means
to effect reverse application of motor energizing current to said
motor to move said platen toward said retracted position whereby in
the cycle position of said hold-cycle control travel of said platen
is reversed when it reaches said extended position in the event
that motor current does not reach said predetermined value during
the extension stroke of said platen.
7. The compactor as set forth in claim 6 further including second
position sensing means mounted in said compactor to be actuated in
response to initial movement of said compacting mechanism from said
retracted position toward said extended position thereof to
operably connect said current sensing means in said motor
energizing circuit, said reversing circuit first switch means
including a control circuit and associated reversing contact means
in said motor energizing circuit, said second position sensing
means also operating in response to said initial movement to
condition said control circuit for connection across said source of
motor energizing current upon operation of said current sensing
means.
8. The compactor as set forth in claim 7 wherein said second
position sensing means comprises, first, second and third limit
switches mounted in said compactor to be actuated by said
compacting mechanism in the retracted position thereof, said first
limit switch being normally closed and said second and third limit
switches being normally open in said retracted position of said
compacting mechanism, said limit switches operating sequentially in
response to initial movement of said compacting mechanism from said
retracted position toward said extended position thereof such that
said second limit switch closes, then said third limit switch
closes, then said first limit switch opens, and vice versa, said
first limit switch being connected in series in said motor
energizing circuit, said second limit switch being connected in
series in said motor energizing circuit in shunt relation with said
first limit switch and in series with said current sensing means,
said third limit switch being connected in series in said control
circuit, said control circuit being connected in series with said
second limit switch across said source of motor energizing
current.
9. The compactor as defined in claim 8 wherein said first position
sensing means comprises a fourth limit switch connected in series
with said third limit switch, first relay means and a normally open
set of contacts in said control circuit closed by actuation of said
first relay means, said current sensing means comprising second
relay means and a normally open set of contacts closed by actuation
of said second relay means, said fourth limit switch being
connected in parallel with said normally open contacts and being
normally open and being closed in response to movement of said
compacting mechanism to its fully extended position.
10. The refuse compactor as set forth in claim 4 wherein said motor
comprises a universal AC-DC motor.
11. The refuse compactor as set forth in claim 10 wherein said
mechanical linkage comprises an extensible crossed-bar linkage.
12. In a refuse compactor having a refuse receptacle and a
compacting mechanism comprising an extendable, variable-rate,
force-multiplying mechanical linkage and a presser platen carried
by said linkage movable between an extended position within said
receptacle and a retracted position disposed clear of said
receptacle, and wherein said receptacle is adapted to receive a
load of uncompacted refuse therein for compaction by said platen,
followed by another load of uncompacted refuse to be compacted upon
the previously compacted load by said platen operating in a
successive compaction cycle, the combination therewith of a
reversible electric motor and drive means including a lead screw
and nut in threaded engagement therewith operably interconnecting
said motor and said linkage for causing movement of said platen
between said extended and retracted positions thereof, said motor
having field windings and armature windings, a motor energizing
circuit connected to said windings and adapted to be connected
across a source of energizing current for said motor, said motor
energizing circuit including reversing circuit means including
switch means connected in series with one of said armature and
field windings, and control circuit means for controlling said
reversing circuit switch means including current sensing means in
said motor energizing circuit operable in response to motor current
exceeding a predetermined value to cause said reversing switch
means to reverse application of motor energizing current to said
one winding of said motor, said current sensing means being preset
such that travel of said platen during movement thereof toward said
extended position is reversible in response to a range of
resistance forces exerted on said platen by refuse being compacted
thereby, said setting of said current sensing means being
correlated with the variable force-multiplication ratio exerted via
said linkage such that the refuse must provide a greater resistance
force to effect reversal of said platen the closer it approaches
said extended position thereof, and vice versa.
13. The compactor as set forth in claim 12 wherein said reversing
circuit means comprises a hold-cycle control having switch means in
said reversing circuit means actuatable by said hold-cycle control
to a cycle condition enabling completion of reverse current
connections to said motor by operation of said current sensing
means and actuatable to a hold condition disabling application of
reverse current to said motor regardless of the operation of said
current sensing means.
14. The compactor as set forth in claim 12 wherein said switch
means of said reversing circuit means comprises paired sets of
opposite state relay contacts and first relay means for controlling
said relay contacts, said control circuit means being connected for
energizing said first relay means, said current sensing means
comprising second relay means in said motor energizing circuit
having a current sensing coil actuated by motor current exceeding a
predetermined value, second contact means in said control circuit
means operable in response to actuation of said second relay means
to actuate said first relay means to cause said relay contacts to
apply reverse energizing current to said motor.
15. The refuse compactor as set forth in claim 12 wherein said
motor comprises a universal AC-DC motor.
16. The refuse compactor as set forth in claim 15 wherein said
linkage comprises an extensible crossed-bar linkage.
Description
This invention relates to an apparatus for crushing, breaking,
smashing and/or compacting all types of material and, more
particularly, to a domestic refuse compactor which may be installed
in a kitchen cabinet structure or provided as a free-standing
domestic appliance.
One of the greatest problems facing the world today is solid waste
pollution. Previous mechanisms proposed to deal with this problem
have fallen short in the areas of cost, cleanliness, odor
prevention, size, weight, compaction performance and convenience of
removal of compacted material. The shortcomings of such prior art
mechanisms have apparently prevented their widespread use in homes,
restaurants, business, industry, recreation and other areas of
modern life where such equipment is sorely needed.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to overcome
these shortcomings by providing a solid waste compactor which is
technically superior and adaptable to large size industrial and
commercial use and yet sufficiently economical when constructed on
a smaller scale for domestic use in the home and/or garage where
the greatest need exists.
Another object of this invention is to provide a solid waste
crusher and compactor having a high ratio of compaction which
operates at a variable rate for maximum performance and
efficiency.
A further object is to provide such a compactor which is trouble
free in use yet simple and low in cost to operate and maintain,
which is physically undemanding in all phases of its use and
operation and adjustable in force to suit various consumer
needs.
Still another object is to provide such a compactor which is fast
in operation, free of odors, easy to clean, lightweight, easy to
move, and sufficiently compact so that it can be placed in crowded
rooms or garages but having a relatively high capacity in the
amount of refuse it can receive and hold before emptying.
A further object is to provide such a compactor having a removably
mounted receptacle and bag arrangement which permits easy removal
and transport of compacted material without dirtying the hands or
allowing spillage when removed to storage or a pick-up point.
In general, this invention, as it pertains to trash and garbage
compaction, comprises an attractive cabinet which also serves as a
housing for a removable receptacle and as a frame for containing
the compaction force loads within the unit. The cabinet has a
sliding drawer or tilting bin which is located for front access to
receive the trash receptacle and provides storage for trash in
compacted form which is several times the volume of such material
in its uncompacted state. An electrically driven, extensible
quadruple five-bar linkage compacting mechanism is housed within
the cabinet directly above the drawer or bin. The compacting
mechanism carries a pressure platen and operates to raise and lower
the platen with increasing force toward the lower end of the down
stroke where most compacting force is needed. The trash is
compacted within a refuse bag retained by the receptacle, resulting
in a disposable package of an easy size to handle, and this is
achieved in a complete machine which is no larger than presently
used large wastebaskets.
Automatic controls are provided which can be selectively set to
either reverse the downtravel of the ram when it reaches a preset
load regardless of the height of the trash, or to lock the drive in
static position at said peak load or at any desired position so as
to hold pressure on the material. The ability to hold peak pressure
against the material further improves the compaction ratio and also
enables the pressure platen to serve as a hermetic seal for the
open upper end of the bag, thereby restricting the availability of
oxygen and thus slowing odor-producing decay and preventing the air
circulation which otherwise might transmit odors. This "hold"
feature also denies fruit flies and other pests access to the
material being processed.
The refuse bag is preferably a heavy, leakproof bag which receives
the uncompacted trash and in which the trash is stored both prior
and subsequent to being compacted. The upper edges of the bag are
folded inwardly prior to the last "load" or "charge." This forms a
tight seal on the compressed block of refuse material after the
unit has compressed the bag with the edges folded in. The bag will
hold several days' average accumulation of household trash and
wastepaper, cartons, cans, bottles and garbage, in the instance of
the home use version, before it needs to be emptied. The
fold-and-seal feature makes open storage of the "blocks" feasible
while awaiting pickup, thus eliminating the need for trash
containers.
The removable receptacle which holds the refuse bag is a
combination frame and tray which can serve as a carrying basket.
The top edge of this basket along the rear and both sides thereof
holds the bag with a simple fold of the bag over the top edges of
the basket which preferably are constructed as pivoted carrying
handles. The drawer front and the cabinet when closed together
clamp the upright front edge of the bag therebetween to hold the
bag open at the front. Upon opening of the drawer or bin, the top
rails of the basket provide handles for easily lifting out the
basket with the block of compacted material therein and for
carrying it to the storage area where the bag is removed and left
to await pickup.
Net compaction results are greatly improved by avoiding the
disruption of packed material after compressing, a common fault of
existing compactors. Because of the very high compaction force
developed, objects in the bag being compacted tend to nest and
interlock and hold each to the other, which reduces the tendency of
the objects to "spring back" to their original volume. Spring-back
is further avoided by the unique feature of maintaining peak
pressure on the material until ready to place the next charge of
loose material into the bag in the bin. Recycling, if desired, to
renew peak holding pressure further improves overall compaction
ratio. The compacted material when left under compacting pressure
for a period such as over night will continue to gradually and
slightly further compress and will take a semipermanent set
sufficient to resist spring-back.
Another unique feature is a tray or pan which forms the bottom of
the basket and serves to catch any liquid leaking from the bag,
thereby keeping the cabinet clean and preventing spillage when
emptying. The basket can then be rinsed in the sink or yard, if
necessary, prior to installing a new bag. Bag installation into the
basket is simplified because the basket is light weight and easily
handled, and thus is readily placed on a table or counter,
eliminating the need for the user to stoop down in order to reach
down into a bin which can be loaded only at floor level. The basket
with the empty bag installed is then slipped into the waiting
drawer in the cabinet.
The cabinet is light enough for a woman to easily move and clean.
There are no hidden recesses to collect foreign material and make
cleaning difficult. Operation is simple, safe and foolproof.
Another feature of this invention is easy and low-cost maintenance
and service. All electrical and mechanical parts of the power unit
are mounted as a module on one bracket which is readily accessible
and easily lifts out of the cabinet as a single lightweight unit.
This exposes all wiring and operating parts for visual inspection
or repair and allows the power and control assembly to be worked on
at eye level on a table or bench. The power and control assembly or
module is completely functional when removed from the cabinet and
thus operational checkout can be performed prior to reinstallation
in the cabinet. The inconvenience and very high cost of house calls
by service men can be reduced or eliminated by transporting the
entire compactor appliance to a service center, if service is
needed. Alternatively, only the power unit may be disassembled from
the cabinet merely by removing four screws with a common screw
driver for service on site or at a service center, with quick
replacement by another module available as another option.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent from the following detailed description taken
in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 1--1 of FIG.
2 of a refuse compactor constructed in accordance with the present
invention, the extended and retracted positions of the compacting
mechanism being shown in solid and broken lines, respectively, in
FIG. 1.
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line
2--2 of FIG. 1 showing the compacting mechanism in raised
position.
FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the motor and drive structure
of the compacting mechanism shown by itself with portions broken
away and portions shown in center section for greater clarity.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the refuse compactor of FIGS. 1-3
illustrating the refuse receptacle and associated slide-mounted
drawer in open position.
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary plan view looking in the direction of the
arrow 5 in FIG. 3 illustrating the yoke trunnion for connecting the
lead screw drive to the compacting linkage mechanism.
FIG. 6 is a schematic wiring diagram of the compactor control
circuit of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a refuse
compactor also constructed in accordance with the present invention
illustrating a roller-mounted receptacle cooperating with a
downwardly pivoting front door of the cabinet, the unit being shown
in open position with the receptacle partially inserted into the
cabinet.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the refuse
compactor of the present invention wherein the receptacle is
carried on an outwardly swinging portion of the cabinet made up of
a front panel and side panel interconnected by a bottom panel
adapted to support the receptacle for swinging movement
thereon.
FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on lines 9--9 of FIG.
8 with the swinging door in closed position and interlocked by edge
flanges with the right side and bottom of the cabinet.
FIG. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a fourth
embodiment of a refuse compactor in accordance with the present
invention installed in nested relation in a kitchen cabinet
structure and having a bin-type swinging front and bottom panel
unit for receiving and supporting the trash receptacle.
FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of a fifth embodiment of
the refuse compactor of the present invention illustrating a
modified receptacle thereof removed from the cabinet.
FIG. 12 is a fragmentary vertical elevation of the portion circled
in FIG. 11.
FIG. 13 is a semischematic fragmentary vertical sectional view
illustrating the receptacle of FIG. 11 with a refuse bag suspended
therein with its edges folded down over the pivoted handle and
clamp members of the receptacle.
FIG. 14 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on line 14--14 of
FIG. 13.
FIG. 15 is a simplified perspective view of the receptacle of FIGS.
11-14 illustrating the refuse bag inserted therein prior to folding
the edges of the bag over the handle and clamp of the
receptacle.
FIG. 16 is an exploded side elevational view of the receptacle and
drawer of FIG. 4 with the drawer slides omitted.
FIG. 17 is a fragmentary plan view of a key lock and mechanical
interlock associated with a stop-start rocker-type control switch,
as viewed from the inside of the control panel of the unit shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2.
Referring in more detail to FIGS. 1 and 4, a first embodiment of a
refuse compactor in accordance with the present invention is
designed as a free-standing unit in which a sheet metal cabinet 22
(FIGS. 1 and 4) serves as the enclosure for the trash receptacle
and compacting mechanism, as the structural framework which mounts
all the working parts of the compacting mechanism housed therein
and as the stress-absorbing container for resisting the compacting
force exerted on refuse compacted by the unit. Cabinet 22 is made
up of a pair of upright parallel side walls 24 and 26 fixed along
their rear edges by full length joints to a rear wall 28, the side
and rear walls preferably being welded or die formed integral with
one another. The lower edges of walls 24, 26 and 28 are turned
inwardly to form flanges 30, 32 and 34 respectively (FIG. 1) and a
cross bar 35 is welded to the front ends of flanges 30 and 34 to
brace the bottom front of the cabinet (FIG. 4). A flat bottom wall
36 of a drawer, described in more detail hereinafter, is
substantially coextensive with the length and width dimensions of
cabinet 22 and is adapted to rest on flanges 30, 32 and 34 in the
closed position of the drawer.
Side walls 24 and 26, as well as drawer bottom wall 36, provide the
primary frame members of the cabinet for taking the reaction
stresses developed during trash compaction effected by power
extension of the compacting mechanism, and hence these members are
preferably constructed of relatively heavy gauge sheet metal, such
as 12-gauge steel. Side walls 24 and 26 are bent inwardly as
indicated at 38 and 40 (FIG. 1) to form a cover-receiving appliance
offset along their upper three edges 42, 44, 46. As best seen in
FIGS. 2 and 4, the upper ends of walls 24 and 26, in addition to
being offset, are each beveled at the corners to form a horizontal
uppermost central edge 42 (FIG. 2) extending for about a third of
the width of the side wall, and two 45.degree. downwardly sloping
rear and front edges 44 and 46. Rear wall 28 terminates at an upper
edge 48 (FIG. 2) which extends horizontally from side to side about
1 inch above the elevation of bends 38 and 40, rear wall 28
likewise being bent inwardly at 50 at the elevation of bends 38 and
40.
A removable cover 52 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 4) forms the top wall of
cabinet 22 and consists of a vertical front panel 54, a rearwardly
sloping and suitably apertured control panel 56, a horizontal top
panel 58, a forwardly sloping rear panel 60 and a vertical rear
panel 62, each of these panels having right angle flanges 54', 56',
58', 60', 62', respectively, at their side edges (FIG. 4) which are
dimensioned to slip closely over inwardly offset portions 24' and
26' of the upper edges of the side walls of the cabinet. Cover 52
may be detachably fastened to the side walls by simple sheet metal
screws (not shown).
The compacting mechanism of compactor 20 is best seen in FIGS. 1-3
and 5 and is detachably mounted to the upper ends of side walls 24
and 26 so as to nest in its retracted position within the upper
confines of cabinet 22. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a pair of right
angle brackets 70, 72 are welded to the inner surface of walls 24
and 26, respectively, near the upper edges thereof to form a strong
support for a pair of parallel, horizontally extending right angle
beams 74, 76. The horizontal upper flanges of beams 74 and 76 abut
the undersides of brackets 70, 72 and are secured by four screws 78
which extend vertically and have their slotted heads exposed above
the mounting brackets. Beams 74 and 76 are spaced horizontally
apart as shown in FIG. 2 to permit nesting of an electric motor 78
and associated drive train components of the compacting mechanism
when the same is in its retracted position shown in broken lines in
FIG. 1 and in solid lines in FIG. 2.
The compacting mechanism comprises an extensible linkage herein
illustrated by way of a preferred example as a system of two
identical extensible linkages laterally spaced from one another
fore and aft of the cabinet. Front beam 76 serves as the fixed
anchor for one linkage set and rear beam 74 serves as the fixed
anchor for the other linkage set. Each of the front and rear sets
of linkages consists of two identical five-bar linkages wherein the
fifth bar of each linkage consists of a variable length element
which is common to both of the five-bar linkages; i.e., a threaded
screw 80 shown by way of a preferred example herein, for
bidirectionally applying force to the linkage to extend and retract
the same. The upper five-bar linkage of the front set thus consists
of beam 76, two substantially equal length cross links 82 and 84, a
stabilizer link 86 and screw 80. The lower five-bar linkage of the
front set likewise consists of screw 80, two substantially equal
length cross links 88 and 90, a stabilizer link 92 and a platen
assembly 94 which serves as the movable ram for applying compaction
force to refuse 95 contained within the receptacle of compactor 20.
Links 82 and 84 are pivotally mounted at 96 and 98 to beam 76 to
provide a first set of fixed pivot points and an anchorage for the
linkage. Links 88 and 90 are pivoted at their lower ends at 100 and
102 respectively to a right angle bracket 104 which in turn is
welded to flat bottom plate 106 of the platen assembly 94. Pivots
100 and 102 thus also have a fixed spacial relation relative to one
another, but move up and down with platen assembly 94 in response
to contraction and extension of the linkage assembly. The adjacent
ends of links 82 and 88 and the lower end of stabilizer link 86 are
interconnected in common pivotal relation by an axle stud 108
threadably secured to a right-hand trunnion (as viewed in FIG. 1)
in the form of a bearing block 110 in which screw 80 is journalled.
The adjacent ends of links 84 and 90, as well as the upper end of
link 92, likewise are journalled by a common pivot stud 112 secured
to a left-hand trunnion 114. The upper end of stabilizer 86 is
pivoted by a stud 116 to link 84 slightly below pivot 98, and
similarly the lower end of stabilizer link 92 is pivoted by a stud
118 to link 88 slightly above pivot 100.
The crossed links 82 and 84 and 88 and 90 thus form a toggle
linkage operating from a fixed, first pivot means at 96 and 98 to
raise and lower a second pivot means (platen assembly 94) as a
result of force applied through the variable length, third pivot
means comprising pivots 108 and 112 carried on the screw trunnions.
Links 92 and 86 together with links 84 and 88 form a parallelogram
linkage for stabilizing the direction of travel of platen assembly
94 so that it moves through a vertical path of travel while being
maintained generally in parallel relation with beams 76 throughout
its travel from the fully extended position thereof shown in solid
lines in FIG. 1 to the retracted position thereof shown in broken
lines in FIG. 1 (and in solid lines in FIG. 2). The rear linkage
set is identical to the front linkage set and therefore those
elements of the rear set which appear in the drawings are indicated
by the same reference numerals raised by a prime and the
description thereof not repeated, it being understood that upper
pivot 98' of the rear set is secured to rear beam 74 in fore and
aft alignment with pivot 98. Pivot 96 is a shaft which extends
through both beams 76 and 74 to serve both sets of linkages.
Likewise, the lower pivots 100 and 102 are shafts which extend
through and are secured by brackets 104 and 104' to plate 106 as
best seen in FIG. 2.
The fixed pivots 98 and 98' are preferably short stud shafts in
order to provide clearance therebetween to allow the motor assembly
to retract into the space between beams 74 and 76. Studs 98 and 98'
are additionally supported by outboard bearing brackets 120 and
120' (shown only in FIG. 2) which are welded at their upper ends to
the associated beams 76 and 74 and bent downwardly and outwardly to
provide balanced support for pivot studs 98 and 98'.
As best seen in FIG. 3, the drive for the compacting mechanism
consists of electric motor 78 which is preferably a conventional
reversible universal AC-DC fractional horsepower motor, such as
that used for portable drills, having a conventional gear reduction
unit encased in a die-cast housing 124 attached to the front end of
the main motor housing with an output shaft 126 protruding
therefrom to which is affixed a drive sprocket 128. Motor 78 and
associated gear reduction unit 124 are cantilever mounted on a
rigid bracket 130 which in turn is secured at its lower end to
bearing block 110. Block 110 has a bearing cavity in its right-hand
face containing a ball bearing assembly 132 through which a reduced
diameter extension 81 of shaft 80 is journalled. Bracket 130 thus
serves as a retainer for bearing 132. A thrust collar 134 is
mounted between the inner face of bearing 132 and the inner face of
a large diameter chain sprocket 136 which in turn is suitably
fixed, as by set screws 137, to a reduced diameter extension 81 of
shaft screw 80 to rotatably drive screw 80. This shaft journal
arrangement thus provides a bearing adapted to take radial thrust
as well as axial thrust forces in both directions of the axis of
screw 80. Motor 78 is drivingly connected to sprocket 136 by
suitable link chain 138 trained over sprockets 128 and 136.
The left-hand trunnion of the drive mechanism is best seen in FIGS.
2 and 5 and consists of the semicircular yoke 114 having an
internally threaded bore 140 threadably receiving lead screw 80
therethrough. Pivot studs 112 and 112' are affixed to the opposite
ends of yoke 114, and thus are spaced to the left of bore 140 as
viewed in FIGS. 2 and 5. This arrangement allows screw 80 to be
shortened, thereby keeping the path of travel of the left-hand end
of the screw generally within the confines of the path of travel of
platen assembly 94 and clear of cabinet side 24.
Platen assembly 94 has a left side wall 142 (as viewed in FIG. 1),
front and rear walls 144 and 146 (FIG. 2), and a right side wall
148 (as viewed in FIG. 1). Right wall 148 is recessed centrally
thereof to provide clearance for block 110 in the retracted
position of the compacting mechanism. Each of the walls 142, 144,
146 and 148 has an inturned horizontal flange on which is mounted
by means of fasteners 150 and retaining strips 152 a rectangular
wiper 154. Wiper 154 has a large central aperture so as to be clear
of the toggle mechanism in its retracted position and protrudes
horizontally outwardly around the upper edge of platen assembly 94
so as to have a light wiping contact with the inner surface of
refuse bag 202 suspended in the receptacle or basket 200.
Preferably wiper 154 is constructed of rubber or other suitable
flexible and resilient material so that such wiping contact is
maintained should the platen assembly 94 move horizontally in the
plane of the drawing as viewed in FIG. 1 a short distance, for
example, one inch during its 12 inches of vertical travel, between
its retracted and extended positions. Wiper 154 also will
accommodate whatever slight horizontal movement fore and aft of the
unir may occur due to tolerance stack-up in the linkage as well as
whatever installation misalignment may result from manufacturing
tolerance variations. Wiper 154 thus serves to kepp loose, small
pieces of trash or refuse from moving up around the side edges of
platen 106 as it descends during a compacting stroke.
Compactor 20 has a front-opening drawer assembly 160, best seen in
FIG. 4, wherein the drawer is shown in open position out in front
of cabinet 22. Drawer 160 may be mounted for approximately
horizontal sliding movement between its open position, as shown in
FIG. 4, and its closed position, as shown in FIG. 2, by a pair of
conventional drawer slides, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
3,537,390. Each of the slides thus may comprise a track 162 affixed
to an indented portion 164 of the right side wall of drawer 160
(FIG. 1), a track 166 fixed to the inner surface of wall 26, and a
roller carrier 168 having journalled thereon rollers 170 and 172
which roll in tracks 162 and 166 respectively.
Drawer 160 is made up of a front panel 180 joined at its lower edge
to horizontal bottom wall 36, the joint between front wall 180 and
bottom wall 36 being reinforced by side walls 182 and 184 (FIGS. 1,
4 and 16). Right-hand side wall 182 is shown in solid lines in
FIGS. 4 and 16 fragmentarily and the complete outline of side wall
182 is indicated by broken lines in FIG. 4. Left-hand side wall 184
is the same as right-hand wall 182. Drawer 160 is provided with a
handle 186 for pulling the drawer open and pushing it shut, and a
suitable latch may be provided if desired to lock the drawer in
closed position. Preferably the tracks of the drawer slides are
mounted at a slight incline (rearwardly downwardly) of
approximately 2.degree. to insure that the drawer is gradually
lowered as it is pushed in and when it is closed, bottom wall 36
rests on flanges 30 and 34 of the side walls so that the drawer
slides do not carry the compression force exerted by the compacting
mechanism.
Receptacle 200 is preferably constructed in the form of an open
rectangular framework to serve as a lightweight basket for
receiving the paper refuse bag 202 therein. Basket 200 has an
imperforate bottom panel 201 (FIG. 16) enclosed on all four sides
by relatively short, upright left and right side walls 203, 203'
and front and rear walls 205, 205', respectively, to form a
liquid-tight drip pan at the bottom of the basket. Basket 200 has
four upright corner posts, two posts 204 at the front and two posts
206 at the rear. The upper ends of the front and rear posts are
connected by side cross pieces and the two rear posts are connected
at their upper ends across the back of the basket by another cross
piece (not shown). However, there is no cross piece at the front
between the upper ends of the front posts 204 in order to
facilitate removal of bag 202 after the same has been filled with
compacted trash and hence has a tendency to bulge slightly
outwardly. The basket as illustrated herein is thus made of an open
framework, preferably of metal, but also may be made of suitable
plastic materials in order to make the basket lightweight and easy
to handle.
Basket 200 is dimensioned to seat flat on bottom wall 36 of drawer
160 and is just slightly smaller than the interior space defined
laterally between the side walls of cabinet 22, and fore and aft by
rear wall 28 of the cabinet and front wall 180 of drawer 160 when
the drawer is in closed position. Thus, in accordance with one
feature of the present invention, it is these side walls of the
drawer and cabinet which are relied upon to restrain expansion of
paper bag 202 when trash is being compacted therein, rather than
the structure of the basket itself. Basket 200 is not fastened to
drawer 160, but rather merely rests loosely on bottom wall 36
thereof with the front uprights 204 of the basket adjacent the
inner surface of panel 180. To assist in a snug seating of basket
200 in drawer 160, the rear wall 205' of the integral drip pan of
the basket is inclined rearwardly and upwardly (FIG. 16) at a
locking angle of about 5.degree.. Drawer 160 is provided with a
matching short rear wall 161 likewise inclined to form a light
friction locking relationship when basket 200 is fully inserted
downwardly into drawer 160, the basket being readily released as
soon as the basket is lifted slightly upwardly in drawer 160.
Preferably bag 202 is a suitable refuse bag made of heavy paper
lined with plastic or other liquid-tight material having upper side
and rear edges which protrude above the upper side and rear edges
of basket 200 and which can be folded downwardly thereover as shown
in FIGS. 4 and 16 to thereby removably suspend the bag in the
basket. As shown in FIG. 4, bag 202 is provided with pre-slits or
cuts 202a formed at the front corners of the bag so that front edge
208 of the bag may be left standing upright when the side and rear
edges of the bag are folded down. Thus when drawer 160 is pushed
closed, edge 208 of the bag will be clamped upright between the
upper edge of panel 180 of the drawer and a sponge rubber clamping
strip 210 (FIGS. 2 and 4) affixed to cabinet 22 at an elevation
just high enough to clear the upper end of the basket. This insures
that bag 202 is not dragged down by the friction of wiper 154 as
trash is being compacted in the bag.
Compactor 20 is provided with a control circuit shown schematically
in FIG. 6 for operation by control switches mounted on a control
panel 210 (FIG. 2). Panel 210 is affixed by a bracket 212 to front
beam 76 so that all the switches and electrical circuitry are
removable as a unit or module with the compacting mechanism. Front
panel 56 of cover 52 is apertured as required to accommodate the
controls provided on panel 210 so that the exterior actuators or
knobs of the controls protrude through panel 56 for access by the
operator.
The control circuitry includes a pair of main motor energizing
leads 220 and 222 connected across a suitable source of current,
such as 110 volt or 220 volt AC. A safety interlock switch 224
(mounted on rear beam 74 as seen in FIG. 2) is connected in series
in lead 220, as is a conventional circuit breaker 226 which may be
of the automatically resetting or manual resetting type. Interlock
switch 224 is operated by a lever 225 (FIG. 2) pivoted clockwise on
a pin 226 against the bias of a spring 226' when its lower arm 225'
is pressed against wall 28 by the rear upper edge of basket 200 as
drawer 160 is pushed into its fully closed position. One set 228
(the "stop" set) of contacts of a commercially available
rocket-type, three-position "start-stop" switch 230 is connected by
the "stop" jumper of switch 230 when in neutral and "start"
positions to lead 220' and a lead 232 which in turn is connected to
the parallel leads 234-234' and 236-236'-236". The other ("start")
set of contacts 238 of switch 230 and a limit switch 1LS are
connected in series in lead 234, and a second limit switch 2LS and
the coil of a relay 1CR are connected in series in lead 236. A lead
240 is connected at one end to the junction of leads 234 and 236"
and at the other end to one terminal of a field winding 242 of
motor 78. A set of normally closed contacts 2C2 and a lead 244
connect the other terminal of winding 242 to one terminal 246 of
the armature winding 248 of motor 78. The other terminal 250 of
winding 248 is connected by a set of normally closed contacts 2C3
and lead 252 to one terminal 254 of another field winding 256 of
motor 78. The other terminal of winding 256 is connected to lead
222.
A reversing lead 258 is connected between terminal 243 of winding
242 and terminal 250 of winding 248 and an associated reversing
lead 260 is connected between terminal 254 of winding 256 and
terminal 246 of winding 248. Lead 258 has a normally open set of
contacts 2C4 and a "hold-cycle" switch 262 in series therein, and
lead 260 has a set of normally open contacts 2C5 connected in
series therein.
A relay energization circuit is connected across leads 236" and 222
and comprises a lead 264 connected to lead 236' between limit
switch 2LS and relay coil 1CR and in series with three sets of
contacts connected in parallel with one another between lead 264
and a lead 266. These three sets of contacts consist of a normally
open set of relay contacts 1C1 closed by energization of coil 1CR
in response to a given value of excess current flowing through lead
236, a normally open set of contacts 2C1 closed by energization of
a relay coil 2CR connected in series in lead 266, and a limit
switch 4LS. Another limit switch 3LS is connected in series with
coil 2CR and lead 266. Thus coil 2CR when energized closes contacts
2C1, 2C4 and 2C5 while simultaneously opening contacts 2C2 and 2C3.
Commercially available arc suppressors 270, 272 and 274, such as
those sold under the trademark THYRECTOR by General Electric, are
connected respectively in parallel across motor windings 242, 248
and 256.
The operation of the compactor 20 will be understood from the
following description of the control circuit for the compactor.
First the basket 200 with the empty refuse bag 202 installed
therein is placed in position in drawer 160 and then drawer 160
closed. The last increment of movement of the drawer into closed
position closes interlock switch 224. Operation of the machine is
then controlled by manipulating start-stop switch 230 and cycle
switch 262. Start-stop switch 230 is a rocker-type switch with a
maintained "stop" position, a neutral position and a momentary
"start" position. As is well understood in the art, switch 230 has
a wide-angle, V-shaped operating knob or rocker 231 (FIG. 17)
pivotable about an axis 231' extending parallel to panel 210. The
rocker is stable in a middle, neutral pisiton wherein contacts 228
are held closed and contacts 238 are open. When the "stop" side of
rocker 231 is depressed, rocker 231 is pivoted clockwise, thereby
opening contacts 228. The rocker will remain latched in the
depressed stop position. If the "start" side of rocker 231 is
depressed, while it is either in the "stop" or "neutral" position,
rocker 231 will be pivoted counterclockwise, thereby first
unlatching the rocker and allowing contacts 228 to be closed and
then closing contacts 238 as the rocker reaches the other limit of
its travel. However, rocker 231 must be held by finger pressure to
keep it in "start" position, and it will return to the middle
neutral position if such pressure is removed.
To start a compacting cycle of machine 20, the operator presses
switch 262 to either the "cycle" or "hold" position. If switch 262
is pressed to the "cycle" position (closed) and then the operator
depresses the "start" side of switch 230 and holds it down for
about 2 seconds, contacts 238 are thereby closed so that power can
flow to the motor windings via lead 220, switch 224, breaker 226,
contacts 228, lead 232, contacts 238, switch 1LS, leads 234 and
240, winding 242, contacts 2C2, lead 244, winding 248, contacts
2C3, winding 256 and lead 222. This energizes motor 78 to rotate
clockwise, causing lead screw 80 to rotate and begin drawing pivots
108 and 112 toward one another to thus begin extending the
compacting mechanism on its downstroke from the completely
retracted position shown in phantom in FIG. 1. As the left-hand
trunnion 114 begins to move downwardly away from the actuating arm
280 (FIG. 2) of limit switches 2LS and from the adjacent actuating
arm 282 of a combined double throw unit containing limit switches
1LS and 3LS, the sequential positions and differing lengths of
these arms first causes switch 2LS to close, establishing an
enabling shunt around contacts 238 and switch 1LS relative to the
motor windings. The next slight downward movement of trunnion 114
causes limit switch 3LS to close, and the further slight downward
movement then causes limit switch 1LS to open. Motor energizing
current now flows through lead 236, switch 2LS and coil 1CR so that
the operator can now release pressure from the "start" side of
switch 230, allowing its spring to open contacts 238 without
thereby de-energizing the motor.
Continued downward movement of the compacting mechanism causes
platen 106 to engage and compress the trash or refuse downwardly in
bag 202. When the mechanism in its downstroke encounters a given
upper limit of resistance from the compressed trash, correlated to
a given maximum value of current draw by motor 78, this amount of
current causes coil 1CR to close its contacts 1C1, thereby
energizing relay coil 2CR via lead 264, contacts 1C1, lead 266 and
switch 3LS. Energization of relay coil 2CR closes contacts 2C1
which provides a hold-in shunt around contacts 1C1 for coil 2CR.
Energization of coil 2CR also simultaneously closes contacts 2C4
and 2C5 while opening contacts 2C2 and 2C3, thereby reversing the
power connections to armature winding 248 and thus reversing the
direction of rotation of motor 78. The compacting mechanism will
now be driven on its upstroke to return to the retracted position
thereof.
As trunnion 114 approaches the end of its upstroke, it will
sequentially engage the aforementioned switch arm 282 of limit
switch 1LS-3LS and arm 280 of switch 2LS to sequentially close
switch 1LS, then open switch 3LS and then open switch 2LS. The
closure of switch 1LS conditions the circuit for the next cycle.
The opening of switch 3LS de-energizes relay coil 2CR to thus close
contacts 2C2 and 2C3 and open contacts 2C4 and 2C5 to return the
motor connections to the clockwise or the down direction. However,
by the time it takes the relay coil 2CR to effect this action,
switch 2LS will have been opened, de-energizing motor 78 so that it
stops in the full-up position of the compacting mechanism (bearing
in mind that contacts 238 are still open).
Thus, upon completion of one cycle as described above, the
initially loose fill of trash will have been compacted in bag 202
and platen 106 returned to its fully retracted position so that it
is clear of the top of basket 200. Drawer 160 can now be opened for
receiving another load of uncompacted trash. The compacting cycle
then can be repeated by the operator again pushing start switch 230
as described above.
At any time desired, typically after each loading, unless an
immediate reloading is desired, or at the end of a day's use, after
say two or three loads of trash have been successively compacted in
bag 202, compactor 20 can be conditioned for tighter "setting" of
the trash. To do this, the operator merely pushes the rocker of
hold-cycle switch 262 to the "hold" position in which it maintains
the switch contacts open. The operator then pushes start button 230
to begin the downstroke portion of the compacting cycle. The first
half of the sequence described above is repeated; i.e., motor 78 is
energized in the clockwise direction to drive pressure platen 106
downwardly until the resistance of the trash being compacted
reaches the aforementioned upper limit, thereupon causing relay
contacts 1C1 to be closed by the current sensing coil 1CR. This
again energizes relay coil 2CR to thus open the contacts 2C2 and
2C3 and close contacts 2C4 and 2C5, thereby disabling the
"downstroke" connections to winding 248 and making the "upstroke"
connections thereto. However, since switch 262 is in its "hold" or
open position, the reversing circuit is still disabled and hence
the motor is stopped rather than being energized in the reverse
direction. The compacting mechanism will thus be stopped a the
maximum pressure point in its downstroke and will remain at this
position because of the very high force multiplication ratio
between the motor armature and compacting linkage; that is, the
force exerted upwardly by the compacted trash on platen 106 is not
sufficient to overcome the resistance of the lead screw 80 and
associated drive train components. The mechanism thus is
effectively locked down at the normal reversing point in its cycle,
thereby maintaining full pressure on the compacted load until such
time as the operator, say after breakfast the next morning,
actuates switch 262 to the "cycle" position. The motor then will be
energized in the reverse direction to retract and shut off the
compacting mechanism, thereby completing the full cycle of
downstroke and upstroke.
In the event that the amount of trash in bag 202 is insufficient to
create a resistance force equal to said given current draw value
prior to completion of a full downstroke of platen 106, and thus
insufficient to cause a pressure trip reversal of the compacting
mechanism, the compacting mechanism will continue to drive platen
106 downwardly until it is fully extended. This will cause
left-hand trunnion 114 to travel all the way in on screw 80 until
it strikes the actuating arm 284 of limit switch 4LS mounted on
bearing block 110 (FIG. 1) to thereby close the switch. This will
energize relay coil 2CR even though contacts 1C1 are still open due
to motor current not having risen to the setting of coil 1CR.
Closure of switch 4LS thus will effect reversal of the motor to
reverse rotation of drive screw 80. As trunnion 114 starts to move
away from block 110, switch 4LS will reopen, but the now closed
contacts 2C1 will hold relay 2CR "in" to enable the upstroke to be
completed as described above.
It is to be understood that limit switches 1LS, 2LS and 3LS may be
either a compound switch with internal phasing driven from a single
actuator, or two or more independent switches and external
actuators phased to provide proper sequencing. Also, the circuit
arrangement described by way of example in FIG. 6, while presently
preferred, may be varied as to components and arrangement to
accomplish the function intended.
In the event that switch 4LS should malfunction, trunnion 114 will
continue to be drawn toward block 110 until it engages a metal
plate 290 (FIG. 3) which is adhesively secured to a rubber bumper
292, which in turn is adhesively secured to block 110. As bumper
292 is compressed, it will increase the load on motor 78 until
motor current reaches the aforementioned predetermined reversing
value, thereby causing relay 1CR to close contacts 1C1 to thereby
energize the reversing relay to reverse the direction of rotation
of the motor. Although switch 4LS could be eliminated, and bumper
282 relied upon to effect full stroke reversal of the compacting
mechanism, it is preferred to use limit switch 4LS for this purpose
to reduce the wear on the bumper and to rely on the bumper only as
a malfunction safety device.
FIG. 7 illustrates a second embodiment 300 of a refuse compactor
also constructed in accordance with the present invention in which
the construction differs from compactor 20 only with regard to the
drawer and basket arrangement. Compactor 300 has a fixed bottom
wall (not shown) corresponding to the drawer bottom 36 of compactor
20, which is secured in stationary relation to flanges 30 and 34 of
the cabinet side walls. Front panel 302, instead of being part of a
drawer, is hinged along its lower edge to the front edge of the
bottom wall of the cabinet so as to pivot about a horizontal axis
between a horizontal down position (as shown in FIG. 7) to an
upright position in which panel 302 closes the front of the
cabinet. With this arrangement, a modified basket 304 may be
constructed similar to basket 200 described previously except that
four rollers 306 are added, two of the rollers being rotatably
mounted on each side of the drip pan portion of the basket which
are adapted to roll on two parallel guide tracks 308 mounted on the
side edges of the cabinet bottom wall and two parallel tracks 310
mounted on the inside surface of panel 302. Tracks 310 thus serve
as extensions of tracks 308 when panel 302 is in its open
horizontal position. Such roller basket and track arrangements are
well known in the art, particularly in connection with household
automatic dishwashing machines and hence need not be described in
further detail herein. It is also to be understood that suitable
depressions may be provided in tracks 308 which register with
rollers 306 when basket 304 is fully inserted into the cabinet so
that the bottom of the basket seats firmly on the floor of the
cabinet in the closed position of the cabinet, whereupon the bottom
wall of the cabinet supports the bottom wall of the basket against
the forces exerted during compaction of trash in the basket. A
suitable latch 312 is provided on cover 52 to lock panel 302 in its
upright closed position after a basket 304 with a bag 202 therein
has been loaded into the cabinet of compactor 300.
FIG. 8 illustrates a third embodiment of a compactor 330 also
constructed in accordance with the present invention in which the
sliding drawer 160 of compactor 20 is replaced by a swinging door
arrangement. Compactor 330 thus has a front panel 332 rigidly
connected to a right side panel 334 and a horizontal bottom panel
336 connected along its right and front edges in rigid relationship
to panels 334 and 332, respectively. A modified basket 338 is
provided which is constructed similarly to basket 200 except that
it is contoured to seat on the bottom wall or panel 336, and no
side indentations need be provided to accommodate the drawer slides
embodied in compactor 20. Basket 338 receives bag 202 in the same
fashion as basket 200. Panel 332 is suitably hinged along its left
vertical edge to the front vertical edge of the left wall 24 of the
cabinet of compactor 330 so that the door can be swung about a
vertical axis from the open position shown in FIG. 8 to a closed
position (as indicated by the broken lines in FIG. 8). In its
closed position, panel 334 forms a portion of the right side wall
of the cabinet and panel 332 serves as the front door of the
cabinet.
In order to interconnect panel 334 with bottom wall 340 and with
the fixed upper portion 342 of the right side wall of the cabinet,
panel 334 is provided with inwardly bent flanges 344 and 346 (FIGS.
8 and 9) along the top and bottom edges respectively of the panel.
The lower edge of side panel 342 is bent inwardly and then
outwardly to form a channel portion 348 (FIG. 9) which receives
flange 344 in the closed position of the swinging door. Likewise,
bottom wall 340 has a downwardly offset retainer strip 350 affixed
to the underside thereof adjacent its right edge to define
therewith a lower slot or groove for receiving flange 346 of panel
334 in the closed position of the door. Thus approximately half of
the reaction forces opposing the compaction force developed by the
compacting mechanism of unit 330 are taken in tension through
panels 334 and 342 as a result of the tongue-in-groove connection
of the right door panel 334 with the cabinet panels. As in the
previous embodiments, basket 338 is adapted to removably seat on
the door bottom so that it can be readily lifted and removed when
the door is in its open position.
FIG. 10 shows a fourth embodiment of a refuse compactor 370 which
in most respects is similar to compactor 20 except that it is
particularly adapted for built-in applications wherein the cabinet
of the unit would be suspended from adjacent structure of a
conventional cabinet 372 as illustrated in FIG. 10 for use in home
kitchens, restaurants, lunch counters and the like. Compactor 370
has one-piece side walls 374 and 376 and a rear wall 378 similar to
walls 24, 26 and 28 of compactor 20 but without the bottom flanges
30 and 34 thereof. In lieu of drawer 160, cabinet 370 has a
downwardly opening, flour bin type front panel 380 fixed at its
lower edge to a bottom panel 382, with reinforcing side gusset
panels 384 and 386 suitably secured to the front and bottom panels
380 and 382. The rear edge of bottom panel 382 is hinged by a
piano-type hinge 388 to the lower edge of bottom wall 378 so that
the door pivots about a horizontal axis from its down, open
position shown in FIG. 10 upwardly to a closed position wherein the
upper edge of panel 380 overlies and engages the clamping strip 210
of compactor 370. Suitable latches and interlocks are provided to
connect panel 380 to the front panel 54 of the cover so that the
cabinet in closed position is adapted to take the compacting forces
as well as lateral stresses imposed by bulging of the refuse bag
during compaction. A removable bag and basket such as bag 202 and
basket 338 is used with compactor 370.
FIGS. 11-15 inclusive illustrate a fifth embodiment of a compactor
400 also constructed in accordance with the present invention.
Compactor 400 has a cabinet and compacting mechanism constructed
identically to compactor 20 except for the bottom wall of the
cabinet, the other principal modification being in the bag, basket
and drawer structure. Referring to FIG. 11, the bottom wall 402 of
compactor 400 is provided with four pockets 404, 406, 408, 410
arranged with the rear pockets 406 and 410 spaced farther apart
laterally of the cabinet than the front pockets 404 and 408. As
shown in FIG. 12, wherein front pocket 408 is illustrated, the
pockets may be in the form of drilled holes in wall 402 or they may
be hemispherical indentations (not shown) or other readily formed
shapes.
In accordance with a further feature of the invention, compactor
400 has a combination drawer, basket, drip pan and handle assembly
412. Assembly 412 comprises an upright front panel 414 having a
drip pan 416 made up of an imperforate bottom wall 418 and four
short upright side walls 420, the pan being fixed along its front
edges to panel 414, as best seen in FIG. 12. A set of four suitable
ball casters 422 are mounted on the underside of wall 418 so as to
register with pockets 404-410 when drawer basket 412 is fully
inserted into the cabinet of compactor 400. In this position, the
roller ball of each caster drops into its associated pocket and
thus serves as a detent to hold the drawer securely positioned
against lateral movement within the cabinet. A suitable latch
operated by a handle 424 is mounted on panel 414 near the upper
edge thereof to cooperate with latching structure (not shown)
mounted on the front panel 54 of the cover of compactor 400, as in
the previous embodiments. Pan 416 is liquid tight around its joint
between the bottom and sides thereof to serve as a drip pan to
catch liquids which might leak from the refuse bag. Preferably
bottom wall 402 of the cabinet bears against the undersurface of
the pan bottom wall 418 in the closed condition of the cabinet to
provide support for the bottom wall against the compacting
stresses.
Assembly 412 also serves as a basket for the refuse bag and for
this purpose has a pair of brackets 426 and 428 affixed at their
inner ends to the inner surface of panel 414 near the upper corners
thereof so as to extend rearwardly slightly more than half the
front-to-rear dimension of assembly 412. A handle 430 of U-shaped
configuration has the free ends of its arms 432 and 434 pivotally
connected at 436 and 438 to the free ends of arms 426 and 428,
respectively. Handle arms 432 and 434 are curved beyond the pivot
connection to form stops 440 which engage the lower edge of the
associated arms 426, 428 when handle 430 is pivoted clockwise
90.degree. from the upright carrying position thereof shown in FIG.
11 to the horizontal position thereof shown in FIG. 15.
Another U-shaped member 444 having arms 446 and 448 also has the
free ends of its arms pivotally connected at 436 and 438 to the
inner ends of arms 426 and 428 and serves as a clamping fixture for
the refuse bag. It is to be understood that handle 430 has its arms
disposed outwardly of the bracket arms, whereas clamp 444 has its
arms disposed inwardly of the bracket arms. Suitable shims may be
provided at the pivot connections to provide clearance between the
clamp arms and bracket arms to allow the upper edges of the bag to
fit closely therebetween. Clamp 444 thus can be pivoted from a
clamping position shown in solid lines in FIG. 13 upwardly to a
release position shown in broken lines in FIG. 13. Suitable stops
(not shown) are also provided on clamp 444 to limit pivotal
movement thereof counterclockwise beyond the clamping position
shown in solid lines in FIG. 13.
In accordance with another feature of the present invention, a
specially constructed refuse bag 450 is provided as shown in FIGS.
13-15 for use with drawer basket 412. Bag 450 may be constructed of
heavy paper with a plastic lining and is a five-sided (i.e., four
upright sides and a bottom side) bag open at the top. Bag 450 has a
pair of notches 452 and 454 formed in the middle of the upper edges
of its side walls 456 and 458 adapted to register with and provide
clearance for the pivoted ends of handle 430 and clamp 434 when the
bag is seated upright with its bottom resting snugly in the drip
pan 416, as best seen in FIG. 15.
To install bag 450 in drawer-basket 412, handle 430 is first
rotated clockwise to its down, horizontal position, in which
position it acts as a rear support for the upper edge of the bag.
Clamp 444 is also rotated (counterclockwise) to its down clamping
position. Then bag 450 may be inserted vertically downwardly bottom
end first through the opening defined by handle 430 and clamp 444
until the bottom of the bag is seated in the drip pan 416. Next
clamp 444 is pivoted clockwise upwardly to a vertical position,
whereupon the upper front edge portions 460 and 462 of the bag
sides are folded slightly forwardly. Then clamp 444 is again
pivoted counterclockwise downwardly to clamping position wherein it
is disposed inwardly of the adjacent portions of the bag. Now the
rear edge 466 of the bag and rear portions 468 and 470 of the sides
of the bag are folded outwardly over and then down about the handle
430 to thereby suspend the rear half of the bag on handle 430.
Finally, the front half of the bag is suspended on clamp 444 by
folding bag edges 460, 464, 462 inwardly over clamp 444 as best
seen in FIGS. 13 and 14. Preferably the front portion of clamp 444
has a tight fit against the inner surface of wall 14 in the
horizontal position of clamp 444 so that the front wall of the bag
is securely pressed in clamped relation against the front panel
414. The drawer basket 412 is now ready to be loaded with trash and
then rolled into the cabinet of compactor 400.
After several loads have been compacted in bag 450, and the bag is
full except for the last load, the last load is placed in the bag,
compacted, the drawer pulled out and then clamp 444 and handle 430
both pivoted upwardly. Preferably, prior to compacting the last
load, the bag is loosened to uncurl and release the edges of the
bag and then the upper edges are folded inwardly to seal the upper
end of the bag. After compacting the bag in sealed condition, and
pivoting the handle and clamp upright, handle 430 alone or in
conjunction with clamp 444 is grasped with one hand and used to
carry drawer basket 412 to the area where the compacted trash bags
are stored for pick-up. Thus, there is a minimum handling of the
refuse bag, the drip pan insures that there will be no spillage in
transit and one hand is free to open doors, etc.
Referring to FIG. 17, rocker 231 of the "stop-start" switch 230 is
shown as it appears from the interior of control panel 210 and for
clarity without any of the other associated structures of switch
230. As described previously, rocker 231 is pivotable about axis
231' and is mounted in an opening 470 in panel 210 as as to project
on both sides thereof in all three positions of the rocker
described previously. Hence, side surface 472 of rocker 231 will be
exposed interiorly of panel 210, both in the stop and start
positions of the rocker. In accordance with another feature of the
present invention, rocker 231 is combined with a safety key lock
arrangement so as to mechanically prevent operation of compactor 20
except when a key (not shown) is inserted into the tumbler of a
conventional drawer lock 474 mounted in panel 210 adjacent rocker
231. The axis of rotation of the tumbler of lock 474 is arranged
transversely to axis 231' and lock 474 is angularly oriented so
that when its tumbler is in locked position a block 476 secured to
shaft 478 of the lock is oriented as shown in FIG. 17. In this
position a hook-shaped arm 480 secured to block 476 has its free
end 482 inserted into a hole 484 drilled in side wall 472 of rocker
231 to thereby lock the rocker against pivotal movement. Only in
this locked position of the tumbler can the key be withdrawn from
the lock, the absence of the key in the lock thus indicating to the
operator that the stop-start switch has been rendered safe so that
the compactor cannot be operated by unauthorized personnel or
children.
To unlock switch 230, the operator inserts the key into lock 474
and rotates its tumbler 90 degrees counterclockwise as viewed in
FIG. 17, thereby pivoting the free end 482 of arm 480 out of hole
484 so that rocker 231 can now be pivotally manipulated as
described previously. Lock 474 is of the type wherein in any but
the locked position of its tumbler the key cannot be removed.
Hence, the key serves as a "warning flag," i.e., the operator can
tell at a glance whether or not it is safe to leave the compactor
unattended merely by observing the presence or absence of the key
protruding from the control panel.
From the foregoing description, it now will be apparent that the
present invention provides an improved refuse compacting mechanism,
cabinet arrangement, control circuitry, safety interlock features,
and drawer, basket and bag features which amply fulfill the objects
of the present invention. In addition to the objects and features
described previously herein, it now will be better understood that
the compactor of the present invention is of economical
construction due to the walls of the cabinet and drawer serving as
the main structural framework, as well as providing lateral
constraint against bulging forces generated in the refuse being
compacted. Cover 52 also serves as a part of the compactor
framework in that it is a rigid one-piece member and serves as a
brace for the side and rear walls so as to resist twisting force
exerted on the cabinet due to the slight lateral motion of platen
106 during its downstroke travel.
The construction of the drawer and basket wherein the drawer is
generally open at the rear and the basket is generally open at the
front greatly facilitates removal of a refuse bag after the same
has been filled with compacted trash. The provision of the
close-fitting drip pan at the bottom of basket 200 adapted to nest
snugly in the bottom of drawer 160 with the mating rear walls
inclined to provide the locking angle relationship insures that the
basket is located in proper position in the drawer for movement
therewith, as well as being properly angularly oriented in the
drawer, and offers support to resist tipping or tilting of the
basket during compaction and movement of the drawer. The provision
of side and/or rear panels on the basket restrains the bag from
bulging when the drawer with the basket therein is pulled out to
open position. However, as soon as the basket is lifted a fraction
of an inch to disengage it from the friction locking relationship
with the bottom of the drawer, the basket may be tilted rearwardly
slightly, increasing the fore and aft clearance so that the basket
with the full bag therein may be readily lifted out of the drawer.
Likewise, the generally open front of the basket will then permit
ready removal of the refuse bag despite its tendency to bulge
laterally when full of compacted material. The rear panel on the
basket, by preventing rearward bulging of the trash bag when the
basket is fully seated in the drawer, makes the drawer easy to shut
after each successive reloading of the bag.
The suspension of the compacting mechanism from the two main beams
74 and 76, which in turn are suspended by screws 78, greatly
facilitates servicing. Merely by loosening these four screws 78,
the heads of which are conveniently accessible from above, the
entire compacting unit including the motor, drive, toggle
mechanism, platen, control panel and all wiring can be removed as a
single unit for servicing on the site or at a remote service
center. It will be noted that fasteners 78 extend in the direction
of thrust and hence are not loaded by the compacting forces but
rather merely carry the weight of the compacting mechanism. Thus
only hanger brackets 70 and 72 which are welded to the side walls
take the compacting force as a shear stress and thus have high
strength for this type of loading.
Motor 78 is mounted on the fore and aft center line of the
compacting mechanism as well as on the fore and aft center line of
the cabinet and compacting space. Hence the forces exerted by the
compacting mechanism develop a minimum of twisting couples or
moments, enabling only the walls of the cabinet themselves to serve
as a framework for the unit.
It is also to be understood that the basket and refuse bag can be
integrated into one unit by using a plastic container. Such a
single basket-bag unit need not be any stronger than the refuse bag
described herein, but in such event the back wall on the drawer
would be extended slightly higher in order to provide reinforcement
against rearward bulging of the unit when the drawer is opened
which otherwise could make the drawer hard to close.
* * * * *