U.S. patent number 3,892,142 [Application Number 05/353,846] was granted by the patent office on 1975-07-01 for compactor.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Emerson Electric Company. Invention is credited to James H. Enright, Robert F. Karls.
United States Patent |
3,892,142 |
Karls , et al. |
July 1, 1975 |
Compactor
Abstract
A trash compactor with a housing having a head space at its top,
a trash container at its bottom and a trash loading space between
the head space and the trash container, a trash loading port in the
side of the housing aligned with the trash loading space, a
pressure platen and a lazy tong or scissors extension linkage
mounted at the top of the housing and operable to move the platen
between one or more advanced positions in which the extension
linkage spans across the trash loading space and the platen is
imposing compacting pressure on trash within the container, and a
retracted position in which the extension linkage and platen are
withdrawn into said head space, thus leaving the intervening trash
loading space open for loading trash into the container through
said loading port and without having to withdraw the container from
the housing for loading purposes.
Inventors: |
Karls; Robert F. (Hales
Corners, WI), Enright; James H. (Racine, WI) |
Assignee: |
Emerson Electric Company (St.
Louis, MO)
|
Family
ID: |
26873213 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/353,846 |
Filed: |
April 23, 1973 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
|
177385 |
Sep 2, 1971 |
3772984 |
Nov 20, 1973 |
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
74/521 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B30B
9/3007 (20130101); B30B 9/306 (20130101); B30B
1/006 (20130101); Y10T 74/20594 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
B30B
9/00 (20060101); B30B 9/30 (20060101); B30B
1/00 (20060101); G05g 001/04 () |
Field of
Search: |
;248/277
;74/519,521 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Wyche; Benjamin W.
Assistant Examiner: McKenzie, Jr.; Frank H.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: House, Jr.; Joseph P.
Parent Case Text
This application is a division of application Ser. No. 177,385
filed Sept. 2, 1971 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,772,984 granted Nov. 20,
1973.
Claims
We claim:
1. A scissors linkage comprising laterally spaced sets of scissors
links each set comprising inner and outer interconnecting links, a
first laterally extending torque arm rigidly interconnecting the
innermost links of said sets and free of connection to the
outermost links of said sets, a second laterally extending torque
arm rigidly interconnecting the outermost links of said sets and
free of connection to the innermost links of said sets, said torque
arms transmitting forces between interconnected links of said sets
to balance forces as between said sets.
2. The invention of claim 1 in which the first arm comprises a
hollow tube rigidly interconnecting the innermost links of said
sets, said second arm being coaxial within said tube and rigidly
interconnecting the outermost links of said sets.
3. The linkage of claim 1 in combination with a platen and means
interconnecting the platen to said linkage to maintain the links
centered with respect to the linkage as the scissors linkage
expands and contracts.
4. The linkage of claim 3 in which said means comprises a track on
the platen, track followers on the ends of the scissors links and a
stabilizer link between the platen and the scissors linkage.
5. The invention of claim 1 in which said laterally spaced sets of
scissors links each comprise crossed links which intersect
intermediate their ends, said torque arms being connected to said
corresponding links at said intersection.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Commercial and industrial trash compactors have been in use for
many years, but only recently have trash compactors of small and
compact size and adapted for home use become available. The trash
compactor shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,537,390 is an example of the
current state of the art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention improves on the prior art in several
significant particulars. The typical prior art compactor, as above
mentioned, mounts the trash container in a drawer which must be
pulled out each time trash is loaded into the compactor. This
requires manual exertion which militates against use of the
compactor and also creates a problem of supporting the trash
container during the compaction cycle.
It is an object of the present invention to eliminate the need for
withdrawing the container from the housing during loading and to
make the loading operation extremely easy, requiring little or no
manual effort. In accordance with the present invention the
container remains in the compactor housing in substantially the
same position during loading and during the compaction cycle. An
easily opened access or loading door is provided which is aligned
with a loading or chute space above the container and above which
the pressure platen is withdrawn on a lazy tong or scissors
extension linkage so as to be withdrawn into a head space above and
completely out of the way of loading trash into the container
through said door.
It is an important feature of the present invention to mount the
pressure platen on a linkage which is capable of substantial
extension from its retracted to its advanced position, thus
enabling the pressure platen to have movement substantially into
the container for compaction purposes but yet leave it free to move
upwardly into the head space and clear of the loading or chute
space. Accordingly, there is no need to withdraw the container from
the housing for loading purposes as there is ample loading space
thereabove when the extension linkage is fully retracted.
Additional important objects, features and advantages of the
invention include:
1. A single lever control which performs multiple functions in the
control and operation of the compactor.
2. A unitized frame and body for the compactor housing making for a
"clean" design with no projections or crevices to accumulate
dirt.
3. A unitary assembly of the pressure platen, linkage extension and
drive means therefor, including a motor, all mounted on a carriage
which can be removed as a unit from the compactor housing for
service, repair and replacement.
4. A trash container with flexble walls and which is configured for
all around support by a similarly configured housing cavity into
which it fits. Accordingly, great compacting pressure may be
imposed without rupturing the flexible walls of the container.
5. A lazy tong or scissors extension linkage which is provided with
torque resisting guide structure to track the linkage and pressure
platen on a predetermined vertical path, regardless of the symmetry
or asymmetry of the resistance offered by the trash and thus
relieving the drive screw and force transmitting mechanism of
twisting forces.
6. A switch assembly and electrical circuit integrated with the
single lever control and by which the ram motor and door latching
mechanism are cycled through an operating cycle.
7. A ram pressure platen which has a surface pattern which
intensifies fracturing stress on frangible trash.
8. A trash container basket and bag which are pre-sanitized, thus
making it unnecessary to provide any supplemental sanitizing
treatment therefor.
Other objects, features and advantages will appear from the
detailed disclosure.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a comparator embodying the
invention, portions of the housing being broken away to expose the
trash basket, pressure platen and scissors or lazy tong extension
linkage assembly, the loading door being open to illustrate loading
of trash into the basket.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view on a reduced scale of the trash
compactor with its loading door open.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 2, showing the service
door open and the loading door closed.
FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view illustrating the removing of the
assembly of pressure platen, extension linkage and motor.
FIG. 5 is a vertical cross section taken through trash compactor
embodying the invention, the retracted position of the pressure
platen and extension linkage being shown in full lines and advanced
position thereof being shown in broken lines.
FIG. 6 is a view partly in plan and partly in cross section along
the line 6--6 of FIG. 5, certain parts being broken away and shown
in section.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the pressure platen, extension
linkage and motor assembly shown apart from the remainder of the
device, parts being broken away.
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary detailed view of the sliding connection of
the extension linkage to the pressre platen, this view taken in
cross section along the line 8--8 of FIG. 6.
FIG. 9 is a front elevation of the compactor with portions
successively broken away to show details thereof.
FIG. 10 is a fragmentary transverse vertical cross section taken
through the compactor housing just rearwardly of the housing front
wall. A fragment of the extension linkage and its guide track is
also shown in this view.
FIG. 11 is a front elevation of the housing shell.
FIG. 12 is a horizontal cross section taken along the line 12--12
of FIG. 11.
FIG. 13 is a detail vertical cross section illustrating the
relationship between the co-acting walls of the housing and service
door and showing the position of the slide bar latch prior to
movement of the latch to lock the door to the housing.
FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 13, but showing the door closed
and the slide bar latch actuated to fasten the door to the
housing.
FIG. 15 is a front view of the single lever control assembly.
FIG. 16 is a top view of the single lever control assembly.
FIG. 17 is an end view of the single lever control assembly.
FIG. 18 is a rear view of the single lever control assembly.
FIG. 19 is a fragmentary vertical cross section taken through the
service and loading doors and illustrating the latching
operation.
FIG. 20 is a fragmentary cross section taken along the line 20--20
of FIG. 10.
FIG. 21 is a fragmentary cross section similar to FIG. 20, but
showing a different position of the parts.
FIG. 22 is a face view of the undersurface of the pressure
platen.
FIG. 23 is a fragmentary view illustrating the operation of the key
lock.
FIG. 24 is a perspective view of a bagged unit of compacted trash,
after removal from the basket.
FIG. 25 is a fragmentary perspective view of the single lever
control switch actuating mechanism.
FIG. 26 is a diagrammatic fragmentary end view of the switch
actuating mechanism, illustrating the position of various elements
prior to starting the compacting cycle.
FIG. 27 is a similar diagrammatic fragmentary view similar to FIG.
26 and showing the position of the corresponding parts after the
single lever control has been moved to start position.
FIG. 28 is a similar diagrammatic fragmentary view similar to FIG.
26 illustrating the position of the corresponding parts part way
through the compacting cycle and illustrating the positions of the
corresponding parts when the single lever control is moved to stop
position.
FIG. 29 is a similar diagrammatic fragmentary view illustrating the
position of the corresponding parts during operation of the jam
responsive mechanism.
FIG. 30 is a simplified electric circuit diagram for the motor
controller.
FIG. 31 is an end view of a modified trash basket.
FIG. 32 is a perspective view of the modified trash basket of FIG.
31.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable
those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical
embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which
may be embodied in other specific structure. The scope of the
invention is defined in the claims appended hereto.
The compactor includes a housing 40 which is typically about 15
inches wide, 25.5 inches deep and 34.5 inches high, thus to adapt
it to fit as a modular unit into a kitchen counter and cabinet
assembly. In a free-standing model the housing 40 is surmounted by
a top 41 and has a shroud 38 to dress its external surfaces. In a
built-in model a portion of a counter in which the compactor
interfits substitutes for the top 41. The housing is desirably
supported from the floor on adjustable feet 37 (FIG. 9). The
compactor may also be located at any other convenient home
location, such as laundry room, utility room, closet, basement,
garage, covered patio, etc.
As shown in FIG. 1, the interior of the housing 40 is provided with
a cavity 44 for a trash receiving container or basket 42 which has
a disposable plastic bag 43 draped into its interior and reverse
folded over the outside of the container 42 to provide folding
flaps by which the bag 43 may be closed when the container is
withdrawn from the housing 40 and the bag is withdrawn from the
basket to form a disposable bagged trash unit 39 as shown in FIG.
24. The basket 42 is typically about 16 inches length.
There is a head space 45 within the upper portion of the housing 40
and within which the extension linkage 46 and attached ram or
pressure platen 47 are retracted during the "off" or trash loading
period of the over-all trash compaction cycle.
Scissors-type ram actuating linkages are, of course, old and well
known for use in baling presses and the like. U.S. Pat. Nos.
266,967 and 460,009 are typical examples. However, such prior art
scissors-type linkages did not employ the multiple or tandem
connected scissors linkages characteristic of lazy tong linkages,
as herein employed and by which the movement of the ram or pressure
platen is greatly extended or magnified in its movement between its
retracted position and its advanced position, as is illustrated in
FIG. 5.
This capacity of the tandem scissors or lazy tong linkage for great
extension is an important advantage in the present invention
because it enables the pressure platen to be retracted clear above
and in upwardly spaced relation to the basket, thus to permit
loading trash into the basket without withdrawing the basket from
the housing, in the manner illustrated in FIG. 1.
Scissors linkages are advantageous, because as the scissors links
approach parallelism, their mechanical advantage and pressure
markedly increase. The greatesst resistance to platen movement
occurs near the end of the platen advancing stroke where the trash
109 is being compacted (FIG. 5). The platen 47 moves relatively
slowly near the end of its advancing stroke at the time when the
extension linkages exert their greatest pressure at the greatest
mechanical advantage. The extension linkages move relatively
quickly near the top of the housing when the platen is under no
load, speed of movement being desirable in this part of the
cycle.
In a practical embodiment of the invention, the extension linkages
and platen assembly will occupy a space of about 6 inches when
retracted and will extend to a distance of about 26 inches, for a
throw of about 20 inches. The available pressing force of ram
platen 47 varies from about 600 pounds at full retracted height to
about 3,500 pounds at full extension. The total time cycle of the
ram is about 70 seconds. This time cycle shortens as the basket
fills.
There is a substantial space of approximately 8 or 9 inches between
the upper rim 48 of the basket 42 and the pressure platen 47 when
the pressure platen is fully retracted, as shown in FIG. 1, such
space being denominated herein as the trash loading or chuting
space 51. Space 51 aligns with the loading port 52 in service door
53. Service door 53 is hinged to the housing 40 on vertical hinges
54 along one corner of the housing 40.
Accordingly, service door 53 can be swung from its closed position
shown in FIG. 2 to its open position shown in FIG. 3, thus to
expose the front face 55 of the housing 40 which has a cutout or
opening 56 through which the container 42 is loaded into the
housing cavity 44 and removed therefrom.
Service door 53 carries a loading door 57 which is pivotally
attached to the service door 53 on a horizontal hinge 58, to be
swung to its open position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and its closed
position shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. Conventional retainer cables 61
are spring biased to hold the loading door 57 in its normally
closed position and will stop and support the door in its inclined
position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 during loading of trash 62
through the door opening 52 (FIG. 1). The trash 62 passes through
the loading or chute space 51 within the housing en route to the
basket 42. The only manual effort required of the housewife is to
pull the door 57 about its hinges 58 to its inclined position,
against the light tension of the springs connected to the cables
61.
Loading door 57 is provided with an inwardly formed sloping panel
or ramp 59 which, in the closed position of the doors as shown in
FIG. 5 overhangs the rim 48 of basket 42. Accordingly, any trash
which is not completely loaded into the basket 42 and which tends
to overhang the front edge 48 thereof, will be pushed into the
basket as the door 57 closes. Moreover, as ram platen 57 descends
the incline of panel ramp 59 will guide trash which is piled up
above the level of rim 48 into the basket and will prevent it from
spilling over the front edge of the basket.
Typically, any and all types of household trash will be accepted by
the compactor, whether the trash be paper, glass bottles, metal
cans, etc. Compacted trash is shown diagrammatically at 109 in FIG.
5.
The plastic basket 42 has downwardly capering flexible walls 63 on
all sides. These flexible walls 63 are supported in the seated
position of the basket by rigid re-enforcing or support walls of
the housing 40. For this purpose the rear wall of housing 40 is
provided with a downwardly and inwardly inclined panel 64 (FIG. 5)
and the housing side walls 65 (FIG. 10) are similarly downwardly
and inwardly inclined, thus to support the downwardly tapered
flexible side walls 63 of basket 42 against ram pressure. Service
door 53 is provided with an inclined panel 117 which supports the
front wall of basket 42.
The bottom wall 66 of the housing (FIG. 10) has upwardly embossed
portions 67 providing a support floor for the bottom 68 of the
basket 42.
Housing side walls 65 are provided with an outwardly deformed fold
or groove 71 within which the outwardly flanged rim 48 on the
basket 42 interfits. Housing rear wall panel 64 is similarly offset
at 79 (FIG. 5) and door panel 117 is similarly offset at 80 (FIG.
5) to provide a peripheral seat for basket rim flange 48. When
basket 42 is properly received with its rim 48 thus seated, its
flexible walls will be supported by the housing and door panels,
and a switch actuator 72 within a recess 73 in its bottom wall 68
will engage a basket safety switch 129 which is part of the
electric circuit as hereinafter described. The front of basket 42
is also provided with a projecting tab 70. Tabs 70, 72 can be used
as bottom handles when inverting the basket 42 to remove the
closed, filled bag 43. Alternatively, the operator can step on the
tabs 70, 72 to anchor the basket 42 against movement if the filled
bag 43 is lifted manually out of the basket.
When bag 43 is fitted into the basket 42 the surplus bag material
is reverse folded over the outside of the basket (FIG. 1). Thus
this reverse folded bag material is clamped between the basket and
housing and door panels 63, 64, 117 under pressure of the basket
42. The bag fold 60 is snubbed about the basket rim 48 and the
reverse folded bag material will not be pulled into the basket even
though the pressure of the ram on the trash 109 tends to drag the
bag into the basket.
The assembly ram unit of extension links 46 and pressure platen 57
is mounted within the head space 45 at the top of the housing 40 on
tracks 74 which run fore and aft of the housing 40. Tracks 74
support and guide a carriage comprising four rollers 75 mounted
respectively on the ends of the pintles 76 at the upper ends of the
upper scissors links 77 of lazy tong or extension linkage 46. There
are two spaced parallel sets of scissors linkages 77 interpivoted
on a cross pintle 78.
The ends of the scissors links 77 opposite pintles 76 are pivotally
connected by pintles 81 to succeeding or tandem sets of scissors
links 82, likewise arranged in parallel. Links 82 have their mid
points pivotally connected on pintle 83. The far ends of said
scissors links 82 are slidably connected to the pressure platen 47,
as hereinafter described.
The lazy tongs or extension linkage 46 is acuated by a double
reverse pitch lead screw 84 threadedly engaged in spacer tubes 85
which provide bearings for the pintles 76 of the upper scissors
linkage 77, which maintain the parallel sets of scissors links 77
in spaced relation and which provides nuts for the screw 84. One
end of the lead screw 84 is connected through suitable gearing on
the gear box 86 to an electric motor 87. Gear box 86 is fastened to
a mounting arrangement including an end plate 88 which has
out-turned flange brackets 91 which carry rubber bushings 92 and
bolts 93 by which the plate 88 and suspended motor 87 are
releasably attached to the aft ends of the track 74 (FIG. 5). The
bushings 92 isolate motor vibration from the compactor and provide
limited yieldability of the ram assembly in a fore and aft
direction.
Accordingly, the extension linkage 46 is mounted in position so
that in fully retracted position, as shown in FIG. 5, a contact
button 94 on the far end of lead screw 84 will make contact with a
switch actuator 95 of the control assembly as hereinafter
explained.
A spring 96 coiled about the lead screw 84 will bear against the
spacer tubes 85 when the extension linkage 46 is in its fully
extended position as shown in broken lines in FIG. 5, thus to
provide resistance to further extension of the linkage, in the
event of insufficient trash in basket 42, and cushion the end of
the lazy tong extension movement. The load thus added to motor 87
will cause the motor to slow down and centrifugal switch 97 in the
motor circuit will reverse the motor 87 and withdraw the ram platen
47 from the basket 42. The aforedescribed structure, in which the
extension linkage 46 is driven from one end, is advantageous
because the lead screw 84, motor 87, gear box 86, etc., have a
substantially fixed position during actuation of the extension
linkages 46. While it would be possible to drive the linkages from
points which must move vertically during expansion and retraction
of the linkages, such an arrangement would require complementary
movement of the motor, drive screw, etc., and is less desirable for
that reason.
The uppermost sets of spaced parallel scissors linkages 77 are
interconnected by torque arms or tubes 78, 89 in a unique manner.
Spacer or torque arm or tube 89 is rigidly connected by welds 132
to the inside faces of the innermost links 77. Tube 89 is hollow.
Torque arm or tube 78 extends through the hollow of tube 89, to
turn thereon, and is welded near both ends at 133 to the outer
faces of the outermost links 77.
The respective torque tubes or arms 78, 89 transmit unbalanced
forces between corresponding links at opposite sides of the
scissors extension mechanism to keep the links in alignment and
prevent cocking of the spacer nuts 85. Accordingly, twisting forces
are balanced by the torque tubes or arms 78, 89 and relieve the
screw 84 thereof.
As best shown in FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8, the lower ends of scissors
links 82 are provided with wheels 98 at the ends of axles 100. The
wheels 98 ride or slide freely on tracks 99 formed on the edges of
a plate 90 to which the pan-shaped pressure platen 47 is releasably
attached. The plate 90 and platen 47 are linked to extension
linkage by a U-shaped link 101 which has a bight portion pivotally
connected to the plate 90 in a tubular eye 102 and has out-turned
ends 130 pivotally connected to the links 82 in bearing apertures
131.
Wheels 98 and the parallelogram motion of the extension linkage 46
keep the platen 47 horizontal. Link 101 keeps the platen 47
substantially centered in basket 42.
Platen 47 is desirably provided arounds its periphery with a rubber
sealing flap 103, the rear end of which is formed as a flexible
apron 104 connected by means of a series of small springs 105 to a
rear wall panel 106 of the housing 40. As shown in FIG. 5, the
apron 104 will drape itself into the basket 42 as the platen 47
descends, thus preventing trash in the basket from climbing out of
the basket and overflowing its rim 48. Moreover, the rubber seal
103 acts as a wiper to wipe down the sides of the basket and keep
the trash therein as the pressure platen 47 enters the basket.
The fore and aft tracks 74 at the top of the housing 40 provide a
convenient means of mounting the extension linkage 46 and provide
guide ways for expanding and contracting the linkages on a vertical
path as the lead screw 84 turns in forward and reverse direction.
The tracks 74 also provide a convenient means for completely
removing the unitary motor-operated assembly of extension links 46,
pressure platen 47, motorr 87, gear box 86, etc., from the housing
40, as is illustrated in FIG. 4. This facilitates maintenance,
repair and replacement of the unit. The back of housing 40 is open.
When in its fully retracted position the foregoing unitary assembly
can be removed in the direction of arrow 108 (FIG. 4) when the
attaching bolts 93 are detached from track 74, and guides 112 are
removed.
The opposite side walls 65 of the housing 40 are desirably provided
with vertically extending metal angle iron guides 111, 112 (FIGS.
5, 9 and 10) which are adjustably mounted on bolts 113 and which
provide facing guide channel flanges 114 between which the torque
arm 78 of the extension linkage 46 rides vertically for at least a
portion of its vertical movement. Torque arm 78 is desirably
provided with end wear caps 115 which ride against the channel
flanges 114. The extension linkage 46 moves on a vertical path on
which the pressure platen 47 is centered in the basket 42 by reason
of the drive mechanism in which the lead screw 84 concurrently
drives the nuts 85 concurrently toward and away from each other,
the path of movement of pintles 78 and 83 remaining on the same
vertical axis. Guides 111, 112 function to absorb forward and
rearward thrust in the event the reaction pressure of trash tends
to move the platen off course.
As best shown in FIG. 5, the rearmost pair of channel flanges 114
are relieved at 118 and rubber or other yieldable blocks 116 are
inserted in the recess 118. The blocks 116 are positioned to be
engaged by the caps 115 of torque arm 78 just as the platen 47
enters the basket 42. Accordingly, if a hard, unyielding object is
wedged between the front of the basket and the platen 47, pressure
is exerted to tend to force the platen 47 and extension linkage 46
toward the rear of the housing 40. The yieldable blocks 116 and
yieldable bushings 92 permit slight rearward movement of the
linkage. Thus the lead screw 84 will back away slightly from
contact of its button 94 with switch actuator arm 95 and will
actuate the motor control to stop the motor. The operator may now
actuate control lever 134 to restart the motor in reverse, thus to
cause the platen to retract and relieve the system of the jam, as
hereinafter explained. The aforedescribed structure functions as a
jam sensor.
As previously indicated, the basket 42 has its flexible plastic
side walls supported by correspondingly shaped panel walls in the
housing 40. The opening 56 (FIG. 3) in front panel 55 would leave
the front wall 63 of the basket 42 unsupported, except for the fact
that in accordance with the present invention the service door 53
is provided with an appropriately shaped downardly and inwardly
inclined pressure support panel 117 which supports the wall 63 of
the basket 42 (FIG. 5).
To securely latch the service door 53 to the housing 40 when it is
closed and thus insure adequate support for the basket 42 and also
to insure against service door 53 opening once the compacting cycle
has started, a novel latching mechanism, as shown in FIGS. 3, 9,
10, 13 and 14, is provided. Service door 53 is provided with
vertically spaced, inwardly projecting pegs 121 having enlarged
heads 122. The housing front panel 55 and adjacent frame parts are
provided with aligned openings 123 large enough to receive the
heads 122 (FIGS. 13, 14). Behind the panel 55 and adjacent frame
parts is a vertically slidable latch bar 124 (FIG. 10), the upper
end of which is pivotally connected on pin 213 to the crank arm 125
of actuating mechanism which functions as hereinafter explained.
Latch bar 124 is provided with inclined cam portions 126 (FIGS. 13,
14), each one of which is provided with a keyhole slot having an
enlarged head portion 127 and a narrow neck portion 128.
The heads 122 of the pins 121 on door 53 are received through the
apertures 123 on the panel 55 and through the enlarged head
portions 127 of the latch bar 124 when the door 53 is closed. At
the same time, a headed pin 119 engages a spring biased detent
socket 120 (FIG. 3) to hold the door 53 closed pending actuation of
the latch slide bar 124.
When the single lever 134 of the compactor control is actuated as
hereinafter described, the crank arm 125 will be actuated to lift
the latch bar 124 and press its cams 126 against the undersurface
of pin heads 122, thus to clamp the service door 53 against the
panel 55, as is shown in FIG. 14. The inclined cam portions 126 of
the latch bar 124 merge into vertical bar portions 135 which
include the tail ends of narrow slots 128 and which align with the
pins 121 in the latched position of door 53.
In order to guide movement of latch bar 124, panel 55 is provided
with guide pins 136 which have heads 137 which overlap guide slots
138 on the latch bar 124, as shown in FIG. 10.
The housing 40 is uniquely formed with a unitary frame and body,
substantially free of crevices and cracks within which bacteria,
dirt, etc., can lodge. The unitized frame and body is inherently
strong, simplifies fabrication and reduces fabrication expense.
As best shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the side wall panels 65 of the
housing have out-turned edge flanges 142 by which the panel edges
are stiffened. Structural front panel 143, which is cut out at 144
to match cutout 56 in face panel 55 (FIG. 3) has edge flanges 145
turned at a 90.degree. angle to flanges 142. Rear panel 106 is
similarly provided with turned flanges 147.
Flanges 142 are fastened or joined mechanically in face relation to
front panel 143 and rear panel 106, as by welding, riveting,
bolting, etc., thus to unitize the front, side and rear panels,
with the flanges 142, 145, 147 forming box section corner posts
rigidly supporting the housing 40 with no need for any other form
of frame. The side walls 65 of housing 40 are turned inwardly to
form floor panels 146 beneath the basket 42 (FIGS. 10 and 12), and
are turned downwardly to form abutting flanges 148 similarly
fastened or joined in face relation.
Thus the surfaces within the housing are broad and smooth without
cracks, crevices, interior bolts, etc., which would otherwise trap
dirt and bacteria.
The single lever control switching mechanism and circuit diagram
are shown in FIGS. 15 through 30, inclusive. Control and switching
mechanism is housed in a control box 150 (FIGS. 5 and 9) at the
upper front corner of the housing 40. The single control lever 134
on arm 166 projects forwardly of the housing 40 in an easily
accessible position. Control lever 134 is actuated manually by the
operator through a cycle in which various functions are
automatically coordinated for safe and convenient operation of the
compactor.
An important safety feature requires that both the service door 53
and the trash loading door 57 be closed before the single lever 134
can be moved from its "off" position at the right of the housing to
its "start" position at the left of the housing, as shown in FIGS.
2, 3 and 9. For this purpose the loading door 57 is provided with a
striker 151 (FIGS. 16, 19) which is aligned to engage tab 152 of a
rotary bracket 153 which is pivotally mounted on pintle 154 and is
biased by spring 155 to project the tab 152 forwardly of the
housing 40 and into the path of striker 151 of loading door 57.
When in its forward position a latch finger 156 on the swing
bracket 153 engages beneath ledge 157 (FIGS. 15, 16) on latch bolt
160 to prevent downward movement of bolt 160 and hence prevent any
substantial movement of the lever 134 away from its off position.
The latch bolt 160 is mechanically connected to lever 134 so that
blockage of movement of bolt 160 also blocks movement of lever 134.
However, when both the service door 53 and loading door 57 have
been closed, the striker 151 moves the swing bracket 153 rearwardly
to its position shown in FIG. 16, thus withdrawing the finger 156
from obstructing downward movement of the bolt 160 and its
interconnected lever 134. Accordingly, lever 134 may then be swung
to its "start" position at the left of the cabinet, in which
position it is shown in each of FIGS. 15, 16 and 18.
In the course of its movement from "off" to "start," lever 134 will
function to operate the latch bolt 160 which will move downwardly
to engage through a bolt opening 161 in a flange 159 of loading
door 57 (FIG. 19). Bolt 160 concurrently engages through a bolt
opening 162 in a flange 167 of service door 53 (FIG. 19), thus to
positively latch both loading and servce doors in closed position,
prior to the starting of the compacting cycle.
Latch 160 is moved in response to movement of a swing arm 161
(FIGS. 16, 18 and 25) which is swingable about pintle 162 at one
end of the box 150. Arm 161 has a curved portion 168 about the axis
of pintle 169, and a contained inclined cam follower slot 163
(FIGS. 15, 16, 18 and 25) in which rides a cam trunnion 164 mounted
on a rotor bracket 165 from which arm 166 for single lever 134
projects. Bracket 164 turns on the axis of pintle 169. Accordingly,
as lever 134 swings, it will cause the trunnion 164 to sweep
through an arc including the inclined cam follower slot 163 in the
swing arm 161 and thus raise and lower the arm 161 about its pintle
162.
In moving from its broken line position of FIG. 16 (off position)
to its full line position (start position), the arm 166 for lever
134 will function to swing the latch bolt 160 downwardly into
latching engagement with the latch apertures 161, 162 as shown in
FIG. 19 aforesaid, provided however that the interlock swing
bracket 153 has first swung inwardly against the bias of its spring
155, as aforestated.
In this manner the single control lever 134 functions to lock both
the loading door 57 and the service door 53 before reaching its
"start" position. Moreover, unless the doors 53, 57 are closed, the
control lever 134 cannot even be moved toward initiation of the
compacting cycle.
Conversely, when the compacting cycle is finished and the control
lever 134 and arm 166 are swung from full to broken line positions
shown in FIG. 16, latch finger 160 will be lifted as a consequence
of upward pivotal movement of the arm 161, thus to withdraw the
finger 160 from the latch holes 161, 162 and will permit both doors
53, 57 to be opened. As soon as pressure of the striker 151 is
withdrawn from tab 152, spring 155 will pivot latch bracket 153 to
a position where its stop detent 156 is in the path of downward
movement of bolt ledge 157, thus preventing any further actuation
of the lever 134 until the doors are again closed.
Control box 150 contains switches for actuating the motor 87 in a
cycle which includes several additional interlocks and safety
features. The motor circuit is indicated in FIG. 30. The motor
start-stop switch 170 and paired reversing switches 171, 172
typically comprise microswitches having actuating buttons
respectively actuated by leaf blades or arms 173, 174, 175, each of
which is anchored at corresponding ends upon a block 176 (FIG.
25).
The actuating buttons of switches 170, 171 and 172 are internally
spring biased to project the buttons outwardly, in which position
the switches are normally closed or normally open, as indicated in
FIG. 30. The leaf arms 173, 174, 175 can be actuated to press the
buttons inwardly against their spring bias, in which event the
respective switches will be thrown to their opposite positions.
When the leaf arms 173, 174, 175 are actuated to release pressure
on the buttons, they will return to their normal positions.
The leaf arms 173, 174, 175 are subject to the pressure of several
levers, tabs, etc., which respond to various forces all of which
are integrated and inter-related to produce the desired sequential
actuation of the switches 170, 171, 172 for proper operation of the
motor 87 and for safety reasons. Fundamentally, motor 87 will be
energized whenever the pressure of leaf arm 173 is relieved from
the actuating button of the start-stop switch 170. Switch 170 will
then move to its normally closed position and energize the motor
circuit, assuming however that basket switch 129 is also
closed.
Moreover, the centrifugally actuated motor start switch 97 must
also be closed to start the motor 87 through its start winding 149.
Switch 97 will normally be closed when the motor is at rest or
whenever the motor slows down from its normal running speed as a
consequence of the imposition of heavy loads thereon. When running
at normal running speeds the conventional centrifugal actuator
therefor will cause switch 97 to open. However, this will not stop
the motor which will then be energized directly through its main
winding 158. Motor 87 will be deenergized whenever the actuator
button for switch 170 is subject to the pressure of leaf arm 173,
thus to open switch 170.
The direction of motor operation depends upon the position of the
reversing switches 171, 172. Reversing switches 171, 172 are single
pole, double throw switches interconnected by bridge 183 to
function as a double pole, double throw switch. When the leaf arms
174, 175 are pressed against the button actuators for the switches
171, 172, the motor 87 will be conditioned to operate in a
direction to advance the ram toward basket 42 when switch 170 is
closed to energize the starting circuit. After the motor is up to
speed and runs on its main winding 158 and centrifugal switch 97
opens, the reversing switches 171, 172 can be reversed in position
without affecting the continued operation of the motor 87 to drive
the ram downwardly. However, if in the course of such movement
switch 170 is opened, thus to stop motor 87 and cause centrifugal
switch 97 to close, and meanwhile reversing switches 171, 172 have
been actuated, when the next actuation of leaf arm 173 to close
switch 170 will start the motor in reverse, through its start
winding 149, thus to withdraw the ram platen 47 toward the top of
the housing 40.
The various instrumentalities which act upon the leaf blades 173,
174, 175 include a double armed blade actuator 178 directly
responsive to the movement of the ram platen 47. One arm 179 of
actuator 178 has a cam follower plate or lever 177. Arm 179 pivots
about pintle 181 and carries a cam 182 adapted to press against a
bridgeplate 183 which ties together the otherwise free ends of the
leaf arms 174, 175 which actuate the reversing switches 171, 172.
Accordingly, whenever the lever 177 is swung clockwise to its
position shown in FIGS. 26 and 27, both leaf arms 174, 175 will
press the spring biased actuator buttons of switches 171, 172
inwardly and switches 171, 172 will be actuated to reverse the
polarity of the circuit to the start winding 149. Clock spring 184
about pintle 181 biases arm 179 and lever 177 counter clockwise
toward its position shown in FIGS. 28 and 29. In this position the
polarity of switches 171, 172 is reversed, as aforesaid.
Lever 177 is in the path of vertical movement of front cross member
81 of the extension linkage 46 for the ram platen 47. Accordingly,
as illustrated in FIG. 5, when the extension linkage is in its
fully retracted position at the top of the housing 40 lever 177
will be engaged by the cross member 81, thus to swing the lever 177
clockwise as shown in FIGS. 26, 27, and thus actuate the reversing
switches 171, 172. However, when the extension linkages have
dropped somewhat as a consequence of energization of the motor 87
to drive the ram downwardly, thus to relieve the pressure of the
cross member 81 from the lever 177, the clock spring 184 will swing
the lever 177 to its position shown in FIGS. 28 and 29 and switches
171, 172 will reverse polarity.
Arm 179 carries a second swing arm or lever 185 swingable about the
same pintle 181 and also subject to the pressure of clock spring
184, and which is further subject to the opposite pressure of a
compression coil spring 186 between lever 177 and plate 206 to bias
arm 185 away from lever 177 and toward a stop tab 187 (FIG. 28)
formed on arm 179. Second arm 185 carries a cam 190 which will
press against the uppermost leaf arm 173 which actuates motor
start-stop switch 170. Accordingly, in the full line position of
the ram and extension linkages 46 shown in FIG. 5, the actuation of
cam lever 177 by the ram cross piece 81 will not only actuate the
reversing switch leaf arms 174, 175 but will also actuate the
start-stop switch leaf arm 173, as is illustrated in FIG. 26. In
this position of the parts lever arm 185 is subject to being moved
counter clockwise away from pressure engagement with leaf arm 173
against the bias of its spring 186.
Because of the foregoing structure, the start-stop switch 170 will
be actuated into open position every time the ram assembly moves
upwardly into its completely retracted position, thus to stop motor
87 at the conclusion of the compacting cycle.
Leaf arm 173 for start-stop switch 170 also responds to manual
control ement of the single control lever 134 and its arm 166. As
indicated in FIG. 25, control bell crank 191 is pivotally mounted
on pintle 192. While in this view bell crank 191 is illustrated
(for clarity of presentation) in spaced relation to other parts, it
actually occupies a position indicated by the dotted lines in which
it is in face contact with a swing bracket 193, also pivoted about
pintle 192.
Bracket 193 has a depending arm 194 and a peg 195 depending
therefrom and which functions as a cam follower which rides on a
cam surface 196 of the annular bracket 165 formed on the inner end
of arm 166 and which is rotated thereby.
Bracket 193 has a depending lever 197, the end of which is provided
with a tab 200 which hooks around leaf arm 173 as shown in FIG. 25.
Clock spring 201 around pintle 192 biases bracket 193 in a
clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 25, thus to tend to draw
leaf arm 173 to the right and actuate switch 170. Clockwise
movement of the rotor bracket 165 however will cam its surface 196
against the peg 195 to rotate the bracket 193 counter clockwise, as
shown in FIG. 25, and against the bias of spring 201, to relieve
pressure of leaf blade 173 on the button actuator of switch 170 and
permit the self-bias of the button actuator to open switch 170.
Bell crank lever 191 has an input arm 202 which fits into a notch
203 of bracket 204 on arm 166 of single control lever 134 (FIG.
16). The output arm of bell crank lever 191 has a thrust edge 205
adapted to engage the upstanding plate 206 of lever 185 (FIG. 25).
Offset rearwardly from thrust edge 205 is a second thrust edge 207
aligned to engage a downwardly extending tab 208 of lever 211
(FIGS. 18 and 25). Lever 211 has the upstanding actuating arm 95
which is engaged by the end of the lead screw 84 of the extension
linkages 46, as hereinbefore described. Lever 211 is pivoted to the
box 150 on a pintle 212 (FIGS. 16 and 18).
As indicated in FIG. 16, the end of spring 155 is connected to one
end of lever 211 to bias it toward engagement of its tab 208 with
leaf arm 173, thus to overcome the self-bias of the button actuator
of switch 170 and actuate switch 170. However, lever 211 is
normally inoperative to affect the position of leaf blade 173
because its actuating arm 95 is engaged by the end of lead screw 84
of the lazy tong linkage, thus to pivot the arm 211 about its
pintle 212 to a "neutral" position shown in FIGS. 16 and 25 in
which tab 208 is spaced away from leaf blade l73 and has no effect
thereon. It is only when the jam sensing feature of the compactor
is active that lever arm 211 functions to actuate the leaf blade
173, as hereinafter described.
The operation of the manual control lever 134 and the inter-related
switch actuating devices and the functioning of the switches will
now be described in sequence with particular reference to the
diagrammatic views of FIGS. 26 through 29 which illustrate the
various steps.
FIG. 26 shows the various parts with the ram fully retracted and
prior to starting the compacting cycle. All leaf arms 173, 174, 175
are cammed against the self-bias of the button actuators of
switches 170, 171, 172 to actuate the switches 170, 171, 172
against their "normal" positions. Thus switch 170 is in its open
position with motor 87 de-energized. To start the cycle, lever 134
is swung to the left, from broken to full line position show in
FIG. 16. Assuming the doors 53, 57 to be closed, thus to release
the interlock 153 as hereinbefore described, lever 134 can swing to
its extreme left position in which the bell crank 191 is actuated
by pressure of the notch 203 in rotor 204 to swing the crank 191
about its pivot 192. This will force thrust edge 205 against the
plate 206 of the lever 185 and force the lever 185 to its position
shown in FIG. 27 in which spring 186 is compressed and the lever
185 has moved far enough counter clockwise in this figure to
relieve pressure against the leaf arm 173 so that the self-bias of
button actuator for switch 170 will move the start-stop switch 170
to its normally closed position. This will start the motor 87 and
the ram will be actuated to advance toward the basket 42.
As illustrated in FIG. 28, as soon as the cross member 81 on the
extension linkage has descended it will release lever 177 and clock
spring 184 will swing leaf actuator 178 counter clockwise and
relieve the pressure of cam 182 on the reversing leaf arms 174,
l75. The reversing switches 171, 172 will thus reverse polarity to
condition the motor to operate in reverse, the next time the motor
is started.
FIG. 28 illustrates the position of parts when the operator stops
the cycle prior to completion thereof. Control lever 134 is swung
to the right (FIG. 16) from its "start" toward its "off" position.
Movement of the arm 166 of lever 134 slightly beyond its center
position will allow the cam follower peg 195 (FIG. 25) to ride
along the cam surface 196 of rotor 165, thus permitting clock
spring 208 which engages the rotor bracket 193 to pivot the rotor
bracket clockwise in this view, thus drawing tab 200 against the
leaf blade 173 and forcing it against the self-bias of the button
actuator on switch 170, as illustrated in FIG. 28, to open switch
170. Motor 87 will not stop. If lever 134 is now again turned to
its "start" position, thus to cam tab 200 away from leaf arm 173,
the self-bias of the button actuator for switch 170 will reclose
this switch and start the motor, but this time in reverse
direction, because the switches 171, 172 have previously changed
polarity as a consequence of the extension linkage having moved
from retracted position.
The ram will now move upwardly to its completely retracted
position. As soon as the ram reaches uppermost position, as
indicated in FIG. 26, the leaf arm 173 will open switch 170 under
pressure of the extension linkage cross member 81 against the lever
177, thus to stop the motor.
Access can then be had to the interior of the compactor housing by
swinging lever 134 to its "off" position. In the course of thus
swinging the lever, leaf blade 173 will not be reactuated because
it is already in FIG. 26 position because of the pressure of ram
member 81. Movement of the lever to its "off" position will unlatch
the doors 53, 57 by withdrawing latch arm 160 (FIG. 19) and permit
the doors to be opened.
FIG. 29 illustrates a situation similar to that shown in FIG. 28,
in that the motor 87 is stopped, but in which instead of stopping
the motor 87 by manually manipulating the lever 13, it is stopped
because a jam is sensed. If some hard object becomes ledged between
the front of the basket 42 and the ram platen 47, the rubber
elements 116, 92 shown in FIG. 5 will yield rearwardly and the lead
screw 84 will retract slightly rearwardly in the housing, thus to
take the pressure of its end button 94 off of the actuator arm 95
of lever 191. When this happens, the lever 211 will swing about its
pintle 212 (FIG. 16) under the pressure of spring 155, thus to
force tab 208 against the leaf blade 173 and actuate switch 170 to
stop the motor 87.
The operator may now re-start the motor by swinging the lever 134
to the left (clockwise in FIG. 16). This will swing the bell crank
191 counter clockwise about its pintle 192 (FIGS. 16 and 25) and
press its cam edge 207 against the tab 208 to take the tab pressure
off of the leaf blade 173 so that the self-bias of button actuator
for switch 170 will close switch 170, thus starting the motor.
However, because the reversing switches 171, 172 had been
previously actuated as aforestated, the motor will now operate in
reverse to withdraw the ram platen from the basket. When the ram is
completely withdrawn and the motor is stopped as a consequence of
actuation of switch 170 when ram cross member 81 engages lever arm
177, the operator can open the doors and reach in to remove or
rearrange object which caused the jam and start a fresh compacting
cycle.
As previously explained, there is also a safety switch 129 which is
closed when the basket 42 is completely seated in the housing 40.
As shown in FIG. 30, this switch 129 is in series with the motor
87. Accordingly, if the basket is not seated in position switch 129
will not be closed and the electrical circuit is interlocked
against operation.
As previously explained and as indicated in FIG. 30, the motor 87
is also provided with a centrifugally actuated switch 97.
Accordingly, when the motor is subjected to loads which tend to
slow it below running speed, switch 97 will close. The motor will
slow down as it is compressing trash in basket 42 and as the
resistance to ram movement builds up.
Moreover, if there is no trash in the basket, centrifugal switch 97
will nevertheless operate as the extension linkages reach their
maximum extension and spring 96 (FIG. 7) imposes stalling loads on
the motor 87.
Switch 97 will function after the reversing switches 171, 172 have
been previously actuated, as a consequence of the movement of the
ram cross member 81 away from lever 177, so that the operation of
switch 97 will cause reversal of the motor and withdraw the ram
from the basket.
The latch slide bar 124 shown in FIGS. 10, 13 and 14 is actuated by
the crank 125 by the mechanism shown in FIGS. 10, 20 and 21. Latch
bar 124 is connected by pintle 213 to the crank 125 which pivots on
pintle 214. The other end of crank 125 is provided with latch
finger 215 which engages into a latch opening 216 in the top flange
217 of loading door 57 (FIGS. 19, 20, 21). Latch finger 215
supplements door latch finger 160 hereinbefore described.
Crank 125 is caused to pivot about its pintle 214 by ram movement.
One of the rollers 75 for the uppermost linkages 77 of the
extension linkages 46 is aligned to actuate a cam follower arm 220
(FIGS. 20, 21) which is pivoted to housing 40 on pintle 221. Cam
follower arm 220 has an end flange 222 with a hold 219 in which the
cam follower pin 223 rides. Arm 220 is provided with a curved end
portion 224 against which the roller 75 presses when the extension
linkage 46 is in its completely retracted position, as shown in
FIG. 20. In this position the cam follower lever 220 is tilted as
illustrated to swing crank arm 125 clockwise about its pintle 214
as viewed in FIG. 10, thus to lift latch finger 215 out of the door
flange opening 216. At the same time slide bar 124 is displaced
downwardly to release the engagement of the cams 126 from the
headed pins 121 on the service door 53. Accordingly, all doors are
released and the doors may be opened for removing the basket,
feeding trash thereinto, etc.
However, during the compaction cycle, as soon as the ram moves
downwardly, the roller 75 moves to its position shown in FIG. 21 in
which the cam follower arm 220 is lifted, thus pivoting about
pintle 221, swinging crank arm 125 counter clockwise as viewed in
FIG. 10, engaging latch 215 with the loading door 57 and lifting
the latch bar 124 to engage the cams 126 with the headed pins 121
on the service door 53, thus positively locking the doors 53, 57
and insuring ample front support for the basket 42, as is shown in
FIG. 5.
The bottom of the pressure platen 47 is desirably provided with a
concentric series of ribs 225 (FIGS. 5, 22). These ribs concentrate
pressure on frangible trash, such as bottles, to promote shattering
of the bottles in the compactor, thus to reduce the volume which
these bottles would otherwise occupy.
The fore and aft edges 226 of the platen 47 are desirably provided
with projections 227 which engage and score frangible trash at the
edges of the basket, to promote shattering thereof.
The concentric rib series 225 is the preferred pattern, because one
or another of the ribs will likely contact an item of frangible
trash, such as a bottle, regardless of its orientation in the
basket.
FIGS. 31-32 illustrate a modified trash container or basket 232.
This basket is made of the same plastic material as basket 42 and
has flexible side walls which yield under ram pressure to seat
against correspondingly shaped walls of the housing 40. However, in
basket 232 the bottom wall 233 is rearwardly tapered so that the
bottom rear corner 234 of the basket is somewhat narrower than the
bottom front corner 235. The top rim 236 is rectangular in outline,
whereas the bottom outline of the basket comprises a rearwardly
tapering trapezoid. Rim 236 is desirably provided with an outwardly
embossed rib 241 which fits into housing groove 71 (FIGS. 9 and 10)
similar to rim 48 of basket 42. Bag 43 snubs about rib 241, as it
does about rim 48. The side walls 237 of the basket converge
downwardly and rearwardly. The supporting walls of the housing 40
are modified in shape to conform to basket 232, thus to provide a
snug all around seat for the basket 232 when it is fully received
therein. However, the downward and rearward taper of the basket is
such as to predispose the basket to slide forward slightly in the
event a hard object becomes jammed between the front wall of the
basket and the ram platen 47.
In a practical embodiment of the invention in which there is
approximately a one-eighth inch spacing between the flexible side
walls 233 of the basket 232 and the supporting walls of the housing
40, and a one-fourth inch spacing between the front wall 238 of the
basket and the door wall 117, the basket 232 will slide forwardly
about one-quarter inch during a jam. This is sufficient to relieve
the pressure of switch actuator tab 72 from basket switch 129 and
thus stop motor 87 in the event of a jam. In this embodiment it is
unnecessary to provide the jam sensing mechanism hereinbefore
described in which the entire ram assembly yields rearwardly
slightly in the even of a jam and in which the tab 208 on the lever
211 actuates leaf blade 173. In this modified embodiment, the jam
responsive switch actuating mechanism aforesaid can be omitted in
favor of stopping the motor by relieving the pressure of actuator
tab 72 on the basket safety switch 129.
A re-set button can be located near the bottom of the compactor
frame to permit the operator to re-start the motor which will then
return to its uppermost position and actuate the various mechanisms
which unlatch the door, etc., so that the operator can then open
the door and relieve the jam.
The tapered or wedge configuration of basket 232 has the further
advantage that it may be easily removed from its seat in the
compactor after it has been filled with trash. During the
compacting procedure the flexible walls of the basket flex against
the supporting frame. When the basket is filled and it is desired
to remove the same from the housing, a slight forward movement of
the basket will quickly relieve the pressure engagement of its
flexible walls with the corresponding tapered supporting walls of
the housing and relieve all binding therebetween.
In preferred embodiments of the invention the basket 42, 232 is
made of polyethylene plastic which is sanitized with a bactericide
molded into the plastic. The bags 43 are likewise sanitized.
A key 230 is also provided. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 23, it actuates
a vertically reciprocating plunger 231 which has a socket 232. The
key lock has two modes of use. In its first mode, when the lever is
in its right hand or "off" position (FIGS. 9) actuation of the lock
will advance the plunger downwardly into the path of swinging
movement of the lever 134, thus to block movement of the lever
toward "start" position. With the lever 134 at the right of center,
latch 160 is in raised position and both doors 53, 57 are free to
be opened, thus permitting loading and unloading the basket, but
precluding operation of the compactor.
In its second mode, the lever is placed in its center position
(FIG. 23). Actuation of the lock will advance its plunger 231 to
engage its socket 232 over the arm 166 of the lever 134. In this
position of the lever 134 latch 160 is also advanced to lock both
doors 53, 57 in closed position. Starting of the compactor is also
precluded. In this mode small children can neither gain access to
the interior of the housing nor start the compactor.
* * * * *