Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
236 words
A material compacting device comprising a longitudinally extending compression chamber have a discharge opening adjacent its leading end and a trailing feed opening, a first gate supported for movement between a position securing said discharge opening to prevent discharge of material therefrom and an open position permitting discharge of said material, a chute communicating with said feed opening, a ram longitudinally movable between an advanced position proximate with said discharge opening and a retracted position trailing the leading edge of said feed opening, second gate means for opening and closing said feed opening with the retraction and advance of said ram, said ram being normally at rest in a position in advance of said feed opening whereby said feed opening is closed by said second gate means, means for sensing material in said chute, motivating means for advancing and retracting said ram, control means responsive to said sensing means and the position of said first gate for automatically actuating said motivating means to successively retract said ram and open said feed opening gate means and to advance said ram to a predetermined intermediate position between said ram advanced and retracted positions and closing said second gate means so as to compact material in said compression chamber between said ram and the leading end of said chamber and means responsive to a first predetermined pressure on said ram proximate said intermediate position for deactivating said motivating means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
236 words
A material compacting device comprising a longitudinally extending compression chamber have a discharge opening adjacent its leading end and a trailing feed opening, a first gate supported for movement between a position securing said discharge opening to prevent discharge of material therefrom and an open position permitting discharge of said material, a chute communicating with said feed opening, a ram longitudinally movable between an advanced position proximate with said discharge opening and a retracted position trailing the leading edge of said feed opening, second gate means for opening and closing said feed opening with the retraction and advance of said ram, said ram being normally at rest in a position in advance of said feed opening whereby said feed opening is closed by said second gate means, means for sensing material in said chute, motivating means for advancing and retracting said ram, control means responsive to said sensing means and the position of said first gate for automatically actuating said motivating means to successively retract said ram and open said feed opening gate means and to advance said ram to a predetermined intermediate position between said ram advanced and retracted positions and closing said second gate means so as to compact material in said compression chamber between said ram and the leading end of said chamber and means responsive to a first predetermined pressure on said ram proximate said intermediate position for deactivating said motivating means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The compacting device of claim 1 wherein said first gate, when in fully open position, is free of the longitudinal projection of said compression chamber permitting the application of a receptacle about the leading section of said chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The compacting device of claim 1 including means for adjusting said first predetermined pressure response value.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
The compacting device of claim 1 wherein said ram motivating means includes a hydraulic cylinder including a piston connected to said ram, a hydraulic pump having an outlet connected to an inlet of said cylinder and an electric motor driving said pump, and said control means comprises means controlling the energization of said electric motor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The compacting device of claim 4 including means responsive to an adjustable pressure of the pressurized hydraulic fluid in said hydraulic cylinder when said ram is proximate said intermediate position for deenergizing said motor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
The compacting device of claim 1 including means responsive to the pressure on said ram during the advance thereof exceeding a second predetermined value at a position rearwardly of said predetermined intermediate position for retracting said ram from said rearward position and then advancing said rams.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The compacting device of claim 6 including means for limiting the repetitive successive retraction and advancing of said ram during the period of pressure exceeding said second predetermined value.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The compacting device of claim 6 wherein said successive retraction and advancing of said ram in response to pressures exceeding said predetermined value is independent of said sensing means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The compacting device of claim 1 wherein said compacting device comprises a photosensitive element exposed to the interior of said chute above said second gate and means for directing light across said chute toward said photosensitive element.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
The compacting device of claim 1 including selectively operable means for actuating said motivating means independently of said first pressure responsive means to move said ram to said retracted position and to return said ram to said intermediate position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
53 words
The compacting device of claim 1 including selectively operable means for actuating said motivating means when said first gate is in a closed condition and independently of said fiRst pressure responsive means and said sensing means to move said ram to said retracted position and to return said ram to said intermediate position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
The compacting device of claim 1 including selectively operable means for activating said motivating means when said first gate is in an open condition to advance said ram to said advanced position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
The compacting device of claim 12 including means responsive to the movement of said gate from its open position while said ram is between said advanced and intermediate positions to interrupt the advance of said ram.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
The compacting device of claim 1 including selectively operable means for actuating said motivating means independently of said first pressure responsive means to actuate said motivating means to retract said ram to said intermediate position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The compacting device of claim 1 including means responsive to the opening of said first gate for disabling said sensing means responsive control means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
58 words
The compacting device of claim 1 including selectively actuated means for actuating said motivating means when said first gate is in a closed condition to move said ram to said retracted position and return said ram to said intermediate position and when said first gate is in its open position to move said ram to said advance position.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The compacting device of claim 1 wherein said first gate comprises a door hinged for swinging about an axis offset outwardly from said discharge opening.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
45 words
The compacting device of claim 1 wherein the leading section of said compacting chamber is cantilevered and including a longitudinally extending support member spaced outwardly from the outer face of said chamber leading section, said first gate comprising a door hinged to said support member.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
47 words
The compacting device of claim 1 wherein said compacting chamber feed opening is formed in a top wall thereof, said chute extends above said feed opening and said second gate comprises a longitudinally extending closure plate mounted on said ram and movable therewith across said feed opening.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
138 words
An automatic compacting system for solid heterogeneous materials comprising a hollow chamber having an opening for feeding waste thereto and an exit opening for removing waste therefrom, a releasable closure for closing said exit opening until the materials are compressed, a piston movable toward and away from said closure of said chamber to compact waste therein and sequentially operable means; for continually reciprocating said piston within said chamber in successive automatic strokes in response to the feeding of waste through said feed opening, said piston compacting said waste into a cohesive load; for continually sensing the density of said compacted load; and, responsive to the securing of a predetermined density, for stopping said reciprocation and thereafter for causing said piston to move toward said exit opening upon release of said closure to eject said load from said chamber.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
138 words
An automatic compacting system for solid heterogeneous materials comprising a hollow chamber having an opening for feeding waste thereto and an exit opening for removing waste therefrom, a releasable closure for closing said exit opening until the materials are compressed, a piston movable toward and away from said closure of said chamber to compact waste therein and sequentially operable means; for continually reciprocating said piston within said chamber in successive automatic strokes in response to the feeding of waste through said feed opening, said piston compacting said waste into a cohesive load; for continually sensing the density of said compacted load; and, responsive to the securing of a predetermined density, for stopping said reciprocation and thereafter for causing said piston to move toward said exit opening upon release of said closure to eject said load from said chamber.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
35 words
The device according to claim 20 wherein said releasable closure comprises a door hinged at the end of said chamber and is provided with means for releasably locking the same during reciprocation of said piston.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
48 words
The device according to claim 20 including means to limit the forward movement of said piston to a predefined position spaced from said closure, whereby said compacted waste may be given the form of the space between said piston and said closure on compaction to said predetermined density.