Garbage compactor

Claim 3

In a refuse compactor having a compacting chamber having an inlet thereto, a reciprocable ram adapted to compact said refuse into said compacting chamber, power means to reciprocate said ram, means to actuate said power means, a refuse conduit for guiding refuse to a location in said compactor at which said refuse is susceptible of compaction by said ram, means for treating said refuse preparatory to compaction and means for actuating said means for treating, a control system comprising photocell refuse-sensing means responsive to momentary actuation of said photocell means caused by passage of refuse through said conduit to actuate said means for actuating said treatment means and responsive to continuous actuation of said photocell means caused by accumulation of refuse in said conduit to actuate said means for actuating said power means to reciprocate said ram.

Claim 4

In a refuse compactor having a compacting chamber having an inlet thereto, a reciprocable ram adapted to compact said refuse into said compacting chamber, power means to reciprocate said ram, means to actuate said power means, a refuse conduit for guiding refuse to a location in said compactor at which said refuse is susceptible of compaction by said ram, means for treating said refuse preparatory to compaction and means for actuating said means for treating, a control system comprising photocell refuse-sensing means responsive to momentary actuation of said photocell means caused by passage of refuse through said conduit to actuate said means for actuating said treatment means and responsive to continuous actuation of said photocell means caused by accumulation of refuse in said conduit to actuate said means for actuating said power means to reciprocate said ram.

Claim 5

In a refuse compactor having a support frame, a receiving chamber having an inlet and outlet, a compaction chamber having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of said compaction chamber being in communication with the outlet of said receiving chamber, a ram adapted for reciprocal motion within said receiving chamber for compacting refuse entering the inlet of said receiving chamber into said compaction chamber, reversible power means for driving said ram reciprocally between an extended and retracted position, means for ejecting said compacted refuse from said compaction chamber, and means for actuating said ejection means, a control system comprising: a. sensing means responsive to refuse entering said receiving chamber for actuating said reversible power means; b. means responsive to the arrival of said ram at its extreme extended and extreme retracted positions for reversing the direction of drive of said power means when said ram reaches either of said extended or retracted positions; c. means responsive to the continuous pressure exerted by said ram in compacting said refuse for constantly applying a predetermined compacting force from said reversible power means when the ram pressure on said refuse is below a predetermined level; and d. means, responsive to the time period during which said ram pressure on said refuse is above said predetermined level, for applying a force from said reversible power means which is greater than said predetermined compacting force, for only a predetermined time period, when said ram is situated away from said extreme extended position.

Claim 6

In a refuse compactor having a support frame, a receiving chamber having an inlet and outlet, a compaction chamber having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of said compaction chamber being in communication with the outlet of said receiving chamber, a ram adapted for reciprocal motion within said receiving chamber for compacting refuse entering the inlet of said receiving chamber into said compaction chamber, reversible power means for driving said ram reciprocally between an extended and retracted position, means for ejecting said compacted refuse from said compaction chamber, and means for actuating said ejection means, a control system comprising: a. sensing means responsive to refuse entering said receiving chamber for actuating said reversible power means; b. means responsive to the arrival of said ram at its extreme extended and extreme retracted positions for reversing the direction of drive of said power means when said ram reaches either of said extended or retracted positions; c. means responsive to the continuous pressure exerted by said ram in compacting said refuse for constantly applying a predetermined compacting force from said reversible power means when the ram pressure on said refuse is below a predetermined level; and d. means, responsive to the time period during which said ram pressure on said refuse is above said predetermined level, for applying a force from said reversible power means which is greater than said predetermined compacting force, for only a predetermined time period, when said ram is situated away from said extreme extended position.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising: a. timing means responsive to bOth said pressure-responsive means and said time-responsive means for actuating said ejection-actuating means; and b. switch means actuated in response to the full extension of said ram for bypassing said timing means when said ram is in said extended position and for actuating said ejection-actuating means when said ram pressure on said refuse is at said predetermined pressure level.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 4, in which said ejecting means comprises an ejector piston adapted for reciprocatory motion between an extended and a retracted position within said compacting chamber to selectively force refuse out through the outlet of said compaction chamber; power means for achieving said reciprocatory motion; said means for actuating said ejecting means comprising first relay means connected between said pressure-responsive means and said ejection piston power means for actuating said ejection power means on actuation of said ejection actuation means.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising: a. a slidable door interposed across said outlet of said compaction chamber, said slidable door having door power means to selectively open and close said door; b. second relay means connected between said pressure-responsive means and said door power means for opening said door upon actuation of said ejection actuation means; and c. switch means connected between said pressure-responsive means and said ejection power means and being responsive to said door reaching its extreme open position for preventing actuation of said ejection power means unless said door is in said extreme open position.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising switch and relay means responsive to said ejection piston reaching an extended position for maintaining said door open at all times when said ejection piston is not fully retracted.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising: a. a reset push button; b. relay means connected between said push button and said door power means; and c. said ram drive power means being responsive to actuation of said push button for opening said door and retracting said ram.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising: a. limit switch means responsive to full extension of said ejection piston for causing said ejection power means to retract said ejection piston upon full extension of said ejection piston; and b. switch and relay means responsive to full retraction of said ejection piston for causing said door power means to close said door on said full retraction of said piston.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising: a. spray means for providing sanitary treatment of said ejected refuse; and b. means responsive to movement of said door to said closed position to actuate said spray treating means.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising: a. means disposed outside said compactor for consecutively advancing a succession of refuse receptacles to a position in alignment with said outlet of said compaction chamber; and b. means responsive to movement of said door to said closed position for actuating said receptacle-advancing means.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising: a. means connected to said advancing means for weighing the one of said receptacles positioned adjacent said outlet of said compaction chamber and for actuating said advancing means when the weight of the weighed receptacle exceeds a predetermined quantity.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 4, in which said power means for driving said ram includes a hydraulic system including a hydraulic cylinder and in which said apparatus further comprises: a. a maximum pressure switch actuated when the pressure in said hydraulic system exceeds a predetermined value; b. a slow-fallout relay means interposed between said maximum pressure switch and said power means for driving said ram for retracting said ram when said maximum pressure switch is actuated; and c. a heat-actuated Time delay means actuated by actuation of said maximum pressure switch, said heat-actuated time delay means being adapted to deactuate all operative power means of said compactor when said heat-actuated time delay means reaches a predetermined temperature.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a sprinkler system adapted upon actuation to spray fire-inhibiting material into said receiving chamber, said system having heat sensor means adapted for actuating said system when the temperature of said receiving chamber exceeds a predetermined level.

Claim 18

A refuse compactor apparatus, comprising: a. a support frame; b. a conduit within said support frame for receiving refuse, said conduit being defined by at least one nonvertical sloping wall upon which said refuse passes; c. a compaction chamber in communication with said conduit for receiving refuse from said conduit; d. compacting means; e. auxiliary receiving means in communication with said conduit for receiving refuse when said compacting means is inoperative; and f. door means providing an opening in said wall for communicating with said auxiliary receiving means.

Claim 19

A refuse compactor apparatus, comprising: a. a support frame; b. a conduit within said support frame for receiving refuse, said conduit being defined by at least one nonvertical sloping wall upon which said refuse passes; c. a compaction chamber in communication with said conduit for receiving refuse from said conduit; d. compacting means; e. auxiliary receiving means in communication with said conduit for receiving refuse when said compacting means is inoperative; and f. door means providing an opening in said wall for communicating with said auxiliary receiving means.

Claim 20

A refuse compactor as recited in claim 15, wherein said auxiliary receiving means comprises a collapsible flexible chute stored behind said door means and adapted to open with the opening of said door means.

Claim 21

A refuse compactor apparatus, comprising: a. a support frame; b. a receiving chamber within said support frame for receiving refuse; c. a compaction chamber having an inlet and an outlet; d. compacting means; e. means for ejecting said refuse through said outlet of said compaction chamber; f. positioning means for consecutively advancing a succession of refuse receptacles to a position in alignment with said outlet of said compaction chamber; and g. weighing means for weighing the receptacle that is positioned in alignment with said outlet of said compaction chamber, and for actuating said positioning means when the weighed receptacle exceeds a predetermined quantity.

Claim 22

A refuse compactor apparatus, comprising: a. a support frame; b. a receiving chamber within said support frame for receiving refuse; c. a compaction chamber having an inlet and an outlet; d. compacting means; e. means for ejecting said refuse through said outlet of said compaction chamber; f. positioning means for consecutively advancing a succession of refuse receptacles to a position in alignment with said outlet of said compaction chamber; and g. weighing means for weighing the receptacle that is positioned in alignment with said outlet of said compaction chamber, and for actuating said positioning means when the weighed receptacle exceeds a predetermined quantity.

Claim 23

A refuse compactor apparatus comprising: a. a support frame; b. a receiving chamber having an inlet and an outlet; c. a compaction chamber having an inlet coincident with the said outlet of said receiving chamber, and an outlet, said compaction chamber having a semicylindrical wall spaced apart from said inlet thereof; d. a ram having a generally semicylindrical front plate adapted to slide within said receiving chamber between a first position in which said front plate is between said inlet of said compaction chamber and said semicylindrical wall, and a second position in which said inlet of said receiving chamber is between said front plate and said semicylindrical wall, said front plate and said semicylindrical wall cooperating to form a substantially cylindrical compaction chamber when said ram is in said first position; e. power means to reciprocate said ram between said first and second positions; f. a top plate positioned to block said inlet to said receiving chamber when said ram assumes said first position, and to leave said inlet unobstructed when said ram is in said second position; g. a disc-shaped ejection piston mounted for reciprocatory movement parallel to the longitudinal axis of said substantially cylindrical compaction chamber and within said compaction chamber; h. power means for effecting said reciprocatory movement of said ejection piston to selectively force said refuse out through said outlet of said compacting chamber; i. control means to selectively actuate said power means of said ram to force refuse from said receiving chamber to said compacting chamber, and to then actuate said ejection piston power means; and j. a brush mounted on the periphery of said disc-shaped ejection piston and extending radially therefrom, and means to rotate said ejection piston when said piston is in reciprocal motion.

Claim 24

A refuse compactor apparatus comprising: a. a support frame; b. a receiving chamber having an inlet and an outlet; c. a compaction chamber having an inlet coincident with the said outlet of said receiving chamber, and an outlet, said compaction chamber having a semicylindrical wall spaced apart from said inlet thereof; d. a ram having a generally semicylindrical front plate adapted to slide within said receiving chamber between a first position in which said front plate is between said inlet of said compaction chamber and said semicylindrical wall, and a second position in which said inlet of said receiving chamber is between said front plate and said semicylindrical wall, said front plate and said semicylindrical wall cooperating to form a substantially cylindrical compaction chamber when said ram is in said first position; e. power means to reciprocate said ram between said first and second positions; f. a top plate positioned to block said inlet to said receiving chamber when said ram assumes said first position, and to leave said inlet unobstructed when said ram is in said second position; g. a disc-shaped ejection piston mounted for reciprocatory movement parallel to the longitudinal axis of said substantially cylindrical compaction chamber and within said compaction chamber; h. power means for effecting said reciprocatory movement of said ejection piston to selectively force said refuse out through said outlet of said compacting chamber; i. control means to selectively actuate said power means of said ram to force refuse from said receiving chamber to said compacting chamber, and to then actuate said ejection piston power means; and j. a brush mounted on the periphery of said disc-shaped ejection piston and extending radially therefrom, and means to rotate said ejection piston when said piston is in reciprocal motion.

Claim 25

A refuse coMpactor apparatus comprising: a. a support frame; b. a receiving chamber having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet being disposed in the top portion of said receiving chamber; c. a partially inclined conduit extending upwardly from said inlet of said receiving chamber to guide refuse into said receiving chamber; d. a door in the bottom side of said inclined conduit intermediate along its length; e. a compaction chamber having an inlet coincident with the said outlet of said receiving chamber, and an outlet, said compaction chamber having a semicylindrical wall spaced apart from said inlet thereof; f. a ram having a generally semicylindrical front plate adapted to slide within said receiving chamber between a first position in which said front plate is between said inlet of said compaction chamber and said semicylindrical wall, and a second position in which said inlet of said receiving chamber is between said front plate and said semicylindrical wall, said front plate and said semicylindrical wall cooperating to form a substantially cylindrical compaction chamber when said ram is in said first position. g. power means to reciprocate said ram between said first and second positions; h. a top plate positioned to block said inlet to said receiving chamber when said ram assumes said first position, and to leave said inlet unobstructed when said ram is in said second position; i. a disc-shaped ejection piston mounted for reciprocatory movement parallel to the longitudinal axis of said substantially cylindrical compaction chamber and within said compaction chamber; j. power means for effecting said reciprocatory movement of said ejection piston to selectively force said refuse out though said outlet of said compacting chamber; and k. control means to selectively actuate said power means of said ram to force refuse from said receiving chamber to said compacting chamber, and to then actuate said ejection piston power means.

Claim 26

A refuse coMpactor apparatus comprising: a. a support frame; b. a receiving chamber having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet being disposed in the top portion of said receiving chamber; c. a partially inclined conduit extending upwardly from said inlet of said receiving chamber to guide refuse into said receiving chamber; d. a door in the bottom side of said inclined conduit intermediate along its length; e. a compaction chamber having an inlet coincident with the said outlet of said receiving chamber, and an outlet, said compaction chamber having a semicylindrical wall spaced apart from said inlet thereof; f. a ram having a generally semicylindrical front plate adapted to slide within said receiving chamber between a first position in which said front plate is between said inlet of said compaction chamber and said semicylindrical wall, and a second position in which said inlet of said receiving chamber is between said front plate and said semicylindrical wall, said front plate and said semicylindrical wall cooperating to form a substantially cylindrical compaction chamber when said ram is in said first position. g. power means to reciprocate said ram between said first and second positions; h. a top plate positioned to block said inlet to said receiving chamber when said ram assumes said first position, and to leave said inlet unobstructed when said ram is in said second position; i. a disc-shaped ejection piston mounted for reciprocatory movement parallel to the longitudinal axis of said substantially cylindrical compaction chamber and within said compaction chamber; j. power means for effecting said reciprocatory movement of said ejection piston to selectively force said refuse out though said outlet of said compacting chamber; and k. control means to selectively actuate said power means of said ram to force refuse from said receiving chamber to said compacting chamber, and to then actuate said ejection piston power means.