Refuse compactor

Claim 2

In a refuse compactor comprising an upright cabinet, a refuse receptacle received in said cabinet adjacent the lower end thereof 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 extended position within said receptacle and a retracted position disposed above and clear of said open upper end of said receptacle, said cabinet having upright exterior walls defining a space interiorly of said cabinet for receiving said receptacle, a movable access panel having a normally upright door portion and a bottom wall portion disposed perpendicular to said door portion, said door and bottom wall portions forming a tiltable unit operably connected to said side walls for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis whereby said door portion may be swung from an upright position closing said cabinet downwardly and outwardly to an open position causing said bottom wall portion to tilt from a horizontal to an upwardly and rearwardly inclined position, said receptacle comprising a basket supported on said bottom wall portion for tilting movement therewith, and means for detachably interconnecting said door portion and said cabinet in the closed position thereof.

Claim 3

In a refuse compactor comprising a cabinet having exterior wall means enclosing said cabinet with the interior surface thereof defining a compacting space within said cabinet, said wall means including door means providing access to said compacting space from the exterior of said cabinet, a refuse receptacle received on support means in said space, said receptacle being closed at one end with said closed end engaging said support means and having an open end facing one end of said cabinet, said receptacle being adapted for successive compaction of plural loads of refuse sequentially inserted therein, a self-contained compacting mechanism module removably mounted on said wall means entirely within said cabinet adjacent said one end thereof within the confines of said wall means offset from said space and including a presser platen movable into and out of the open end of said receptacle between an extended position within said receptacle and a retraced position disposed clear of said open end of said receptacle, an electric motor, extensible linkage means and drive means operably interconnecting said motor and said extensible linkage means of said compacting mechanism for causing movement of said platen between said extended and retracted positions thereof, said compacting mechanism being disposed in offset relation from said compacting space so that said mechanism is substantially inaccessible via said door means in the retracted position of said platen, at least a portion of said cabinet wall means extending between said compacting mechanism and said support means providing substantially the sole means resisting separation of said compacting mechanism from said receptacle in the direction of compacting force.

Claim 4

In a refuse compactor comprising a cabinet having exterior wall means enclosing said cabinet with the interior surface thereof defining a compacting space within said cabinet, said wall means including door means providing access to said compacting space from the exterior of said cabinet, a refuse receptacle received on support means in said space, said receptacle being closed at one end with said closed end engaging said support means and having an open end facing one end of said cabinet, said receptacle being adapted for successive compaction of plural loads of refuse sequentially inserted therein, a self-contained compacting mechanism module removably mounted on said wall means entirely within said cabinet adjacent said one end thereof within the confines of said wall means offset from said space and including a presser platen movable into and out of the open end of said receptacle between an extended position within said receptacle and a retraced position disposed clear of said open end of said receptacle, an electric motor, extensible linkage means and drive means operably interconnecting said motor and said extensible linkage means of said compacting mechanism for causing movement of said platen between said extended and retracted positions thereof, said compacting mechanism being disposed in offset relation from said compacting space so that said mechanism is substantially inaccessible via said door means in the retracted position of said platen, at least a portion of said cabinet wall means extending between said compacting mechanism and said support means providing substantially the sole means resisting separation of said compacting mechanism from said receptacle in the direction of compacting force.

Claim 5

The compactor defined in claim 2 wherein said door means includes a movable front panel defining at least in part a front wall of said cabinet in the closed condition of said cabinet, said cabinet wall means including a pair of spaced upright side walls and wherein said support means comprises a bottom wall supported by said side walls, and wherein said receptacle is generally open at the front thereof, and means for removably mounting said receptacle on said bottom wall to anchor said receptacle when in compacting position against lateral movement in the closed condition of said cabinet.

Claim 6

The compactor defined in claim 3 wherein said front panel and bottom wall are fixedly interconnected to form a movable unit adapted to removably receive said receptacle, said unit being generally open at the rear thereof, said means for mounting said receptacle oN said bottom wall comprising complementary internestable drip pan portions on said unit and said receptacle.

Claim 7

The compactor defined in claim 4 wherein said receptacle comprises a basket and said drip pan portion thereof comprises an imperforate rectangular bottom wall with upright side portions extending around the side edges thereof to form a liquid tight pan area at the bottom of said basket, said basket having a framework at its upper end adapted to removably receive a refuse bag therethrough with the upper edges of the bag suspended on said basket framework and the bottom of the bag seated on said basket bottom wall.

Claim 8

The compactor defined in claim 5 wherein said drip pan portions of said unit and said basket each have a rear wall inclined upwardly and rearwardly from the respective rear bottom edges thereof at a slight friction locking angle.

Claim 9

The compactor defined in claim 6 wherein said basket has a rear panel above said inclined rear wall thereof to resist rearward bulging of the bag in the open position of said unit.

Claim 10

The compactor defined in claim 2 wherein said cabinet has a front wall with a movable front panel hinged at its lower edge to the bottom front edge of said cabinet to pivot from an upright position closing the front of said cabinet to a horizontal open position out in front of said cabinet, a first pair of tracks mounted along the side edges of said cabinet front panel, a second pair of tracks mounted within said cabinet in end-to-end alignment with said first pair of tracks in the open position of said cabinet front panel, and wherein said receptacle has roller means mounted thereon to ride on said tracks.

Claim 11

The compactor defined in claim 2 wherein said cabinet wall means comprises front, rear and side walls and has a movable panel portion of one of said side walls and a movable panel portion of said front wall fixedly joined perpendicularly to one another along juxtaposed edges thereof and a bottom wall perpendicular to said front and one side wall fixedly joined thereto along juxtaposed edges thereof, said other side wall of said cabinet being immovably fixed to said rear wall and spaced laterally opposite and parallel to said one side wall in the closed condition of said cabinet, said front panel being hinged to said other side wall for pivotal movement about a vertical axis, said bottom wall being adapted to removably support said receptacle thereon for swinging movement therewith, and means for detachably interconnecting said movable panel portion of said first side wall adjacent the top and bottom edges thereof with immovable portions of said cabinet walls in the closed condition of said cabinet.

Claim 12

The compactor defined in claim 2 wherein said cabinet has a bottom wall fixed to side and rear walls of said wall means, and wherein said receptacle comprises a pan adapted to seat on said bottom wall, an upright front panel fixed adjacent its lower edge to said front edge of said pan adapted to serve as a part of said cabinet front wall, a pair of arms fixed to said front wall near its upper edge, one adjacent each side edge thereof and projecting rearwardly from said front wall over said pan, and first and second U-shaped members pivoted at their opposite ends to the ends of said arms to swing about a horizontal axis from upright positions to horizontally opposed positions wherein said members define a rectangular framework for attachment of the upper edge of a refuse bag thereto, at least one of said members serving as a carrying handle for said receptacle in the upright position thereof.

Claim 13

The compactor as defined in claim 2 wherein said wall means includes first and second horizontally spaced upright walls, and wherein said compacting mechanism includes beam means directly supporting said mechanism within said cabinet, said beams extending transversely of the direction of compacting force and having oppositely disposed ends secured one to each of said spaced walls offset from said compacting spacE, said wall means having an end wall extending over said mechanism.

Claim 14

The refuse compactor as set forth in claim 2 wherein said extensible linkage means includes stabilizing means movable with said linkage means and imparting self-guiding travel thereto during extension and retraction of said linkage means in moving said platen between its extended and retracted positions.

Claim 15

The refuse compactor as set forth in claim 2 wherein said linkage means is operable to move said platen in a curvilinear path between said extended and retracted positions thereof.

Claim 16

The refuse compactor as set forth in claim 13 wherein said linkage means is operable to cause tilting movement of said platen out of a perpendicular attitude relative to its path of travel between said extended and retracted positions thereof.

Claim 17

In a refuse compactor comprising an upright cabinet having exterior wall means enclosing said cabinet with the interior surface thereof defining a compacting space within said cabinet, said wall means including door means providing access to said compacting space from the exterior of said cabinet, a self-supporting refuse receptacle removably received via said door means on support means in said cabinet, said receptacle being closed at one end with said closed end resting on said support means 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 within the confines of said wall means including a presser platen movable into and out of the open upper end of said receptacle between a downwardly extended position well within said receptacle and a retracted position disposed above and clear of said open upper end of said receptacle and 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, said cabinet wall means defining a space for closely receiving said receptacle with the walls thereof in the empty condition thereof disposed closely adjacent associated interior surfaces of said wall means, at least a portion of said cabinet wall means extending between said compacting mechanism and said support means providing substantially the sole means resisting separation of said compacting mechanism from said receptacle in the direction of compacting force, said cabinet wall means including a front and spaced side walls fixedly connected to a rear wall, said front wall having a movable panel portion fixed at its lower edge to a bottom wall disposed perpendicular to said front wall, said bottom wall being hinged at its rear edge to said rear wall for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis whereby said front wall panel may be swung from an upright position closing said cabinet downwardly and outwardly to an open position, said receptacle comprising a basket removably supported on said bottom wall for tilting movement with said front wall, and means for detachably interconnecting said front wall panel and said cabinet in the closed position thereof.

Claim 18

In a refuse compactor comprising an upright cabinet having exterior wall means enclosing said cabinet with the interior surface thereof defining a compacting space within said cabinet, said wall means including door means providing access to said compacting space from the exterior of said cabinet, a self-supporting refuse receptacle removably received via said door means on support means in said cabinet, said receptacle being closed at one end with said closed end resting on said support means 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 within the confines of said wall means including a presser platen movable into and out of the open upper end of said receptacle between a downwardly extended position well within said receptacle and a retracted position disposed above and clear of said open upper end of said receptacle and 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, said cabinet wall means defining a space for closely receiving said receptacle with the walls thereof in the empty condition thereof disposed closely adjacent associated interior surfaces of said wall means, at least a portion of said cabinet wall means extending between said compacting mechanism and said support means providing substantially the sole means resisting separation of said compacting mechanism from said receptacle in the direction of compacting force, said cabinet wall means including a front and spaced side walls fixedly connected to a rear wall, said front wall having a movable panel portion fixed at its lower edge to a bottom wall disposed perpendicular to said front wall, said bottom wall being hinged at its rear edge to said rear wall for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis whereby said front wall panel may be swung from an upright position closing said cabinet downwardly and outwardly to an open position, said receptacle comprising a basket removably supported on said bottom wall for tilting movement with said front wall, and means for detachably interconnecting said front wall panel and said cabinet in the closed position thereof.

Claim 19

In a refuse compactor comprising an upright cabinet having exterior wall means enclosing said cabinet with the interior surface thereof defining a compacting space within said cabinet, said wall means including door means providing access to said compacting space from the exterior of said cabinet, a self-supporting refuse receptacle received on support means in said cabinet, said receptacle being closed at one end with said closed end resting on said support means 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 within the confines of said wall means including a presser platen movable into and out of the open upper end of said receptacle between a downwardly extended position well within said receptacle and a retracted position disposed above and clear of said open upper end of said receptacle anD 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, at least a portion of said cabinet wall means extending between said compacting mechanism and said support means providing substantially the sole means resisting separation of said compacting mechanism from said receptacle in the direction of compacting force, said wall means including first and second horizontally spaced upright walls, and wherein said compacting mechanism includes beam means directly supporting said mechanism within said cabinet, said beams extending transversely of the direction of compacting force and having oppositely disposed ends secured one to each of said spaced walls above said compacting space, said wall means having a top wall extending over said mechanism, said door means comprising a front wall and a bottom wall constituting said receptacle support means secured to said front wall, said front wall being generally vertical and said bottom wall being generally horizontal in the closed condition of said door means, means mounting said door means on said wall means for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis whereby said front panel may be swung downwardly and outwardly of said cabinet to an open position while said bottom wall is tilted so as to be inclined rearwardly upward, and means for detachably interconnecting said door means with a contiguous portion of said wall means in the closed position of said door means such that said door means is loaded in tension by said wall means in response to compaction of refuse in said receptacle by operation of said compacting mechanism.

Claim 20

In a refuse compactor comprising an upright cabinet having exterior wall means enclosing said cabinet with the interior surface thereof defining a compacting space within said cabinet, said wall means including door means providing access to said compacting space from the exterior of said cabinet, a self-supporting refuse receptacle received on support means in said cabinet, said receptacle being closed at one end with said closed end resting on said support means 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 within the confines of said wall means including a presser platen movable into and out of the open upper end of said receptacle between a downwardly extended position well within said receptacle and a retracted position disposed above and clear of said open upper end of said receptacle anD 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, at least a portion of said cabinet wall means extending between said compacting mechanism and said support means providing substantially the sole means resisting separation of said compacting mechanism from said receptacle in the direction of compacting force, said wall means including first and second horizontally spaced upright walls, and wherein said compacting mechanism includes beam means directly supporting said mechanism within said cabinet, said beams extending transversely of the direction of compacting force and having oppositely disposed ends secured one to each of said spaced walls above said compacting space, said wall means having a top wall extending over said mechanism, said door means comprising a front wall and a bottom wall constituting said receptacle support means secured to said front wall, said front wall being generally vertical and said bottom wall being generally horizontal in the closed condition of said door means, means mounting said door means on said wall means for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis whereby said front panel may be swung downwardly and outwardly of said cabinet to an open position while said bottom wall is tilted so as to be inclined rearwardly upward, and means for detachably interconnecting said door means with a contiguous portion of said wall means in the closed position of said door means such that said door means is loaded in tension by said wall means in response to compaction of refuse in said receptacle by operation of said compacting mechanism.

Claim 21

In a refuse compactor comprising a cabinet having exterior wall means enclosing said cabinet with the interior surface thereof defining a compacting space within said cabinet, said wall means including movable door means providing access to said compacting space from the exterior of said cabinet, said door means including a laterally expandable refuse receptacle associated therewith and received on support means in said cabinet, said receptacle being closed at one end with said closed end engaging said support means and having an open end facing one end of said cabinet, a compacting mechanism mounted in said cabinet adjacent said one end thereof within the confines of said wall means including a presser platen movable into and out of the open end of said receptacle between an extended position within said receptacle and a retracted position disposed clear of said open end of said receptacle and 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, said cabinet wall means defining a space for closely receiving said receptacle with the walls thereof in the empty condition thereof disposed closely adjacent associated interior surfaces of said wall means, at least a portion of said cabinet wall means extending between said compacting mechanism and said support means providing substantially the sole means resisting separation of said compacting mechanism from said receptacle in the direction of compacting force, said portion of said wall means also providing substantially the sole means which resist lateral bulging of said receptacle due to compaction of refuse therein by operation of said compacting mechanism, said portion of said wall means including a surface of said door means contacted by said receptacle to also resist lateral bulging of said receptacle in the direction of opening movement of said door means and adapted when said door means is opened to allow said receptacle to expand in the direction of opening movement of said door means to thereby relieve the bulging stress imposed by the compacted refuse on said portion of said cabinet wall means in a direction transverse to said direction of opening movement of said door means to thereby facilitate rEmoval of the receptacle when filled with refuse compacted by said mechanism, said receptacle having at least one opening extending between said ends thereof and transverse to said direction of opening movement of said door means to facilitate said receptacle expansion.

Claim 22

In a refuse compactor comprising a cabinet having exterior wall means enclosing said cabinet with the interior surface thereof defining a compacting space within said cabinet, said wall means including movable door means providing access to said compacting space from the exterior of said cabinet, said door means including a laterally expandable refuse receptacle associated therewith and received on support means in said cabinet, said receptacle being closed at one end with said closed end engaging said support means and having an open end facing one end of said cabinet, a compacting mechanism mounted in said cabinet adjacent said one end thereof within the confines of said wall means including a presser platen movable into and out of the open end of said receptacle between an extended position within said receptacle and a retracted position disposed clear of said open end of said receptacle and 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, said cabinet wall means defining a space for closely receiving said receptacle with the walls thereof in the empty condition thereof disposed closely adjacent associated interior surfaces of said wall means, at least a portion of said cabinet wall means extending between said compacting mechanism and said support means providing substantially the sole means resisting separation of said compacting mechanism from said receptacle in the direction of compacting force, said portion of said wall means also providing substantially the sole means which resist lateral bulging of said receptacle due to compaction of refuse therein by operation of said compacting mechanism, said portion of said wall means including a surface of said door means contacted by said receptacle to also resist lateral bulging of said receptacle in the direction of opening movement of said door means and adapted when said door means is opened to allow said receptacle to expand in the direction of opening movement of said door means to thereby relieve the bulging stress imposed by the compacted refuse on said portion of said cabinet wall means in a direction transverse to said direction of opening movement of said door means to thereby facilitate rEmoval of the receptacle when filled with refuse compacted by said mechanism, said receptacle having at least one opening extending between said ends thereof and transverse to said direction of opening movement of said door means to facilitate said receptacle expansion.

Claim 23

The refuse compactor as set forth in claim 17 wherein said exterior wall means form a rectangular enclosure for said compacting space and wherein said portion of said cabinet wall means defines spaced opposed side walls of said cabinet, said wall means also having a rear wall connected to said side walls and a front wall with said door means forming at least a portion of said front wall, the lateral dimensions of said front and rear walls substantially exceeding the lateral dimension of said side walls.