Compactor and drive assembly

Claim 2

A compactor comprising: a. a hollow compacting ram, b. a receptacle having a capacity sufficient to receive said hollow ram therein, c. means mounting said ram and said receptacle relative to each other for reciprocating movement of said ram into and out of said receptacle to compact material therein, d. drive means mounted wholly within said hollow ram for causing said reciprocal movement, e. said mounting means including: i. guide means extending between said ram and said receptacle, ii. means mounted on said ram and engaging said guide means for relative movement therebetween, and iii. means for transmitting driving force from said drive means to said engaging means to cause said reciprocating movement of said ram along said guide means into and out of said receptacle.

Claim 3

The compactor of claim 1 wherein: a. said guide means are fixed with respect to said receptacle, and b. said engaging means are rotatively mounted on said ram for movement along said guide means.

Claim 4

The compactor of claim 2 wherein: a. said guide means comprises externally threaded jack screw means, and b. said engaging means comprises internally threaded sprocket means movable along said jack screw means upon rotation of said sprocket means.

Claim 5

A compactor comprising: a. a supporting framework having spaced front and a back sections, b. a pair of jack screws fixed to said front section adjacent opposite side edges thereof, c. a third jack screw fixed to said back section at a point equally spaced from each of the jack screws of said pair, d. said jack screws extending vertically in parallel spaced relationship to each other from adjacent the top of said framework to adjacent a point intermediate the top and bottom thereof, e. an internally threaded sprocket threadably engaging each of said jack screws, f. a vertically reciprocal ram positioned within said framework, g. mounting brackets fixed to and projecting outwardly of said ram adjacent an upper end thereof, h. means defining a spherical seat attached to each of said mounting brackets and rotatably mounting said sprockets with a complementary, spherically shaped surface on each of said sprockets engaging one of said spherical seats, i. a motor mounted in said ram, j. means for transmitting drive from said motor to said sprockets, and k. a drawer slidably received in said framework beneath said intermediate point thereof.

Claim 6

A compactor comprising: a. a supporting framework having spaced front and a back sections, b. a pair of jack screws fixed to said front section adjacent opposite side edges thereof, c. a third jack screw fixed to said back section at a point equally spaced from each of the jack screws of said pair, d. said jack screws extending vertically in parallel spaced relationship to each other from adjacent the top of said framework to adjacent a point intermediate the top and bottom thereof, e. an internally threaded sprocket threadably engaging each of said jack screws, f. a vertically reciprocal ram positioned within said framework, g. mounting brackets fixed to and projecting outwardly of said ram adjacent an upper end thereof, h. means defining a spherical seat attached to each of said mounting brackets and rotatably mounting said sprockets with a complementary, spherically shaped surface on each of said sprockets engaging one of said spherical seats, i. a motor mounted in said ram, j. means for transmitting drive from said motor to said sprockets, and k. a drawer slidably received in said framework beneath said intermediate point thereof.

Claim 7

A compactor comprising: a. a supporting framework, b. stationary, threaded, jack screw means mounted on said supporting framework in fixed relationship thereto, c. an open top receptacle movable between a compacting position within said supporting framework and a noncompacting position in which material can be removed from said receptacle, d. a reciprocating ram positioned within said framework in opposition to the open top of said receptacle when said receptacle is in said compacting position, e. sprocket means threadably engaging said jack screw means and movable axially thereof upon rotation of said sprocket means, f. means rotatably mounting said sprocket means on said ram adjacent the periphery thereof, and g. drive means mounted in said ram for rotating said sprocket means and driving said ram along said jack screw means into and out of said receptacle.

Claim 8

A compactor comprising: a. a supporting framework, b. stationary, threaded, jack screw means mounted on said supporting framework in fixed relationship thereto, c. an open top receptacle movable between a compacting position within said supporting framework and a noncompacting position in which material can be removed from said receptacle, d. a reciprocating ram positioned within said framework in opposition to the open top of said receptacle when said receptacle is in said compacting position, e. sprocket means threadably engaging said jack screw means and movable axially thereof upon rotation of said sprocket means, f. means rotatably mounting said sprocket means on said ram adjacent the periphery thereof, and g. drive means mounted in said ram for rotating said sprocket means and driving said ram along said jack screw means into and out of said receptacle.

Claim 9

The compactor of claim 5 further comprising: a. a drive sprocket, b. a drive chain wrapping said drive sprocket and said sprocket means, and c. said driving means driving said drive sprocket.

Claim 10

The compactor of claim 5 wherein: a. said jack screw means are positioned outwardly of said receptacle.

Claim 11

The compactor of claim 7 wherein: a. said jack screw means comprises a plurality of jack screws mounted on said framework outwardly of said receptacle.

Claim 12

The compactor of claim 8 further comprising: a. a drive sprocket, b. a drive chain wrapping said drive sprocket and said sprocket means, and c. said driving means driving said drive sprocket.

Claim 13

The compactor of claim 8 wherein said means for mounting said sprocket means comprises: a. mounting brackets fixed to said ram adjacent an upper end thereof and projecting outwardly thereof, b. means defining spherical seats attached to said bearing supports and rotatably mounting said sprocket means with complementary, spherically shaped surfaces of said sprocket means engaging said spherical seats.

Claim 14

The compactor of claim 10 wherein: a. said jack screws are disposed in a substantially triangular arrangement.

Claim 15

The compactor of claim 11 wherein: a. said compactor is substantially rectangular in cross section, and b. two of said mounting brackets are fixed to said ram at a pair of adjacent corners thereof and a third mounting bracket is fixed to said ram at a point equally distant from said two mounting brackets.