Refuse compactor

Claim 2

A refuse compactor comprising: a. a press module having a vertically moving ram for applying compacting force downwardly to the refuse, a ram chamber through which the ram moves during the compacting cycle, a drive motor assembly which generates compacting force, a jack screw assembly for transmitting the compacting force from the drive motor assembly to the ram, and a nozzle chamber into which the refuse is compacted by the ram; and b. a hopper module having a hopper compartment for receiving gravity-fed; loose refuse, said hopper compartment communicating with said ram chamber by means of a passageway through which loose refuse enters the ram chamber, a feed means assembly within the hopper compartment to forcibly move the refuse into the ram chamber, and means for actuating the compaction cycle when a desired amount of refuse has accumulated in the compactor; c. said jack screw assembly comprising: i. a rotatable lead screw held from movement along its longitudinal axis and having its longitudinal axis in a substantially vertical position, to which torque is transmitted by said drive motor assembly; ii. a follower nut moveable vertically on said lead screw and located above said ram; and iii. support means to connect the ram to the follower nut and maintain a fixed spacial relationship between the ram and the follower nut.

Claim 3

A refuse compactor, as defined in claim 1, and further comprising a torsion assembly to eliminate twisting movement in the jack screw assembly, said torsion assembly comprising: a. a plurality of torsion supports affixed to the jack screw assembly; and b. a torsion roller which is fitted to the follower nut and which rides on the torsion supports.

Claim 4

A refuse compactor as defined in claim 1 in which the feed means assembly comprises: a. a pushbar platform located within the hopper compartment and having a leading face, an arcuate face, the radius of which is equal to the length of the lead face, and structural supports, all of which together define a platform which in cross-section is pie-shaped, which pushbar platform pivots in a vertical plane between a lower position and an upper position with close clearance between the sides of the pushbar platform and the side walls of the hopper compartment; b. pushbar linkage connected to the pusher platform and communicating with the jack screw assembly to pivot the pushbar platform between its first position and its second position; and c. a deflector plate mounted within the hopper compartment, inclined to the horizontal at approximately the same angle as the leading face of the pushbar assembly when the pushbar platform is in its lower position, and having a close clearance between the lower edge of the deflector plate and the arcuate face of the pushbar platform.

Claim 5

A refuse compactor as defined claim 3 and further comprising an override spring fitted on the pushbar linkage to prevent the pushbar platform from jamming as a result of solid refuse becoming lodge between the pushbar platform and an inner side wall of the hopper compartment.

Claim 6

A refuse compactor as define d in claim 1, in which the means for actuating the compaction cycle comprise: a. a photosensor device to generate a light beam through which loose refuse passes prior to Being compacted; b. electrical circuitry responsive to the photosensor device to generate a pulse train; c. a plurality of binary counters which detect the duration of the pulse train; and d. a drive motor which is energized when the binary counter receives a pulse train of sufficient duration.

Claim 7

A refuse compactor as defined in claim 5 in which the electrical circuitry further comprises: a. means for reversing the rotational direction of the drive motor assembly when the ram reaches the lowest point in its downward movement during compaction; b. means for stopping the drive motor assembly during the compaction cycle when it draws more than a predetermined level of electrical current as a result of the amount of physical resistance offered by the refuse to the downward movement of the ram; c. means for restarting the drive motor assembly a predetermined number of times during the compaction cycle after it has been stopped as a result of the amount of physical resistance offered by the refuse; and d. means for shutting off the machine and indicating a jammed condition after the drive motor assembly has been restarted a predetermined number of times during the compaction cycle as a result of physical resistance offered by the refuse to the downward movement of the ram.

Claim 8

A refuse compactor as defined in claim 1 in which the ram comprises: a. a ram face on the lower horizontal side of the ram; b. an upper shearing bar positioned horizontally with the cutting edge of the bar pointed down and mounted on the side of the ram face which is closest to the hopper compartment; c. a lower shearing bar positioned horizontally with the cutting edge of the bar pointed up and mounted on the lower inside wall of the ram chamber which is closest to the hopper compartment, said lower shearing bar cooperating with said upper shearing bar to shear any refuse which is across the passageway between the ram chamber and the hopper compartment during the downward stroke of the ram; and d. a ram shield, the lower portion of which is mounted on the side of ram closest to the hopper compartment, the upper portion of which is mounted on the jack screw assembly, the ram shield moving in conjunction with the ram to expose the passageway and allow communication between the hopper compartment and the ram chamber when the ram is in its upper position and close the passageway when the ram is in its down position.

Claim 9

A refuse compactor as defined in claim 1 in which the lead screw and follower nut arrangement of the jack screw assembly further comprises a set of independent rollers and needle bearings.

Claim 10

A refuse compactor comprising: a. a press module having a vertically moving ram for applying compacting force downwardly to the refuse in a compaction cycle, a ram chamber through which the ram moves during the compaction cycle, a drive motor assembly which generates compacting force, a jack screw assembly for transmitting the compacting force, a jack screw assembly for transmitting the compacting force from the drive motor assembly to the ram, and a nozzle chamber into which the refuse is compacted by the ram; b. a hopper module having a hopper compartment for receiving gravity-fed, loose refuse, said hopper compartment communicating with said ram chamber by means of a passageway through which loose refuse enters the ram chamber, a feed means assembly within the hopper compartment to forcibly move the refuse into the ram chamber, and means for actuating the compaction cycle when a desired amount of refuse has accumulated in the compactor; and c. said feed means assembly comprising: i. a pushbar located within the hopper compartment and having a leading face and a second face and structural supports, all of which together define a pushbar assembly, which pushbar moves between a retracted position and a feeding position with close clearance between the sides of the pushbar and the side walls of the hopper compartment; ii. pusHbar linkage connected to the pushbar and communicating with the jack screw assembly to move the pushbar between its retracted position and its feeding position; iii. said second face of said pushbar being exposed to the hopper when the pushbar moves between retracted and feeding positions; and iiii. a deflector plate mounted within the hopper compartment, inclined to the horizontal at a substantial angle, there being provided a close clearance between the lower edge of the deflector plate and the second face of the pushbar.

Claim 11

A refuse compactor comprising: a. a press module having a vertically moving ram for applying compacting force downwardly to the refuse in a compaction cycle, a ram chamber through which the ram moves during the compaction cycle, a drive motor assembly which generates compacting force, a jack screw assembly for transmitting the compacting force, a jack screw assembly for transmitting the compacting force from the drive motor assembly to the ram, and a nozzle chamber into which the refuse is compacted by the ram; b. a hopper module having a hopper compartment for receiving gravity-fed, loose refuse, said hopper compartment communicating with said ram chamber by means of a passageway through which loose refuse enters the ram chamber, a feed means assembly within the hopper compartment to forcibly move the refuse into the ram chamber, and means for actuating the compaction cycle when a desired amount of refuse has accumulated in the compactor; and c. said feed means assembly comprising: i. a pushbar located within the hopper compartment and having a leading face and a second face and structural supports, all of which together define a pushbar assembly, which pushbar moves between a retracted position and a feeding position with close clearance between the sides of the pushbar and the side walls of the hopper compartment; ii. pusHbar linkage connected to the pushbar and communicating with the jack screw assembly to move the pushbar between its retracted position and its feeding position; iii. said second face of said pushbar being exposed to the hopper when the pushbar moves between retracted and feeding positions; and iiii. a deflector plate mounted within the hopper compartment, inclined to the horizontal at a substantial angle, there being provided a close clearance between the lower edge of the deflector plate and the second face of the pushbar.