Compactor with single ring-supported bag

Claim 2

In a waste compactor having a housing and a fluid pressure operated ram assembly mounted on the upper end of said housing and vertically extendible downwardly for compacting waste within a receptacle, comprising the improvement wherein: said housing includes a plurality of walls defining a substantially closed housing having a vertically extending compartment in the interior thereof, said walls defining an access opening communicating with at least the lower part of said compartment; said ram assembly being disposed in the upper portion of said compartment and having a portion thereof fixedly connected to said housing; support means associated with the housing adjacent the lower portion of said compartment for supporting a receptacle spaced downwardly from and substantially aligned with said ram assembly; movable wall means associated with said housing and positioned for association with said lower portion of said compartment for closing at least part of said access opening to prevent access to said lower portion, said wall means being movable between a closed position wherein it closes part of said access opening and an open position wherein it is spaced from said access opening to permit a receptacle to be positioned in or removed from said lower portion of said compartment; chute means movably mounted on said housing and positioned for association with a central portion of said compartment as disposed between said ram assembly and said receptacle, and means swingably mounting said chute means on said housing for movement between a closed position wherein it closes the remainder of said access opening and an open position wherein it projects outwardly from said housing for permitting waste to be desposited into said receptacle, said means swingably mounting the chute means on said housing enabling said chute means to be totally disconnected and removed from said housing; said chute means also including means thereon coacting with said movable wall means for preventing said movable wall means from being moved into its open position whenever said chute means is mounted on said housing, said movable wall means Being movable into its open position to permit a receptacle to be positioned in or removed from the lower part of said compartment only when said chute means is totally disconnected from said housing; control means for permitting extension of said ram means and compaction of waste within said receptacle only when said chute means and said movable wall means are in their respective closed positions.

Claim 3

In a waste compactor having a housing and a fluid pressure operated ram assembly mounted on the upper end of said housing and vertically extendible downwardly for compacting waste within a receptacle, comprising the improvement wherein: said housing includes a plurality of walls defining a substantially closed housing having a vertically extending compartment in the interior thereof, said walls defining an access opening communicating with at least the lower part of said compartment; said ram assembly being disposed in the upper portion of said compartment and having a portion thereof fixedly connected to said housing; support means associated with the housing adjacent the lower portion of said compartment for supporting a receptacle spaced downwardly from and substantially aligned with said ram assembly; movable wall means associated with said housing and positioned for association with said lower portion of said compartment for closing at least part of said access opening to prevent access to said lower portion, said wall means being movable between a closed position wherein it closes part of said access opening and an open position wherein it is spaced from said access opening to permit a receptacle to be positioned in or removed from said lower portion of said compartment; chute means movably mounted on said housing and positioned for association with a central portion of said compartment as disposed between said ram assembly and said receptacle, and means swingably mounting said chute means on said housing for movement between a closed position wherein it closes the remainder of said access opening and an open position wherein it projects outwardly from said housing for permitting waste to be deposited into said receptacle; power means including a motor-pump unit operatively interconnected to said ram assembly for supplying pressure fluid thereto to cause extension and retraction of said ram assembly; and control means for permitting extension of said ram means and compaction of waste within said receptacle only when said chute means and said movable wall means are in their respective closed positions, said control means including electrical switch means electrically connected to said motor for controlling energization thereof; said control means further including interlock means movable between a first position permitting actuation of said switch means when said chute means is in said closed position and a second position positively preventing actuation of said switch means when said chute means is in said open position.

Claim 4

In a waste compactor having a housing and a fluid pressure operated ram assembly mounted on the upper end of said housing and vertically extendible downwardly for compacting waste within a receptacle, comprising the improvement wherein: said housing includes a plurality of walls defining a substantially closed housing having a vertically extending compartment in the interior thereof, said walls defining an access opening communicating with at least the lower part of said compartment; said ram assembly being disposed in the upper portion of said compartment and having a portion thereof fixedly connected to said housing; support means associated with the housing adjacent the lower portion of said compartment for supporting a receptacle spaced downwardly from and substantially aligned with said ram assembly; movable wall means associated with said housing and positioned for association with said lower portion of said compartment for closing at least part of said access opening to prevent access to said lower portion, said wall means being movable between a closed position wherein it closes part of said access opening and an open position wherein it is spaced from said access opening to permit a receptacle to be positioned in or removed from said lower portion of said compartment; chute means movably mounted on said housing and positioned for association with a central portion of said compartment as disposed between said ram assembly and said receptacle, and means swingably mounting said chute means on said housing for movement between a closed position wherein it closes the remainder of said access opening and an open position wherein it projects outwardly from said housing for permitting waste to be deposited into said receptacle; power means including a motor-pump unit operatively interconnected to said ram assembly for supplying pressure fluid thereto to cause extension and retraction of said ram assembly; and control means for permitting extension of said ram means and compaction of waste within said receptacle only when said chute means and said movable wall means are in their respective closed positions, said control means including electrical switch means electrically connected to said motor for controlling energization thereof; said control means further including interlock means movable between a first position permitting actuation of said switch means when said chute means is in said closed position and a second position positively preventing actuation of said switch means when said chute means is in said open position.

Claim 5

A waste compactor according to claim 2, wherein said interlock means is movably mounted on said housing and manually movable between said first position wherein said interlock means engages said chute means and holds same in said closed position while permitting actuation of said switch means and said second position wherein it is disengaged from said chute means for enabling same to be moved into said open position while positively preventing actuation of said switch means.

Claim 6

A waste compactor according to claim 3, wherein said control means includes an actuator member movably mounted on said housing and operatively interconnected to said switch means for permitting manual actuation of same, said actuator member being positioned externally of said housing so as to be manually accessible, said actuator member being manually movable between a first location wherein said motor-pump unit is de-energized and a second location wherein said motor-pump unit is energized; said interlock means includinG an interlock member movably mounted on said housing adjacent said actuator member, said interlock member being manually movable between said first and second positions, said interlock member when in said first position engaging said chute means for positively holding same in said closed position while being free of connection with said actuator member for enabling free movement thereof, said interlock member when in said second position being free of engagement with said chute means for enabling same to be moved into its open position while being engaged with said actuator member for locking same in said first location; and said control means further including safety means coacting with said interlock member for preventing same from releasing said actuator member when said chute means is in said open position, said safety means being automatically released from said interlock member when said chute means is moved to said closed position.

Claim 7

A waste compactor according to claim 4, wherein said interlock member is rotatably mounted on said housing directly above the upper edge of said access opening, and said actuator member being mounted directly adjacent said interlock member and linearly movable between said first and second locations in a direction substantially transverse to the plane of rotation of said interlock member.

Claim 8

A waste compactor according to claim 2, wherein the means swingably mounting the chute means on the housing enables the chute means to be totally disconnected and removed from said housing; and said chute means also including means thereon coacting with said movable wall means for preventing said movable wall means from being moved into its open position whenever said chute means is mounted on said housing, said movable wall means being movable into its open position to permit a receptacle to be positioned in or removed from the lower part of said compartment only when said chute means is totally disconnected from said housing.

Claim 9

A waste compactor according to claim 6, wherein said movable wall means comprises a door hingedly connected to said housing about a substantially vertical hinge axis and is swingably movable between said open and closed positions; said chute means being swingably mounted on said housing for swinging movement about an axis substantially adjacent the upper edge of said door, and said chute means including downwardly projecting flange means positioned adjacent said axis and projecting downwardly so as to overlap the upper edge of said door for preventing said door from being moved into its open position whenever said chute means is mounted on said housing.

Claim 10

A waste compactor according to claim 2, wherein said interlock means includes magnetically actuated switch means mounted on said housing and magnet means fixedly mounted on said chute means and positioned for actuating said last-mentioned switch means when said chute means is in said closed position.

Claim 11

A waste compactor for permitting the depositing and compacting of waste within a flexible bag, comprising: housing means; support means coacting with said housing means for holding a bag adapted to have waste deposited and compacted therein; said support means including a substantially planar endless hoop of substantially rectangular configuration for permitting the free edge of said bag to be folded therearound; means mounting said hoop on said housing means for permitting same to be disposed in a first position within said housing means wherein said bag is suspended within the interior of said housing means for permitting waste to be deposited therein, and a second position disposed at least partially in front of said housing means for permitting a bag to be mounted on or removed from said hoop, said mounting means including a pair of elongated and substantially parallel guide rails fixedly mounted on said housing means and positioned for engaging opposite sides of said hoop, said guide rails extending substantially horizoNtally and permitting said hoop to be slidably displaced therealong for permitting said hoop and the bag mounted thereon to be slidably displaced forwardly of said housing means into said second position; and extendible ram means mounted on said housing adjacent the upper end thereof for compacting waste within said bag when said bag is disposed in said first position, said ram means being disposed above and in substantial alignment with the interior of said bag when said bag is supported on said hoop and is disposed in said first position.

Claim 12

A waste compactor for permitting the depositing and compacting of waste within a flexible bag, comprising: housing means; support means coacting with said housing means for holding a bag adapted to have waste deposited and compacted therein; said support means including a substantially planar endless hoop of substantially rectangular configuration for permitting the free edge of said bag to be folded therearound; means mounting said hoop on said housing means for permitting same to be disposed in a first position within said housing means wherein said bag is suspended within the interior of said housing means for permitting waste to be deposited therein, and a second position disposed at least partially in front of said housing means for permitting a bag to be mounted on or removed from said hoop, said mounting means including a pair of elongated and substantially parallel guide rails fixedly mounted on said housing means and positioned for engaging opposite sides of said hoop, said guide rails extending substantially horizoNtally and permitting said hoop to be slidably displaced therealong for permitting said hoop and the bag mounted thereon to be slidably displaced forwardly of said housing means into said second position; and extendible ram means mounted on said housing adjacent the upper end thereof for compacting waste within said bag when said bag is disposed in said first position, said ram means being disposed above and in substantial alignment with the interior of said bag when said bag is supported on said hoop and is disposed in said first position.

Claim 13

A waste compactor according to claim 9, wherein said mounting means includes a further pair of substantially parallel and horizontally extending support rails positioned closely adjacent and directly above said guide rails for defining substantially horizontally elongated guide channels therebetween, said hoop when disposed in said first position having opposite sides thereof confined within said guide channels, said hoop being manually slidably movable within said guide channels so as to be disposed in said second position wherein same is positioned forwardly of said housing, said hoop being soley slidable horizontally when displaced between said first and second positions.

Claim 14

A waste compactor according to claim 9, further including chute means swingably mounted on said housing means at an elevation between the upper and lower ends thereof for permitting waste to be deposited into said bag when same is disposed in said first position, said chute means being swingably movable between a substantially closed position wherein same is disposed substantially vertically and coextensive with the front side of said housing means, and an open position wherein same projects outwardly and upwardly from the front side of said housing means for permitting waste to be deposited into said bag; and horizontally swingable door means pivotally connected to said housing means adjacent the lower end thereof, said door means being normally disposed substantially flush with the front side of said housing means for at least partially closing the lower part of the front side thereof, said door means being disposed directly below said chute means and being positioned directly in front of said support means and the bag supported thereby, said door being swingable away from said front side of said housing means to permit said support means to be moved to said second position to enable the bag to be loaded into and unloaded from said housing means.

Claim 15

A waste compactor according to claim 11, wherein said ram means includes a fluid pressure cylinder, and a motorpump unit operatively interconnected to said fluid pressure cylinder for causing extension and retraction of said ram means; and control means for permitting extension of said ram means and compacting of waste within said bag only when said chute means and said door means are in their respective closed positions, said motor-pump unit being deactivated whenever said chute means is in its open position.

Claim 16

A waste compactor according to claim 12, wherein said chute means includes means coacting with said housing means for enabling said chute means to be totally disconnected and removed from said housing means, and interlock means coacting between said chute means and said door means for positively maintaining said door means in its closed position whenever said chute means is mounted on said housing means.

Claim 17

In a waste compactor having a housing and a fluid pressure operated ram assembly mounted on the upper end of said housing and vertically extendible downwardly for compacting waste within a flexible bag, comprising the improvement wherein: said housing includes a plurality of walls defining a substantially closed housing having a vertically extending compartment in the interior thereof, said walls defining an access opening communicating with at least the lower part of said compartment; said ram assembly being disposed in the upper portion of said compaRtment and having a portion thereof fixedly connected to said housing; support means associated with the housing adjacent the lower portion of said compartment for supporting a bag spaced downwardly from and substantially aligned with said ram assembly, said support means including a substantially endless rectangular ring adapted to have the upper free edge of said bag folded therearound; said support means further including ledge means fixedly mounted on said housing for removably supporting said ring within a substantially horizontal plane within said compartment, whereby said ring permits said bag to be suspended with the lower portion of said compartment, said ring being removable from said housing for permitting flexible bags to be removed from or mounted thereon; movable wall means associated with said housing and positioned for association with said lower portion of said compartment for closing at least part of said access opening to prevent access to said lower portion, said wall means being movable between a closed position wherein it closes part of said access opening and an open position wherein it is spaced from said access opening to permit a bag to be positioned in or removed from said lower portion of said compartment; chute means movably mounted on said housing and positioned for association with a central portion of said compartment as disposed between said ram assembly and said bag, said chute means being movable between a closed position wherein it closes the remainder of said access opening and an open position wherein it projects outwardly from said housing for permitting waste to be deposited into said bag; said ledge means including at least a pair of substantially parallel elongated guide rails mounted on said housing and positioned for engaging a pair of opposite parallel sides of said rectangular ring for supporting said ring in said housing, said ring being supported in said housing at an elevation directly below said chute means; and control means for permitting extension of said ram means and compaction of waste within said receptacle only when said chute means and movable wall means are in their respective closed positions.

Claim 18

In a waste compactor having a housing and a fluid pressure operated ram assembly mounted on the upper end of said housing and vertically extendible downwardly for compacting waste within a flexible bag, comprising the improvement wherein: said housing includes a plurality of walls defining a substantially closed housing having a vertically extending compartment in the interior thereof, said walls defining an access opening communicating with at least the lower part of said compartment; said ram assembly being disposed in the upper portion of said compaRtment and having a portion thereof fixedly connected to said housing; support means associated with the housing adjacent the lower portion of said compartment for supporting a bag spaced downwardly from and substantially aligned with said ram assembly, said support means including a substantially endless rectangular ring adapted to have the upper free edge of said bag folded therearound; said support means further including ledge means fixedly mounted on said housing for removably supporting said ring within a substantially horizontal plane within said compartment, whereby said ring permits said bag to be suspended with the lower portion of said compartment, said ring being removable from said housing for permitting flexible bags to be removed from or mounted thereon; movable wall means associated with said housing and positioned for association with said lower portion of said compartment for closing at least part of said access opening to prevent access to said lower portion, said wall means being movable between a closed position wherein it closes part of said access opening and an open position wherein it is spaced from said access opening to permit a bag to be positioned in or removed from said lower portion of said compartment; chute means movably mounted on said housing and positioned for association with a central portion of said compartment as disposed between said ram assembly and said bag, said chute means being movable between a closed position wherein it closes the remainder of said access opening and an open position wherein it projects outwardly from said housing for permitting waste to be deposited into said bag; said ledge means including at least a pair of substantially parallel elongated guide rails mounted on said housing and positioned for engaging a pair of opposite parallel sides of said rectangular ring for supporting said ring in said housing, said ring being supported in said housing at an elevation directly below said chute means; and control means for permitting extension of said ram means and compaction of waste within said receptacle only when said chute means and movable wall means are in their respective closed positions.

Claim 19

A waste compactor for permitting the depositing and compacting of waste within a flexible bag, comprising: housing means; support means coacting with said housing means for holding a bag adapted to have waste deposited and compacted therein; said support means including a ringlike support member for permitting the free edge of said bag to be folded therearound; means mounting said ringlike support member on said housing means for permitting same to be disposed in a first position within said housing wherein said bag is suspended within the interior of said housing for permitting waste to be deposited therein, and a second position disposed at least partially in front of said housing means for permitting a bag to be mounted on or removed from said ringlike support member; extendible ram means mounted on said housing adjacent the upper end thereof for compacting waste within said bag when said bag is disposed in said first position, said ram means being disposed above and in substantial alignment with the interior of said bag when said bag is supported on said support member and is disposed in said first position; chute means swingably mounted on said housing means at an elevation between the upper and lower ends thereof for permitting waste to be deposited into said bag when same is disposed in said first position, said chute means being swingably movable between a substantially closed position wherein same is disposed substantially vertically and coextensive with the front side of said housing means, and an open position wherein same projects outwardly and upwardly from the front side of said housing means for permitting waste to be deposited into said bag; and horizontally swingable door means pivotally connected to said housing means adjacent the lower end theReof, said door means being normally disposed substantially flush with the front side of said housing means for at least partially closing the lower part of the front side thereof, said door means being disposed directly below said chute means and being positioned directly in front of said support means and the bag supported thereby, said door being swingable away from said front side of said housing means to permit said support means to be moved to said second position to enable the bag to be loaded into and unloaded from said housing means; said chute means including means coacting with said housing means for enabling said chute means to be totally disconnected and removed from said housing means, and interlock means coacting between said chute means and said door means for positively maintaining said door means in its closed position whenever said chute means is mounted on said housing means.

Claim 20

A waste compactor for permitting the depositing and compacting of waste within a flexible bag, comprising: housing means; support means coacting with said housing means for holding a bag adapted to have waste deposited and compacted therein; said support means including a ringlike support member for permitting the free edge of said bag to be folded therearound; means mounting said ringlike support member on said housing means for permitting same to be disposed in a first position within said housing wherein said bag is suspended within the interior of said housing for permitting waste to be deposited therein, and a second position disposed at least partially in front of said housing means for permitting a bag to be mounted on or removed from said ringlike support member; extendible ram means mounted on said housing adjacent the upper end thereof for compacting waste within said bag when said bag is disposed in said first position, said ram means being disposed above and in substantial alignment with the interior of said bag when said bag is supported on said support member and is disposed in said first position; chute means swingably mounted on said housing means at an elevation between the upper and lower ends thereof for permitting waste to be deposited into said bag when same is disposed in said first position, said chute means being swingably movable between a substantially closed position wherein same is disposed substantially vertically and coextensive with the front side of said housing means, and an open position wherein same projects outwardly and upwardly from the front side of said housing means for permitting waste to be deposited into said bag; and horizontally swingable door means pivotally connected to said housing means adjacent the lower end theReof, said door means being normally disposed substantially flush with the front side of said housing means for at least partially closing the lower part of the front side thereof, said door means being disposed directly below said chute means and being positioned directly in front of said support means and the bag supported thereby, said door being swingable away from said front side of said housing means to permit said support means to be moved to said second position to enable the bag to be loaded into and unloaded from said housing means; said chute means including means coacting with said housing means for enabling said chute means to be totally disconnected and removed from said housing means, and interlock means coacting between said chute means and said door means for positively maintaining said door means in its closed position whenever said chute means is mounted on said housing means.