Method and apparatus for crushing and separating metallic containers

Claim 2

Apparatus for crushing metallic containers comprising: a pair of rotatable cone shaped members having oppositely extending conically shaped container engaging surfaces defining a pocket means for receiving containers; force transferring means on the container engaging surfaces for transferring force from the cone shaped members to containers in the pocket means; drive shaft means connected to a first cone shaped member of the pair for rotatably driving the first cone shaped member; means for driving the drive shaft means; an idler shaft means connected to a second cone shaped member of the pair for rotatably supporting the second cone shaped member; a movable support arm means for supporting the idler shaft means and the second cone shaped member and enabling movement of the second cone shaped member relative to the first cone shaped member between a first inwardly located position of direct engagement with the first cone shaped member and variable outwardly displaced second positions of indirect engagement with the first cone shaped member through containers located therebetween, the idler shaft means and the second cone shaped member having an axis of rotation inclined in a first direction relative to a vertical plane including the axis of rotation of the drive shaft means and the first cone shaped member and inclined in a second direction relative to a horizontal plane including the axis of rotation of the drive shaft means and the first cone shaped member, and the second cone shaped member being rotatably driven in the first position by direct transfer of force from the first cone shaped member to the second cone shaped member and in the variable outwardly displaced second positions by indirect transfer of force from the first cone shaped member to the second cone shaped member through containers located therebetween; and spring means for resiliently biasing the second cone shaped member toward the first cone shaped member.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the force transferring means is a rubber-like coating on at least one of said container engaging surfaces.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the force transferring means is at least one rib on the container engaging surfaces.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 1 which further comprises a hopper means for receiving containers and guiding the containers into the pocket means.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 4 which further comprises a container agitator means rotatably mounted in the hopper means for agitating containers in the hopper means.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the container agitator means comprises a rotatable drive shaft member having first and second end portions, the first end portion extending into the hopper means, a blade member fixedly mounted on the first end portion of the drive shaft member for rotation therewith and drive means for driving the second end portion of the drive shaft member.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the blade member is made of a resiliently flexible material.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 4 which further comprises a container guide member extending into the pocket means for guiding containers toward the portions of the cone shaped members which are in engagement when the second cone shaped member is in the first position and toward the portions of the container engaging surfaces of the cone shaped members which are in indirect engagement through containers located therebetween when the second cone shaped member is in the variably outwardly displaced second positions.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the container guide member is hingedly mounted on the hopper means and which further comprises spring means for resiliently retaining the guide member in the pocket means.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 1 which further comprises a lug member fixedly mounted on the container engaging surface of the first cone shaped member for drawing containers toward the portions of the container engaging surfaces of the cone shaped members which are in engagement when the second cone shaped member is in the first position and toward the portions of the container engaging surfaces of the cone shpaed members which are in indirect engagement through containers located therebetween when the second cone shaped member is in the variably outwardly displaced second positions.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the axis of rotation of the idler shaft means and the second cone shaped member is inclined in the first direction at an angle of about 15° and is inclined in the second direction at an angle of about 25°.

Claim 13

Apparatus for crushing metallic containers and separating crushed containers of magnetic material from crushed containers of non-magnetic material, comprising: container crushing means for crushing containers having a pair of rotatable cone shaped members, each cone shaped member having oppositely extending conically shaped container engaging surfaces defining a pocket means between the cone shaped members for receiving containers, force transferring means on the container engaging surfaces for transferring force from the cone shaped members to containers in the pocket means, drive shaft means connected to a first cone shaped member of the pair for rotatably driving the first cone shaped member, means for driving the drive shaft means, an idler shaft means connected to a second cone shaped member of the pair for rotatably supporting the second cone shaped member, a moveable support arm means for supporting the idler shaft means and the second cone shaped member and enabling movement of the second cone shaped member relative to the first cone shaped member between a first inwardly located position of direct engagement with the first cone shaped member and variable outwardly displaced second positions of indirect engagement with the first cone shaped member through containers located therebetween, the idler shaft means and the second cone shaped member having an axis of rotation inclined in a first direction relative to a vertical plane including the axis of rotation of the drive shaft means and the first cone shaped member and inclined in a second direction relative to a horizontal plane including the axis of rotation of the drive shaft means and the first cone shaped member, the second cone shaped member being rotatably driven in the first position by direct transfer of force from the first cone shaped member to the second cone shaped member and in the variable outwardly displaced second positions by indirect transfer of force from the first cone shaped member to the second cone shaped member through containers located therebetween, and spring means for resiliently biasing the second cone shaped member toward the first cone shaped member, a container conveyor and separator means for receiving crushed containers from the container crushing means, conveying the crushed containers and separating crushed containers of magnetic material from crushed containers of non-magnetic material, the container conveyor and separator means having an endless belt member having first and second end portions, an upper container conveying portion and a lower return portion, a drive shaft means for driving the belt member, a roller means rotatably mounted on the drive shaft means for supporting the first end portion of the belt member, a drive means for driving the drive shaft means, a magnetic roller means for supporting the second end portion of the belt member and for generating a magnetic field about the second end portion of the belt member to retain containers of magnetic material on the belt member around and beyond the second end portion of the belt member while discharging containers of non-magnetic material at the second end portion thereof, and idler shaft means for rotatably supporting the magnetic roller means; and container collecting means for collecting separated magnetic and non-magnetic crushed container materials.

Claim 14

Apparatus for crushing metallic containers and separating crushed containers of magnetic material from crushed containers of non-magnetic material, comprising: container crushing means for crushing containers having a pair of rotatable cone shaped members, each cone shaped member having oppositely extending conically shaped container engaging surfaces defining a pocket means between the cone shaped members for receiving containers, force transferring means on the container engaging surfaces for transferring force from the cone shaped members to containers in the pocket means, drive shaft means connected to a first cone shaped member of the pair for rotatably driving the first cone shaped member, means for driving the drive shaft means, an idler shaft means connected to a second cone shaped member of the pair for rotatably supporting the second cone shaped member, a moveable support arm means for supporting the idler shaft means and the second cone shaped member and enabling movement of the second cone shaped member relative to the first cone shaped member between a first inwardly located position of direct engagement with the first cone shaped member and variable outwardly displaced second positions of indirect engagement with the first cone shaped member through containers located therebetween, the idler shaft means and the second cone shaped member having an axis of rotation inclined in a first direction relative to a vertical plane including the axis of rotation of the drive shaft means and the first cone shaped member and inclined in a second direction relative to a horizontal plane including the axis of rotation of the drive shaft means and the first cone shaped member, the second cone shaped member being rotatably driven in the first position by direct transfer of force from the first cone shaped member to the second cone shaped member and in the variable outwardly displaced second positions by indirect transfer of force from the first cone shaped member to the second cone shaped member through containers located therebetween, and spring means for resiliently biasing the second cone shaped member toward the first cone shaped member, a container conveyor and separator means for receiving crushed containers from the container crushing means, conveying the crushed containers and separating crushed containers of magnetic material from crushed containers of non-magnetic material, the container conveyor and separator means having an endless belt member having first and second end portions, an upper container conveying portion and a lower return portion, a drive shaft means for driving the belt member, a roller means rotatably mounted on the drive shaft means for supporting the first end portion of the belt member, a drive means for driving the drive shaft means, a magnetic roller means for supporting the second end portion of the belt member and for generating a magnetic field about the second end portion of the belt member to retain containers of magnetic material on the belt member around and beyond the second end portion of the belt member while discharging containers of non-magnetic material at the second end portion thereof, and idler shaft means for rotatably supporting the magnetic roller means; and container collecting means for collecting separated magnetic and non-magnetic crushed container materials.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the force transferring means is a rubber-like coating on at least one of said container engaging surfaces.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the force transferring means is at least one rib on the container engaging surfaces.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the container crushing means further comprises a hopper means for receiving containers and guiding the containers into the pocket means.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 15 which further comprises a container agitator means rotatably mounted in the hopper means for agitating containers in the hopper means.

Claim 19

The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the container agitator means comprises a rotatable drive shaft member having first and second end portions, the first end portion extending into the hopper means, a blade member fixedly mounted on the first end portion of the drive shaft member for rotation therewith and drive means for driving the second end portion of the drive shaft member.

Claim 20

The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the blade member is made of a resiliently flexible material.

Claim 21

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the container crushing means further comprises a container guide member extending into the pocket means for guiding containers toward the portions of the cone shaped members which are in engagement when the second cone shaped member is in the first position and toward the portions of the container engaging surfaces of the cone members which are in indirect engagement through containers located therebetween when the second cone shaped member is in the variably outwardly displaced second positions.

Claim 22

The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the container guide member is hingedly mounted on the hopper means and which further comprises spring means for resiliently retaining the guide member in the pocket means.

Claim 23

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the container crushing means further comprises a lug member fixedly mounted on the container engaging surface of the first cone shaped member for drawing containers toward the portions of the container engaging surfaces of the cone shaped members which are in engagement when the second cone shaped member is in the first position and toward the portions of the container engaging surfaces of the cone members which are in indirect engagement through containers located therebetween when the second cone shaped member is in the variably outwardly displaced second positions.

Claim 24

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the axis of rotation of the idler shaft means and the second cone shaped member of the container crushing means is inclined in the first direction at an angle of about 15° and is inclined in the second direction at an angle of about 25°.

Claim 25

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the container conveyor and separator means further comprises a belt member support and guide means for supporting and guiding the upper container conveying portion of the belt member.

Claim 26

The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the belt member support and guide means is an expanded metal support plate member.

Claim 27

The apparatus of claim 12 which further comprises at least one weighing means for weighing separated metallic container materials collected in the container collecting means.

Claim 28

The apparatus of claim 12 which further comprises trailer means for portably supporting the container crushing means, the container conveyor and separator means and the container collecting means.

Claim 29

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the container conveyor and separator means further comprises crushed glass discharge means for discharging crushed glass from the belt member.

Claim 32

The method of claim 28 which further comprises agitating the containers in the hopper means.

Claim 33

The method of claim 29 which further comprises guiding the containers in the pocket means toward the portions of the cone shaped members which are in engagement when the second cone shaped member is in the first position and toward the portions of the cone shaped members which are in indirect engagement through containers located therebetween when the second cone shaped member is in the variably outwardly displaced second positions.

Claim 36

The method of claim 31 which further comprises agitating the containers in the hopper means.

Claim 37

The method of claim 31 which further comprises guiding the containers in the pocket means toward the portions of the cone shaped members which are in engagement when the second cone shaped member is in the first position and toward the portions of the cone shaped members which are in indirect engagement through containers located therebetween when the second cone shaped member is in the variably outwardly displaced second positions.

Claim 38

The method of claim 31 which further comprises collecting the separated crushed metallic containers.

Claim 39

The method of claim 34 which further comrpises weighing the collected metallic containers.

Claim 40

The method of claim 31 which further comprises discharging crushed glass from the belt member through a crushed glass discharge means intermediate the first and second end portions of the belt member.