Trash Compactor

I. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to trash compacting apparatus for industrial, commercial and/or residential use, and more specifically to the features of the cabinet structure whereby the compacted trash may be collected in a box-type container for ease of disposal.

II. Description of the Prior Art

Available on the market and disclosed in the Patent Literature are a wide variety of machines for compacting trash and refuse. For example, in the Fredrickson Pat. No. 3,728,959, there is disclosed a baler apparatus which is mounted in a box-like cabinet having a top, a floor, and side and rear panels extending therebetween, and a generally open front with access doors for closing same. The cabinet is functionally divided into three compartments, although there is no physical barriers between these compartments. These three compartments may conveniently be referred to as a "machine compartment", a "trash receiving compartment", and a "compaction compartment". The machine compartment is generally disposed at the top of the cabinet and the compaction compartment at the bottom with the trash receiving compartment being located therebetween. In the baler of the Fredrickson Patent, when the machine is actuated, a hydraulic cylinder causes a generally planar, horizontally disposed compaction plate to move downward through the trash receiving compartment and into the compaction compartment such that trash disposed therein is compressed. Provision is made in the structure of the Fredrickson Patent for facilitating the wrapping of a baling wire around the compressed bale.

While the above described baling structure may be suitable for baling paper, cardboard or other dry materials, it is generally not suitable for handling trash including moist garbage or other fluid containing refuse.

There are also available in the prior art refuse compactors which are suited to the handling of liquid containing refuse and they generally solve the problem by utilizing a waterproof container into which the loose trash is compacted. As an example, reference is made to the Hunt Pat. No. 3,501,890. It is to be noted, however, that if one were to attempt to utilize a preformed carton in the baler apparatus of the Fredrickson Patent, during the downward stroke of the compaction plate thereof, the container would be at least partially torn and crushed.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a cabinet structure whose side and rear panels have a recess formed therein in the area defined by the "compaction compartment" such that a fluid impervious rectangular box-like carton may be disposed within the cabinet with its side walls wholly contained within the recesses formed in the side and rear panels. Thus, during the downward stroke of the compaction plate, the vertical sides of the container to not interfer with the path of travel of the compaction plate. As such, the container is not crushed or otherwise damaged.

Then too, it has been found that when the refuse being compacted includes tin cans and the like, there is a tendency for the crushed cans to become wrapped about the peripheral edges of the compaction plate during its compression stroke. When an attempt is made to return the compaction plate to its upward disposition, the presence of the crushed metal trash will tend to cause binding between the cabinet panels and the compaction plate, especially when a cabinet design such as illustrated in the Fredrickson Patent is involved. However, in the cabinet design of the present invention which includes the aforementioned recessed areas in the side and rear panels, as the platen or compaction plate moves upward, the metal refuse engages the bevel defining the recessed areas in the side panels and the metal refuse is stripped free from the platen.

It is accordingly the principal object of the present invention to provide a new and improved cabinet structure for a trash compactor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a trash compactor cabinet which is adapted to receive a box-type receptacle therein such that moisture laden refuse may be compacted without the normal attendant mess.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a cabinet structure for a trash compactor in which a box-type trash receptacle may be inserted and which is outside of the path of travel of the compaction plate during its compression stroke.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel cabinet structure for a trash compactor which precludes binding of the compaction plate with the sides of the cabinet.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description when considered in light of the accompanying drawings in which like numerals in the several views refer to corresponding parts.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view taken along the lines and in the direction of the arrows 2--2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front cross-sectional view taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 3--3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the inner surfaces of the side and rear panels comprising the cabinet of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a partial frontal view illustrating the manner in which a cardboard container may be disposed within the compaction compartment of the cabinet; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial view helpful in explaning the operation of the present invention.

Referring first to FIG. 1, the trash compactor cabinet of the present invention is indicated generally by numeral 10. It includes a base plate 12, a top panel 14, a right side panel 16, a left side panel 18 and a rear panel 20. These panels are joined to form a generally rectangular parallelepiped of a predetermined length, width and height. Hingedly secured to the front edge of the left side panel 18 are first and second access doors 20 and 22, the access door 22 further including a hingedly mounted trash filling door 24. The cabinet 10 may be mounted on castors as at 26--26 to facilitate the repositioning thereof.

Next, with reference to FIG. 2, it can be seen that the interior of the cabinet 10 is effectively and functionally divided into three compartments or volumes. Specifically, the so-called machine compartment is identified by numeral 28, the trash receiving compartment by numeral 30 and the trash compacting compartment by numeral 32. Dividing the machine compartment 28 from the intermediate trash receiving compartment 30, is a mounting plate 34 on which is mounted a hydraulic pump 36, a hydraulic cylinder 38, and the various electrical and hydraulic controls for the system. Because the detail of these controls is immaterial to a full understanding of the present invention, little more need be said concerning them. However, it is to be noted that the piston 40 of the hydraulic cylinder 38 passes through an opening in the mounting plate 34 and affixed to the lower end thereof is a compaction plate or platen 42. With reference to FIG. 3, there is further shown a cross arm 44 which is also disposed in the machinery containing compartment 28 and which is affixed at opposed ends thereof to structural channels (not shown). The uppermost end of the cylinder 38 abuts and is fastened to a further horizontal structural member comprising the cabinet framework and the lower end thereof is suitably clamped to the cross arm 44. Furthermore, first and second guide rods 46 and 48 pass through suitable bushings in the cross arm 44 and through the mounting plate 34 and are secured at their lower ends to the compaction plate 42. Thus, when actuated, the piston 40 moves outwardly from its cylinder 38 causing the platen 42 to move downward through the trash receiving compartment 30 of the cabinet 10 for a predetermined distance into the compaction compartment 32. The guide rods 46 and 48 serve to maintain the platen 42 in a generally horizontal disposition during its entire travel.

With reference to FIG. 4, it can be seen that the inside surfaces of the side panels 16 and 18 and the rear panel 20 are recessed inwardly in the area of the compaction compartment 32. That is to say, the side walls and rear wall of the cabinet have a greater thickness in the machine compartment zone 28 and the trash receiving zone 30 than they do in the trash compaction zone 32, the line of demarcation being identified by the beveled edges 50 formed in these panels.

The purpose of the recessed areas on the inner surfaces of the cabinet rear wall and side walls can best be seen from the partial cross-sectional view of FIG. 5. As is illustrated in this drawing, a corrugated cardboard box having vertical walls 52 of a predetermined thickness which is generally less than the depth of the recesses is adapted to be inserted into the compacting compartment 32 such that its vertical side walls are wholly contained within the recesses. The box, of course, is inserted into the cabinet through the open access door 22 hinged to the front of the cabinet.

The side edges of the platen 42 are of a length such that when disposed in the trash receiving compartment 30, only a slight clearance is maintained between the side edges of the platen and the inner surfaces of the walls of the cabinet. Thus, when the platen is moved to its lowermost disposition as indicated generally in FIG. 5, a predetermined clearance is maintained between the inner surfaces of the vertical side walls 52 of the container to thereby prevent interference between the platen and the container.

In operation, then, an empty trash receiving container in the form of an open top box is inserted into the compaction compartment 32 and refuse is deposited therein through the hinged door 24 formed in the access door 22. When a predetermined 25 level of trash is deposited, the operator actuates the pump mechanism 36 causing the hydraulic piston 40 to move out from its cylinder 38. In doing so, the compaction plate 42 traverses the compartment 30 and partially enters the compaction compartment 32. The loose refuse is thereby compacted and, again, the piston and platen raises to permit additional trash to be deposited. When the level of compacted trash in the removable container reaches a predetermined level or weight, the operator again opens the access door 22 and removes the trash filled carton. Because the carton is disposed in the recessed areas of the side and rear walls, it cannot interfere with the travel of the platen, which would otherwise damage the carton.

During operation of trash compactors of the type described, refuse including metal pieces such as tin cans, jar lids, etc., may be thrown into the trash receiving compartment 30. It has been found from experience that where straight, non-recessed side walls are employed in the cabinet structure that there is a tendency for the crushed metal parts to wrap themselves about the side edges of the platen and to bind or jam against the side walls of the compactor cabinet. This can result in permanent damage to the machine or, at least, the need for servicing.

This problem of jamming is minimized or eliminated in the cabinet of the present invention. As is illustrated in the enlarged partial view of FIG. 6, if during the compaction phase a tin can or other metal should wrap itself around the platen 42 as indicated by the metal piece 54 during the compaction step, it will tend to compress the corrugated container wall 52 and will not become as flat and wedged as it would otherwise do if the recess were not provided. Then, during the upward stroke of the compaction plate 42, the metal piece 54 will abut the beveled edge 50 defining the recess and the metal piece 54 will be stripped off from the platen 42 and will fall into the container. Thus, jamming of the compaction plate is prevented.

While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that various modifications and changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the following claims.