Abstrict A crusher assembly which includes a base having a first and second
shelf portion extending therefrom, at least one guide rod interconnecting
the upper and lower shelf portion, a presser member slidably mounted
on the at least one guide rod for movement between a first open
position for receiving an object to be crushed and a second compression
position, a pin member connected to the presser member, a handle
member, a pivot member pivotably connecting the handle member to
the first shelf portion, a link member pivotably connecting the
handle member and the pin member, the link member being interconnected
to the handle member in the open position above the pivot member
wherein the pivot member, the at least one guide rod, the handle
member and the pin member are disposed in substantially the same
plane in the open position for maximizing the crushing force applied
to the object to be crushed positioned between the presser member
and the at least one of the first and second shelf portions.
Claims What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent
of the Unites States is:
1. A can crusher assembly comprising:
a base including a first and second shelf portion extending from
said base;
at least one guide rod interconnecting said upper and lower shelf
portions;
a presser member slidably mounted on said at least one guide rod
for movement between a first open position for receiving an object
to be crushed and a second compression position;
a pin member connected to said presser member;
a handle member;
a pivot member pivotably connecting said handle member to said
first shelf portion; and
a link member pivotably interconnecting said handle member and
said pin member, said link member being interconnected to said handle
member in said open position above said pivot member wherein said
pivot member, said at least one guide rod, said handle member and
said pin member are disposed in substantially the same plane in
said open position for maximizing the crushing force applied to
said object to be crushed positioned between said presser member
and said at least one of said first and second shelf portions.
2. The crusher assembly as set forth in claim 1 said at least
one guide rod comprising first and second parallel guide rods.
3. The crusher assembly as set forth in claim 1 or 2 further comprising
means for biasing said presser member into said open position.
4. The crusher assembly as set forth in claims 1 or 2 further
comprising means for ejecting said object mounted on said at least
one of said first and second shelf portions.
5. The crusher assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said handle
member is pivotable through an angle of approximately 120.degree.
with respect to said base.
6. The crusher assembly as set forth in claims 1 or 5 said at
least one of said first and second shelf portions comprising means
for symmetrically positioning said object to be crushed substantially
in said plane within which said pivot member, said at least one
of said first and second shelf portions, said handle member and
said pin member are disposed in said open position.
7. The crusher assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising
a flap member interconnecting said handle member and said presser
member for limiting splashing of fluid contained within said object
to be crushed.
8. The crusher assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said at
least one of said first and second shelf portions comprises a lower
shelf portion.
9. The crusher assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said presser
member is symmetrically positioned between said first and second
guide rods and within said plane within which said pivot member,
said at least one of said first and second shelf portions, said
handle member and said pin member are disposed in said open position.
Description BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a crusher assembly and, more
particularly, to a manually operated can crusher for compressing
cans and similar objects made of aluminum, steel, etc. such as are
used for packaging various beverages.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It has been recognized that recycling aluminum cans and other objects
made of other recyclable material would be easier and more economical
if they were first crushed. Accordingly, it is felt that a single,
easily used can crusher positioned on vending machines, for example,
could encourage such recycling and take much less space for storage
of cans not to mention the enormeous energy savings.
Aluminum has been determined to be a preferable recyclable material
because it requires only 5% of the energy to recycle aluminum to
make it from bauxite ore. It has been determined that there were
approximately 1.35 billion pounds of aluminum used in beverage cans
in 1978 and thus, the possibility of energy savings resulting from
their recycling is considered to be enormous. As an example, Reynolds
Aluminum recycling centers, of which there are presently 994 throughout
the United States, are paying 23 cents per pound for used aluminum
beverage cans and, if all cans were recyclable aluminum, it is estimated
that U.S. citizens could save $312.7 million dollars a year.
It has also been recognized that there is another advantage in
having a market acceptable beverage can crusher in that a reduction
of volume or space required to store used beverage cans results
therefrom. As an example, if in 1978 59% of the 53 billion beverage
used were aluminum, the other 41% constituted another material with
the material being the most used besides aluminum consisting of
tin plated steel. Therefore, it can be expected that in order to
be acceptable to the market, a beverage can crusher should be capable
of crushing any beverage can, aluminum or steel. Although the recyclable
value of aluminum is greatest, steel is also recyclable and could
thus be valuable. It is also to be noted that tremendous savings
from the can crusher is derived from trash hauling cost since by
crushing the cans and storing the same in containers up to 60% can
be saved in trash disposal costs.
Although a number of attempts have been made to produce a market
acceptable beverage can crusher and numerous patents have been issued
for various can crushers, such have not gained wide spread use.
In this regard, it should be noted that can crushers have heretofore
suffered from the same drawbacks, i.e. lack of market acceptance.
In this regard, it is felt that there are a number of reasons why,
despite the obvious advantages and potential energy savings, such
have not been accepted in the market.
In determining the reasons for this lack of market acceptance,
it is first necessary to analyze the beverage can itself, the previous
art in can crusher design and to evaluate marketing acceptance.
First of all, with regard to the beverage can, its dimensions, composition,
number, condition and strength must be determined. For example,
the structural strength, that is, the ability to carry a dead load
structurally of beverage cans is to be considered. An all aluminum
can will support 210 pounds before collapsing, a one-piece tin plated
steel can can support 335 pounds before collapsing and a seamed
steel can will support 645 pounds before collapsing. Therefore a
successful beverage can crusher must be capable of producing initial
crushing force of more than 645 pounds.
To gain wide spread use and to be acceptable in the market, a can
crusher must also be inexpensive and therefore should be manually
operated. Even so, it is recognized that the present invention is
capable of being adaptable to automatic machines. A study was made
to determine how much human manual effort is considered acceptable
or desirable with a result that a 30 pound to 50 pound push and
pull was considered to be the maximum a person would find acceptable.
The beverage can crusher of the present invention was therefore
designed to produce a force curve that matches almost identically
the force curve necessary to crush a beverage can or similar object
and stay within the acceptable limits of human effort in so doing.
An actual testing of the beverage can crusher of the present invention,
50 pounds was the maximum force input required to fully crush a
seamed steel beverage can whereas the force required to crush all
aluminum beverage cans ranged from 5 pounds to 20 pounds. While
the previous art in beverage can crushers recognized the strength
of beverage cans, such did not effectively multiple their input
force to overcome the initial collapse strength. Therefore, the
actuating handle or lever on can crushers of the prior art were
necessarily extremely long in order to gain the leverage necessary
to create an initial collapse of the can. On the other hand, the
can crusher of the present invention produces an infinite force
multiplication at both extremes of its travel (i.e. at the top where
the can is its strongest and again at the bottom when the can is
fully crushed). Furthermore, it is noted that the numerous shortcomings
of the prior art were overcome by the can crusher of the present
invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One object of the present invention is to provide a crusher assembly
which produces an infinite force multiplication at both extremes
of its travel (i.e. at the top or open position where the can or
other object is its strongest and again at the bottom or compression
position when the can or other object is fully crushed).
Another object of the present invention is to provide a crusher
assembly which is simple in construction, which is low in cost and
which can be easily installed on vending machines, etc. so as to
facilitate recycling of the materials and the object to be crushed.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a quick
and safe crusher assembly which is compact in size.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the
present invention will be more fully appreciated as the same becomes
better understood from the following detailed description when considered
in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference
characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the
several views, and wherein:
FIG. 1 is a side view of the present invention in the open position
for receiving an object to be crushed;
FIG. 2 is a side view of the present invention in the position
where the object would be partially crushed;
FIG. 3 is a side view of the present invention where the object
would be completely crushed and ready for ejection;
FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a view taken along line V--V in FIG. 3;
FIG. 6A shows a force diagram explaining the operation of the present
invention while FIG. 6B illustrates the power curve of the present
invention with a constant force input;
FIG. 7 illustrates the power curve of the present invention for
various types of objects to be crushed; and
FIGS. 8A-8C shows the design, force diagram and power curve, respectively,
of a conventional can crusher.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
FIGS. 1-4 serve to illustrate the beverage can crusher of the present
invention which is designed to be vertically mounted on any surface
but is particularly suited to be mounted on beverage vending machines.
Such is thus compact in size and requires very little space for
mounting. The operation of crushing beverage cans or similar objects
is simple in that a can is merely inserted beneath the presser member
and the handle lever is pulled through its full travel. After crushing,
the handle is returned to the top position and the crushed can is
ejected into a conventional container with the entire operation
taking approximately 2 to 3 seconds.
The can crusher of the present invention includes a base 1 including
a first lower and second upper shelf portion 19 20 extending from
the base. A pair of guide rods 3 3 serve to interconnect the upper
and lower shelf portions 20 19 and a presser member 2 is slidably
mounted on the guide rods 3 3 for movement between a first open
position for receiving a can or other object to be crushed therebelow
(see FIG. 1) and a second compression position (see FIG. 3) wherein
the can or other object has been crushed as necessary so as to be
ready for ejection.
A pin member 10 is also connected to the presser member as illustrated.
A handle-lever 6 is also pivotably connected to the upper shelf
portion 20 via pivot member 8. A link member 4 serves to pivotably
interconnect the handle member 6 and the pin member 10. The link
member 4 is interconnected with the handle member 6 in the open
position shown in FIG. 1 above pivot member 8 such that the pivot
member 8 the guide rods 3 3 the handle member 6 and the pin member
10 are disposed in substantially the same plane in the open position
for maximizing the crushing force applied to the object to be crushed
positioned between the presser member 2 and the lower shelf 19.
The handle member 6 includes a handle portion 5 and a roll pin 7.
The handle member is pivotable in a clockwise direction through
an angle of approximately 120.degree..
The link assembly 4 is pivotally connected to handle 5 via a pin
9. A spring member 18 also serves to interconnect the upper shelf
20 with presser member 2 and serves to bias the presser member 2
in an upward direction for ease of insertion of the object to be
crushed.
The presser member 2 also includes a pair of bushings 1111 which
may be made of plastic material for sliding engagement with guide
rods 3 3 for the upward and downward movement of the presser member
2. The guide rods 3 3 are secured to the upper and lower shelf
portions 19 20 via cap nuts 16 16.
The lower shelf portion 19 includes an ejector 12 pivotally mounted
thereto by an ejector pivot pin 13.
The crusher assembly also includes a flap 14 secured to the presser
member and a second spring member 15 which interconnects the flap
14 with the handle member 6. Moreover, a cover can be utilized for
covering the link assembly 4 spring 18 etc.
It can thus be appreciated that in operation, in the starting position,
the handle 5 and handle member 6 are overcenter such that the pivot
member 8 the guide rods 3 the handle member 6 and the pin member
10 are disposed in substantially the same plane for maximizing the
crushing force applied to the object to be crushed as will be described
hereinbelow. The counter balance spring 18 attached to the pivot
pin 10 of the presser member 2 assists in holding the presser member
in its top position. As the handle 6 is pulled forward, spring 18
prevents the handle from accidentally falling and striking the operator.
When the handle 6 is in its topmost or upward position, spring
15 or a similar device attached to the handle 6 raises so as to
correspondingly raise flap 14 so as to provide easy, unobstructed
access for placement of a beverage can or other object between presser
member 2 and lower shelf portion 20. As handle 6 is pulled forward
(i.e. rotated in a clockwise direction as shown in FIGS. 1-4), flap
14 is lowered so as to cover the beverage can and prevent splashing
upon the operator of any residue beverage in the can being crushed.
The beverage can is crushed by presser member 2 due to vertical
downward movement of the same against the can upon being set on
lower shelf portion 19. Clockwise rotary movement of handle 6 produces
a downward vertical movement of the presser member 2 via link assembly
4. The vertical force applied is the vertical component of the vector
link force applied to pin 10.
It can thus readily be seen that with a constant force input on
handle 6 a power curve is generated that produces a maximum vertical
force downward at the top and bottom of travel of presser member
2. The horizontal component of the vectored link force is least
at the top and bottom of travel of presser member 2 and correspondingly
greatest at the center of travel. This coincides with the force
necessary to crush beverage cans and transmits the least amount
of horizontal force into base 1. Moreover, the horizontal force
is absorbed by the bearings 11 in the presser member 2 sliding on
guide rods 3 3. Guide rods 3 3 serve to guide the presser member
2 and also provide supporting strength to the lower shelf portion
20 upon which the cans sit.
After the can is crushed and handle 6 is returned to its top position
shown in FIG. 1 the crushed can is ejected into a container by
pivoting the ejector handle 12 about the axis of ejector pivot pin
13. Since the beverage can is effectively crushed by the above-noted
operation, it has been found that nearly every can can be cleanly
ejected by the ejector 12.
FIG. 5 serves to more clearly illustrate the detail of pivot bolt
8 in cooperation with handle 5 and upper shelf portion 20.
As shown in FIG. 6A, if a constant force F is exerted on handle
OC at point C while point A revolves from 0.degree. to 180.degree.,
a torque is produced at point O. The equivalent force in link AB
can be found by calculating the perpendicular distance OM and dividing
the torque at O by distance OM. Obviously, as point A approaches
0.degree. or 180.degree., the length of OM approaches zero. The
maximum length OM can ever be is thus equal to OA and thus, the
least multiplication of power is when OM is its longest and the
maximum multiplication of power is when OM is its shortest. The
power curve in FIG. 6B graphically shows the force thus available
to crush a beverage can.
EXAMPLE I
A test was conducted utilizing the present invention so as to determine
the effort required to crush various cans. The equipment used included
a tensionometer connected at the upper portion of the handle 6 so
as to apply a pulling force at a 90.degree. angle to the axis of
handle 6. The handle 6 travelled through an arc of 180.degree. in
crushing the beverage cans and the tensionometer readings were obtained
as the maximum reading present in four positions as set forth hereinbelow.
______________________________________ Position All Aluminum 1
Piece Steel Can Seamed Steel ______________________________________
0.degree.-45.degree. 5-8 lbs 32 lbs 35 lbs 45.degree.-90.degree.
5-9 lbs 10-16 lbs 20 lbs 90.degree.-135.degree. 10-15 lbs 10-16
lbs 25-40 lbs 135.degree.-180.degree. 10-20 lbs 20-30 lbs 45-50
lbs ______________________________________
FIG. 7 serves to illustrate the force required to crush beverage
cans with the can crusher of the present invention as it relates
to the height of the can being crushed and the handle position.
FIGS. 8A-8C show the design, force diagram and power curve of a
conventional can crusher. Such a conventional can crusher is typified
by U.S. Pat. No. 4062283 to Kaminski. More particularly, FIG.
8A serves to illustrate the relationship of the handle, link member
and presser member wherein the force input necessary for crushing
an all aluminum can was determined to be 52.5 lbs., the force input
for crushing a one piece steel can was found to be 83.7 lbs. and
the force input to crush seamed steel cans was found to be 161.2
lbs. FIG. 8B serves to illustrate the corresponding force input
and resulting force vectors in operation of such device while FIG.
8C discloses the power curve with a constant force input of the
Kaminski patent. It can thus be appreciated that the design of Kaminski
provides for minimum force multiplication at the starting point
of crushing a beverage can and maximum multiplication at its completion
whereas the structural strength of the beverage can is greatest
at the start of crushing such that maximum force multiplication
should rather occur at the start of crushing as in the case of the
present invention. The design of Kaminski's linkage produces a horizontal
rearward force approximately equal to the vertical downward force
(see FIG. 8C) that must be absorbed in the structure of the device
itself. It can thus be appreciated that the present invention provides
a maximum force at the start of crushing as well as at the completion
of crushing.
Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the present
invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore
to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the
invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described
herein. |