Abstrict A one at a time can crusher, specifically for recycling aluminum
cans, includes an aligning and separating feed chute for cans leading
to an end-to-end crusher, and a contact arrangement for detecting
the type of can, actuates a solenoid crusher. The unit includes
storage for a large number of crushed cans, and a magnetic metal
and glass rejector, with an overweight can rejector when used for
aluminum.
Claims What is claimed is:
1. A small container crushing assembly comprising:
(a) frame means,
(b) holder means inclusive of a pair of horizontal, spaced rods
mounted on said frame means for a container to be crushed, supporting
such container in a longitudinal position,
(c) anvil means against which an end of a container is crushed
mounted adjacent one end of said holder means, including a limited
movement face means normally spring biased away from said anvil
means and movable to said anvil means under influence of a container
being crushed,
(d) flat faced crusher bar means mounted normally to said pair
of rods arranged to reciprocate toward and away from said anvil
means, and
(e) solenoid motivating means including at least one coil and a
plunger interconnected with said crusher bar means for reciprocating
the same toward said anvil means on activating said solenoid motivating
means to draw said at least one plunger in said at least one coil
of said solenoid motivating means for crushing a container on said
holder means under full force of said solenoid motivating means.
2. A small container crushing assembly according to claim 1 wherein
switch means are mounted in position to be actuated by movement
of said face means whereby said face means actuates mechanism according
to the length of the held can in conjunction with the container
crushing.
3. A small container crushing assembly according to claim 2 wherein
a plurality of contacts are mounted adjacent said crusher bar means
connected to a plurality of non-actuating crusher circuit means
and progressively actuated by the position of said crusher bar when
said switch means is activated by said face means.
4. A small container crushing assembly according to claim 1 wherein
said anvil means and said crusher bar are perforated in the area
of can contact with small air release holes for release of air on
crushing a container.
5. A small container crushing assembly according to claim 1 wherein
said solenoid motivating means includes two coacting solenoids,
with one connected to each end of said crusher bar means.
6. A small container crushing assembly according to claim 1 wherein
said crusher bar means includes yoke means connected to a single
solenoid.
7. A small container crushing assembly according to claim 1 wherein
pusher bar means is mounted adjacent and below said holder means
and reciprocable toward said holder means for rejecting a can resting
on said holder means.
8. A small container crushing assembly according to claim 1 wherein
said holder means includes said spaced rods terminating short of
said anvil means and said normally spring biased said face means
providing gravity release means for crushed containers, and gravity
chute means for discharge of non-crushed containers.
Description The use of glass and metal cans is currently wide spread for various
beverages and foods. Aluminum is an acceptable container for items
of human consumption and is advantageous because of lightness. The
aluminum from such containers is a readily recyclable metal, particularly
as the aluminum does not deteriorate at a rate which would essentially
degrade the metal to an oxide, under normal conditions. The cans,
however, have created a litter problem as they are easily discarded,
but do not biodegrade in an acceptable time frame. Some recycling
has been accomplished by payment to persons conveying the cans to
a collection center. This is disadvantageous as collection centers
tend to be wide spread, making travel to the center sometimes more
expensive than the recovered payment for the cans. Also, the center
normally pays for the cans on a pound basis, which requires a scale,
a supply of cash, containers for the cans, attendents, etc.
Magnetic metal cans, that is ferrous metal containers, are recyclable,
but in the past have not enjoyed much attention probably due to
the relative non-crushability without special equipment. As ferrous
ores decrease, a market is available to collectors of the ferrous
cans. This aids the ecology of urban areas by substantially disrupting
the discarding of such cans in indiscriminate ways. Glass containers,
even the non-return type, contain usable material. If collection
costs are reduced, such materials become a viable source for the
crushed glass, etc.
Containers for food and beverages are bulky, for the weight involve,
in their full capacity condition. Collection of empty containers
is enhanced by reducing, as by crushing, the size of the containers.
Obviously, large scale compacting cans or crushing bottles may be
accomplished by large machines using rollers, hammer mills, crusher
plates, etc., but the problem of accumulation at the location, the
collection and transportation, etc. of the containers of the large
compactor remains.
THE PRESENT INVENTION
The present invention is a very low energy consumption container
compactor, specifically arranged for a single one-at-a-time container
crushing operation. The unit may be easily provided with a coin
or coupon dispenser upon the acceptance of a container, and may
be adapted for dispensing different denominations of coins or coupons
for different sizes of containers.
The unit having a minimum of moving parts includes a gravity chute
for a container, placing the container on a receiving bed and means
for actuating at least one solenoid to crush the container between
a moving head and a stationary anvil. The solenoid is fired for
a fraction of a second, as the major energy consumption. Crushed
containers fall by gravity to a storage bin. If a premium dispenser
is attached, it, of course, requires a very small amount of electrical
current to dispense the premium.
The invention, described below, is in relation to aluminum cans,
however, the unit is adapted to crush ferrous metal cans, glass
bottles, plastic bottles, or other containers. The huge volume of
aluminum cans, however, provides a ready recyclable product, with
a wide choice of locations for the collection. It is intended that
with minor changes the unit is useful for crushing such other containers.
The terms "crushing" and "compacting" are used
generally interchangeable to indicate a substantial reduction in
size of the container. Any discussion directed to aluminum cans,
obviously, is intended to cover ferrous metal cans, glass containers,
etc.
OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION
Included among the objects and advantages of the invention is to
provide a dependable, rugged, low maintanence can crusher with very
few moving parts, and very low energy consumption.
Another object of the invention is to provide a solenoid actuated
head, crushing a container against an anvil.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a low energy-consuming
can crusher with a minimum of wearable parts, and which is easy
to clean and maintain.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a pair of parallel
solenoids acting in unison to move a crushing head toward an anvil.
A further object of the invention is to provide a simple inexpensive
can crusher having a gravity feed, with a container sorting arangement
for undesirable cans and trash, a solenoid actuated can crusher,
a gravity discharge for crushed cans and a spring return device
for the can crusher.
An additional object of the invention is to provide an aluminum
can crushing device, actuated by solenoids, arranged to automatically
determine the length of can to be crushed and hereby provide actuation
of other mechanism according to the length of the can.
These and other objects and advantages of the invention may be
ascertained by reference to the following description and appended
illustrations.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a double solenoid container crushing
device according to the invention.
FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the device of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a side elevational view, partially cut away, of the device
of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective of the major components of a
container crushing device according to the invention.
FIG. 5 is schematic, partially cut-away end view of a container
according to the invention.
FIG. 6 is a top plan view, generally schematic, of a modified form
of a container crusher according to the invention.
FIG. 7 is a schematic circuit diagram for the unit.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In general, the crusher includes a movable crushing element, a
solenoid actuating mechanism for the crushing element and an anvil
against which the container is crushed. The electric circuitry is
quite simple, so the mechanism may be made in a modular form for
easy and quick mounting or dismounting from a frame work. In one
form, the crush unit may be mounted on a frame which part of a housing
which may be locked against unauthorized access. Thus, a simple
chute opening, for cans to be crushed, is available to the users,
preventing access to the areas where injury may occur. Further,
if the crusher is housed with a dispenser for coins or coupons for
received cans, both the crusher and dispenser may be modular for
the easy assembly or disassembly of the unit.
The unit shown in FIGS. 1-5 includes a mounting frame which is
a peripheral frame having side members 10 and 12 front end member
14 and back member 16 all joined together, leaving a central opening.
A pair of solenoids 18 and 20 are mounted on lateral bars 17 mounted
on back frame member 16. An anvil mounting plate 25 secured to
bars in space 22 between the solenoids, is reciprocable in relation
to the back frame member. This plate is adjustably secured in place
by bolts 26 mounted through elongated slots 28 which permit the
plate 25 and a carried anvil plate 27 to be adjusted. The coils
of the solenoids are mounted in the solenoid housings 18 and 20
leaving a central bore, in accordance with solenoid construction.
A non-magnetic sleeve 19 is secured in the bore of coil housing
18 and a core or armature 21 is arranged for reciprocation in the
sleeve. In like manner, a sleeve 23 in bore of coil 20 has a reciprocating
core or armature 24 therein. The outer ends of the two cores are
secured to crusher bar 30 by means of bolts 31 so as to reciprocate
with the solenoids. Since the core tends to center in the coil firing,
little or no wear will result from extended use. The container crusher
bar 30 moves toward the anvil 27 under power by the solenoids, and
it is returned, in the absence of electrical power on the solenoids
by a spring 34 passing over a pulley or arcuate rest 35 with the
outer end secured to bolt 36. The pulley 35 is mounted in upstanding
frame member 38 which support can resting rods 40 and 41. The crusher
bar 30 is secured by bolts 31 to the cores of the solenoids, and
the solenoids are arranged to act in unison. A sleeve 42 around
rod 40 and a sleeve 43 around rod 41 are secured to crusher bar
30. The rods 40 and 41 pass through the crusher bar, (which reciprocates
on the rods) and terminate short of the anvil. The rods are parallel
and spaced apart acting as a cradle to support an aluminum beverage
can on its side between the crusher bar on the anvil. For adequate
crushing, the bar and anvil must be wider than the diameter of the
can. To prevent trapped air and/or liquid, bores 46 in the anvil
and bores 47 in crusher bar 30 permit escape of air and liquid.
Tubes (not shown) of rubber, flexible plastics, etc., may be placed
in the holes leading to a container for the liquid.
The anvil may be a single element or a double element to actuate
a switch. A double element is shown where an anvil face 27a is spring
biased away from anvil 27. The face 27a is mounted on four depending
studs 27b having stops 27d, with spring 27c between the anvil and
movable face, biasing face 27a away from anvil 27. A switch, 74a,
FIG. 3 mounted on plate 25 is closed as the face moves back toward
the anvil 27 providing means for actuating a circuit as described
below. The can supporting rods terminate short of face 27a in its
extended position, and the cans crushed by the crusher bar fall
through the space at the ends of the rods. The spring loaded anvil
face aids the discharge of the crushed can as it returns to its
forward or extended position.
To insure that empty aluminum cans are correctly placed in the
crushing cradle (on the rods 40 and 41) a low-slope gravity chute
50 feeds cans into the cradle. The chute includes a mouth 51 and
a lower discharge 52 emptying into the cradle. A can feeder 54
FIG. 3 includes a hollow cylinder 55 with a can sized cut-out
56 to permit entry of a standard diameter beverage can, is pivoted
on pivots 57 and 58 in a frame mounted on a housing shown partially
at 54a of FIG. 5 having an opening 54b for the feeder. A disc turning
mechanism 59 which may be attached through connecting means to
a hand lever, is arranged to rotate the hollow cylinder 55 to release
its single can content into chute 50 in a horizontal position so
that rolls down the chute to the discharge. The opening 56 of the
cylinder is only slightly wider than the diameter a beverage can
to prevent large objects being inserted into the machine, and its
length may accommodate the can to be crushed. Magnets in the hollow
cylinder will prevent inserting iron cans or magnetic materials
into the crusher. Such paramagnetic materials will be retained in
the feeder until extracted.
On the bottom wall of the chute 50 is mounted a pivoted grate 60
which permits small objects to drop through the grating to a discharge
chute 61 therebelow. The grate is pivoted at its lower end by pivot
62 which permits the front 60a grate to drop downwardly discharging
material into the discharge chute 61. A balance arm 63 with an adjustable
weight 64 mounted on it, determines the weight of object which will
trip the trap door grate. Aluminum cans usually are made in 6 7
8 12 and 16 ounce capacity size, and the weight 64 may be moved
to just pass the 16 ounce size, normally the largest beverage cans.
Anything heavier will trip the trap door. Any aluminum can with
included weight, e.g. liquid, sand, trash, etc. will be rejected
by the trap door. The chute 50 is supported in position by uprights
50a extending from the base to the chute. A tray 70 FIG. 3 is
mounted on the pusher bar 30 and extends over the spring (the actual
attachment being shown in FIG. 3 and the tray is not shown in the
other view for clarity). This tray reciprocates with the crusher
bar 30 and eliminates multiple cans from stacking up in the crusher.
If a can immediately follows a can in the cradle, the tray catches
the second as the travels with crusher bar. On the return of the
crusher bar, the crushed can drops, and the can on the tray is pushed
off so it falls on the positioning rods.
A micro-switch 74a with an arm is mounted to close when the spring
loaded plate 27a is pushed back against anvil plate 27. Such a switch
may be used in a circuit to actuate a coupon or coin dispenser.
The circuit includes contacts 75 76 and 77 (passing through frame
member 79) which are activated by a contact 78 on the crusher bar
30. As a can is lying on the positioning rods, the micro-switch
on the anvil is open. After activation, the crusher bar pushes against
the can, and when the can is starting to be crushed, the spring
loaded plate 27a is pushed back against the anvil, closing the microswitch.
The position of the crusher bar, when the microswitch is closed,
activates a current by contact of contact 78 with one of the contacts
75 76 or 77. These contacts are spaced to fit the particular size
of a can, thus, point 75 is for the largest can to be crushed and
77 is for the smallest, and 76 is for an intermediate size can.
These may be connected to a dispensing device 96 FIG. 7 to dispense
the requisite denomination of coupons or coins, for example, 3 coupons
for the largest can, 2 for the intermediate size and 1 for the smallest.
The solenoids are activated by an aluminum can touching contact
points 74. These are four in number and spaced so that at least
two opposed points contact even the smallest can. An aluminum can
touching two opposed points will trigger the switch for the solenoid
circuit. The firing of solenoid circuit provides enough current
for the retraction of solenoid cores carrying the crusher bar. As
soon as the can, being crushed, goes out of contact with points,
the circuit is opened so no further flow of electricity goes to
the solenoids and the spring returns the crusher bar. By using a
high frequency voltage, from transformer 95 FIG. 7 for example
3000 volts, but at little or no amperage, the points in contact
with metal close a power switch to trigger the solenoid power circuit,
even though plastic coated aluminum cans. Such a circuit will not
trigger the power circuit for non-metallic cans.
A reject button or lever (not shown) may be added to the unit to
activate a small solenoid 75c, attached to the reject bar 75a which
is reciprocable on the contacts 74 by bores 75b in the bar, to push
the bar 75a to the top points of the contacts to discharge non-metallic
items in the cradle into the reject chute 61.
In the place of the two solenoids, a single solenoid may be used,
as shown in FIG. 6. In this case, a single solenoid 80 with an aluminum
slide tube 81 for a core 82 drives a crushing bar 83. This bar 83
is secured to the ends of a yoke consisting of a core mounted bar
85 and yoke legs 86 and 87. The crusher bar moves toward anvil 88.
A can cradle is provided by positioning rods 89 and 90 over which
the bar 85 slides, as described above. Contact points 74 are mounted
in the cradle for contacting a can, and a reject bar 75a is, FIG.
5 also, mounted in the cradle.
The unit is conveniently placed in a housing having a door through
which a wheeled container or barrel will pass. This container rests
below the crushing unit so that crushed cans fall into the container.
This permits a full container to be removed and an empty container
replaced in the housing, easily and simply. Also, it is apparent
the power circuit may be a simple plug-in connection so that the
unit as a module is easily put in or taken out of a housing. |