Can crusher
US5941167A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 29, 1997 |
| Grant date | Aug 24, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 29, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S100/902
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A portable can compactor of the present invention includes a housing, a chamber in the housing sized to accept aluminum beverage cans for compacting. A ram is reciprocally driven in the chamber to compact cans against a front wall or anvil of the chamber. The ram front surface is sloped relative to the anvil to reduce the amount of force needed to compact a can. A feed control includes a vane which pivots between an opened and a closed position in response to movement of the ram to prevent a second can from entering the chamber before a first can exits the chamber. The compactor is operated by a momentary-on push button switch. The switch is surrounded by a guard wall which extends around a least a portion of the push-button switch. A cut-off switch is closed by a removable feed tray when the feed tray is mounted to the compactor housing. The compactor therefore cannot be operated without the feed tray mounted to the housing. A support platform is provided to mount the can compactor over a collection or recycling bin, so that compacted cans (and residual fluids) will fall into the bin after they are compacted and exit the compactor. The support platform reinforces plastic recycling…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.