GB2271952A - Can crusher - Google Patents

Abstract

There is provided a can crusher 16 having an open topped chamber 18, a lockable access member 26 and a powered ram 24. A can 19 is placed in the chamber 18 and the access member 26 is closed and locked by solenoid bolts 29. The ram 24 is then moved towards the wall 20, crushing the can 19 in its path. The crushed can then drops into chute 23 for onward disposal. After the ram 24 returns to its original position the bolts 29 are released allowing the access member 26 to be opened. The ram may contain a magnet to retain steel cans and drop them through an alternative exit aperture. Alternatively a magnetically activated deflection flap may be employed. <IMAGE>

Description

CAN CRUSHER This invention relates to a can crusher.

According to the present invention there is provided a can crushing device comprising a chamber for receiving a can , an access member which enables access to said chamber, can crushing means and an outlet for the can after it has been crushed, said access member being retained in a position denying access to the chamber during the crushing process.

Preferably said crushing means is constituted by a ram driven by gear means connected to a motor or by a fluid operated ram. In one embodiment the access member is hingedly connected relative to the chamber and the access member retention mechanism comprises one or more solenoid bolts which are receivable in associated holes in the access member. In one preferred embodiment the bolts are actuated by closure of the access member via sensors and the return stroke of the ram causes the bolts to release thereby allowing the access member to be opened.

In another arrangement the ram engages an extension connected to the access member during the crushing stroke thereby preventing opening of the access member.

Conveniently the outlet is constituted by a pair of spaced apertures in the base of the chamber.

A further feature is that the ram crushes the can against a wall of the chamber and said ram incorporates a magnet which determines through which aperture the can will fall.

In another arrangement the outlet comprises a single aperture in the base of the chamber. In this preferred arrangement a pivotable chute may be provided below the aperture and its orientation is determined by a magnetic sensor to deposit magnetic cans in one direction and non-magnetic cans in another direction. Ideally containers are provided to catch the cans, one for magnetic and the other for nonmagnetic cans.

A further preferred feature is a drip tray below the containers to catch fluid.

The device may be contained in a housing shaped like a beverage can, the access member being moved by a handle in the shape of a ring pull.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described in more detail. The description makes reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a can crushing device according to the present invention, Figure 2 is a part cut away side view of the can crushing device of figure 1, Figure 3 is a part sectional view through part of the crushing device of figure 1, and Figure 4 is a part sectional view similar to Figure 3 through a modified crushing device according to the present invention.

In the figures there is shown a can crushing arrangement 10. The arrangement has a lower housing 11 at the bottom of which is a drip tray 12 to catch any liquid remaining in the cans during operation of the arrangement. Above the drip tray 12 are a pair of containers 13, 14 in the form of mesh bins. The containers collect the crushed cans, one container for magnetic cans, the other for non-magnetic cans.

There is also an upper housing 15 in which is located the can crusher 16. When assembled the upper and lower housings resemble a beverage can.

The can crusher 16 is better illustrated in figure 3. The crusher 16 comprises a main block 17 in which is formed an open-topped chamber 18 for receiving a can 19. One end wall 20 of the chamber incorporates a magnetic sensor 21 which detects whether or not the can being crushed is magnetic.

Adjacent the end wall 20 is an aperture 22 in the base of the chamber. When crushed, the can 19 drops through the aperture 22 on to a pivoted chute 23, the orientation of which is determined by the output from the sensor 21. If the can 19 is magnetic then the chute 23 will be directed into the correct container 13, 14.

A hydraulic ram 24 extends through the block 17 and into the chamber 18 where it constitutes a moving end wall 25 oppositely disposed from end wall 20. The cylinder of the ram is not shown. In use the ram 24 crushes the can 19 against the wall 20 such that the free edge of the end wall 25 just projects over the edge of the aperture 22 so that the crushed can can drop easily.

The open top of the chamber 18 is closed by an access member 26 which is generally rectangular in plan view and has a handle 27 such that it resembles the ring-pull part of a beverage can. The access member 26 is hingedly connected at 28 to the block 17 and, when lowered, completely closes off the open top of the chamber 18. Two solenoid bolts 29 are located in the block 17 at spaced locations adjacent the free edge of the access member 26. When the access member 26 is lowered sensors (not shown) actuate the solenoid bolts which engage in holes formed in the access member 26. The access member 26 cannot, therefore, be lifted. Only when the solenoid bolts are fully engaged will the hydraulic ram move towards the end wall 20 to crush the can 19.

The arrangement, including the hydraulics, is electrically driven and the arrangement is simply plugged into the mains.

The full cycle of operation is, therefore, as follows: 1. The access member 26 is lifted to reveal the chamber 18.

2. The can 19 is placed in the chamber 18.

3. The access member 26 is closed.

4. The solenoid bolts 29 are engaged thereby locking the access member 26.

5. The hydraulic ram 24 moves towards the end wall 20 thereby crushing the can 19.

6. The magnetic sensor 21 tips the -chute 23 depending on the material of the can 19.

7. The can 19 falls into one of the containers 13, 14.

8. The hydraulic ram 24 returns to its initial position.

9. The solenoid bolts 29 disengage the access member allowing the cycle to begin again.

The illustrated arrangement also incorporates some measures to avoid damage by placing uncrushable objects in the chamber 18. Once a certain pressure is developed in the ram then it will stop and return to its start position and the access member 26 released, i.e. if too much resistance is met then the ram will back off.

The ram also incorporates a distance limit so that cans are crushed only enough for them to pass through the aperture 22.

In figure 4 there are many similar aspects to figures 1 to 3. In this embodiment, however, a ram 24 is provided on each side of the lengthwise axis of the chamber 18 such that only one ram is visible in figure 4. The rams are electrically driven by a motor 30 via a system of gears 31. The gears 31 drive in rotation a worm 32 having a follower arrangement 33 connected to the rams 24 which are mounted for reciprocal movement relative to the worm 32. As the rams 24 move to the right in figure 4 the can 19 is crushed between a static end wall 34 and a movable end wall 35 attached to the left hand ends of the rams 24.

Also in this embodiment there is a hinged trapdoor 36 which is used in the disposal of the crushed can. The trapdoor 36 has a first hole 37 and a second hole 38 in its base 39 which is curved in transverse section so as to provide a seat for the can 19. The end wall 36 incorporates a magnet (not shown) so that a crushed can is held attracted to the end wall 35 during its return stroke if the can is ferromagnetic. The end wall 35 then passes over a pin 40 at the end of the return stroke and this a pin pushes the crushed can off the magnet and through the hole 37 and into a receiving net. If the can 19 is not attracted to the magnet then the end wall 35 returns to its starting position and the can 19 simply drops through the second hole 38 in the trapdoor 36 into another receiving net.

The trapdoor 36 also has a counterweight 41 such that if a full can or a brick for example is placed in the device then it automatically opens the trap door 36 as shown in broken lines and deposits the can uncrushed. (This trapdoor 36 and counterweight 41 arrangement could also be used in the first described embodiment).

The rams 24 have relieved portions 42 defined by walls 43. The access member 26 is provided on both sides with downwardly extending projecting skirts 44 for preventing access to the machinery when open. The skirts have a projecting shoulder 45 at their lower ends which shoulders passes the rams 24 in the relieved portions as the access member 26 is closed.

As soon as the rams start to move the non-relieved areas of the rams pass over the shoulders 45 thereby preventing opening of the access member during the crushing process.

It will be appreciated that certain elements of the arrangement can be replaced by other elements and others could even be omitted. For example, the access member 26 could be held closed electromagnetically or there could be two hydraulic rams crushing the can between them, the aperture being centrally located. The cans could remain unsorted and dropped into a single container for subsequent separation. The ram could be pneumatic or even electrically operated.

Also of course it is not necessary for the arrangement to resemble a beverage can. Any shape of arrangement could be used.

Claims (14)

1. A can crushing device comprising a chamber for receiving a can , an access member which enables access to said chamber, can crushing means and an outlet for the can after it has been crushed, said access member being retained in a position denying access to the chamber during the crushing process.

2. A can crushing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the crushing means comprises a ram driven by gear means connected to a motor.

3. A can crushing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said crushing means is constituted by a fluid driven ram.

4. A can crushing device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the access member is hingedly connected relative to the chamber.

5. A can crushing device as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein the access member retention mechanism comprises one or more solenoid bolts which are receivable in associated holes in the access member.

6. A can crushing device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the bolts are actuated by closure of the access member via sensors and the return stroke of the ram causes the bolts to release thereby allowing the access member to be opened.

7. A can crushing device as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein the ram engages an extension connected to the access member during the crushing stroke thereby preventing opening of the access member.

8. A can crushing device as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 7 wherein the outlet is constituted by a pair of spaced apertures in the base of the chamber.

9. A can crushing device as claimed in claim 8 wherein the ram crushes the can against a wall of the chamber and said ram incorporates a magnet which determines through which aperture the can will fall.

10. A can crushing device as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 7 wherein the outlet is constituted by an aperture in the base of the chamber.

11. A can crushing device as claimed in claim 10 wherein a pivotable chute is provided below the aperture and its orientation is determined by a magnetic sensor to deposit magnetic cans in one direction and non-magnetic cans in another direction.

12. A can crushing device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein containers are provided to catch the cans, one for magnetic and the other for non-magnetic cans.

13. A can crushing device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12 wherein a drip tray below the containers to catch fluid.

14. A can crushing device substantially as hereinbefore with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.