US3765143A

US3765143A - Compacting system and method of compacting

Info

Publication number: US3765143A
Application number: US00171710A
Authority: US
Inventors: A Ippolito; W Ma
Original assignee: ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION RES CO
Current assignee: ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION RES CO
Priority date: 1971-08-13
Filing date: 1971-08-13
Publication date: 1973-10-16
Anticipated expiration: 1990-10-16

Abstract

A CONTAINER IS LOCATED BELOW A REFUSE CHUTE AND A GATE IN THE CHUTE IS OPENED TO ALLOW REFUSE TO DISCHARGE FROM THE CHUTE INTO THE CONTAINER AND THE GATE IS CLOSED AFTER A PREDETERMINED TIME. THE CONTAINER IS THEN MOVED TO A COMPACTING STATION WHEREIN THE REFUSE CONTAINER IS COMPACTED. IF THE COMPACTED REFUSE IS BELOW A PREDETERMINED LEVEL IN THE CONTAINER, THE CONTAINER IS MOVED BACK BELOW THE CHUTE AND THE GATE OPENED TO ALLOW FURTHER REFUSE TO FALL WITHIN THE CONTAINER. THIS PROCEDURE IS REPEATED UNTIL THE LEVEL OF THE COMPACTED REFUSE IN THE CONTAINER REACHES A PREDETERMINED LEVEL. THEN THE FULL CONTAINER IS EJECTED FROM THE SYSTEM, AN EMPTY CONTAINER IS MOVED BELOW THE CHUTE AND THE GATE IS OPENED AS ABOVE TO ALLOW FURTHER REFUSE TO FALL IN THE EMPTY CONTAINER.

D R A W I N G

Description

United States Patent 1 Ippolito et al.

[451 MQSMEQ; W1

[54] COMPACTING SYSTEM AND METHOD OF 3,608,476 9/l971 Price et al 100/49 COMPACTING 75 Inventors: Amos D. lppolito, Brooklyn; William McGehee L Ma Yonkers. both of NY Attorney-Robert D. Flynn et al.

[73] Assignee: Environmental Pollution Research Corporation, New Hyde Park, N .Y. [57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed; 13 1971 A container is located below a refuse chute and a gate in the chute is opened to allow refuse to discharge from l PP N05 171,710 the chute into the container and the gate is closed after Related s Applicamm Dam a predetermined time. The container is then moved to [62] Division of Ser No 847 567 Au 5 1969 a compacting station wherein the refuse in the conabaudoned tainer is compacted. If the compacted refuse is below a predetermined level in the container, the container is [52] CL 53/24 53/124 B loo/49 moved back below the chute and the gate opened to [51] Int Cl [/24 allow further refuse to fall within the container. This [58] Field "55 124 procedure is repeated until the level of the compacted loo/49 refuse in the container reaches a predetermined level. Then the full container is ejected from the system, an [56] References Cited empty container is moved below the chute and the gate UNITED STATES PATENTS is opened as above to allow further refuse to fall in the empty container. 3.531.909 l0/l970 Edelbalk 53/124 B 3,386.372 6/1968 Kni p l0O/49 X 8 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures lc r 3 on F0 00" Circuit 1 /23 25 T0 7 Control To I 7 a CIIEUIT Control 7-2.: /0 Cll'CUll 2 j 1 J /03 2 1 COMPACTING SYSTEM AND METHOD OF COMPACTING This is a division of Ser. No. 847,567, filed Aug. 5, 1969, now abandoned.

This invention relates to compacting systems and, more particularly, to apparatus for compacting material such as refuse received from a chute, such as an incinerator chute, or the like.

The present invention will be described in detail herein with respect to a chute-type refuse handling system. The present system is particularly suitable for compacting refuse of the type encountered in residentialsystems, such as those in apartment houses, and for replacing existing incinerators with compacting systems utilizing the existing chute arrangement. The sysand refuse such as waste from department stores, su-

pennarkets and various industrial plants. However, it should be clear that the principles set forth herein are equally applicable to any other application wherein it is required to compact material received from a chute or a hopper, a direct-fed operating system or the like.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a compacting system which is relatively simple, inexpensive to manufacture and which is adaptable to replace existing incinerator systems without making major modification to the existing installation.

SUMMARYOF THE INVENTION and to reclose-the gate. The control means is responsive to the discharge'of material into the container for operating the transport means to move the containerto the compacting station after the gate is closed, the ma- FIGS. 4a-4c illustrate a novel container liner for use with the compacting system of the present invention;

FIGS. 5a and 5b illustrate container and liner configurations for use with disposable bags or the like.

FIGS. 6a, 6b and 6c illustrate another liner configuration according to the present invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates a releasable locking device for use with the present invention; and

FIGS. 8a and 8b illustrate a portion of the system showing a further modification in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS:

Referring to FIG. 1, at the refuse receiving station 1 is a platform 101 for locating containers below a chute 100 which may be part of an existing incinerator system. The platform 101 comprises a pair of

support members

102 and 103 having bearing

portions

104 and 105, respectively for carrying a container 106. In this embodiment, the container is accommodated within a container holder 107. The upper surfaces of

portions

104 and 105 are preferably coated with a material having a low coefficient of friction, such as teflon, so the container 106 and its holder 107 may easily slide thereon. Located between the

lower portions

108 and 109 of

members

102 and 103, respectively is a chain drive mechanism 110 having dogs 111 thereon. Alternatively, a track having a surface of low coefficient of friction may comprise, or be attached to, the upper surfaces of bearing

portions

104 and 105. The chain drive terial in the container being compacted at the compacting station. At the compacting station, a level sensing means is provided for sensing the level of the compacted material in the container. The control means is further responsive to the level sensing means for operatingthe transport mechanism to move the container back to the receiving station for receiving further material to be compacted if the level of the compacted material in the container is below a predetermined level, and for ejecting the container from the compacting system if the level of the compacted material in the container is above the predetermined level.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

mechanism is well-known in the art and is not described in detail herein. The dogs are driven by the chain drive and are adapted to push the container 106 to the desired positions on platform 101. Alternatively, the platform 101 comprises a plurality of rollers to enable the container 106 and its holder-107 to be easily rolled thereon. A conveyer-belt-type or chain-type arrangement having dogs thereon to locate the containers apart from each other may also be used. Other equivalent devices may be used for platform 101.

A second platform 122, which is similar to platform 101 is also partially located below chute 100 for moving containers 106 from the receiving station to a compacting station 3. The chain drive for platform 101 is a unidirectional drive and the chain drive for platform 122 is a bi-direction drive.

An automatically operated gate 112 is mounted at or near the bottom opening of the chute 100 to selectively open and close the chute to allow refuse to selectively fall within the container 106. Gate-112 is constructed of suitable impact resistant material to insure that refuse falling thereon is properly blocked and that falling refuse will not damage the gate. Gate 112 is operated by means of refuse sensor 113 which causes gate 112 to open when the sensor senses the the presence of material to be compacted in the chute 100. Refuse sensor 113 may be an electrical switch having a whiskertype" operating arm 114 which is activated by the refuse falling from the chute. Sensor 113 may also take the form of a sonic sensor or photoelectric sensor, both of which are well-known in the art. Gate 112 will not operate unless limit switches and 121 are operated to indicate that container 106 and its holder 107 are properly located below chute 100.

Switches

120 and 121 may be mounted to the housing (not shown) of the system. All of the

sensor

113, 115, 120 and 121 are coupled to control circuit 2 which contains the appropriate logic to operate the system described herein. The logic is straightforward and the design thereof to operate the various portions of the system should be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Sensor 115 is provided for indicating when gate 112 is properly closed. Gate sensor 115 may be a wellknown limit switch or the like which is operated when the movable part of the gate is properly located in its closed position.

A funnel-shaped transition chute unit 116 is positioned between the container 106 and the chute 100 to ensure that all of the falling refuse is received in container 106. The outer edge 117 of funnel unit 116 substantially conforms to the chute opening (either square, round, oval, etc.) and the inner edge 118 of the funnel unit 116 is designed to conform with the opening of container 106 to ensure that all of the refuse falls within the container 106.

Located adjacent the refuse receiving station 1 is compacting station 3 which comprises a housing 119 which receives the container 106 on platform 122 after the container 106 has received material to be compacted and after the gate 112 has been closed. After these conditions are determined, control circuit 2 causes chain drive for platform 122 to move container 106. When the container 106 is properly positioned in the compacting station 3, as indicated by

limit switches

124 and 125, a ram 123 is caused to descend (in a manner well-known in the art) bycontrol circuit 2 and compact the refuse in container 106. Coupled to the ram 123 is a sensor rod 126 for indicating when the container 106 is filled with compacted material.-The rod 126 has a protrusion 127 thereon which cooperates with switch 128, switch 128 being coupled to the control circuit 2. Each time the ram descends, protrusion 127 will operate switch 128, indicating the container 106 is not full. When the ram descends and switch 128 is not operated, this indicates that container 106 is full. When the full pressure has been applied by the ram, the ram rises. This application of full pressure is sensed by a pressure switch which forms part of the ram mechanism. Clearly, sensing devices other than the rod 126 and switch 128 may be used to provide the desired results.

After the ram 123 is raised, if the container 106 is not full, as determined by sensor 125, then the container 106 is automatically moved back to the refuse receiving station 1 for receiving more refuse. In this case, the gate 112 is caused to open after the container 106 is in position and if refuse is present on gate 112, as determined by sensor 113, so that refuse may again fall within container 106. This procedure is repeated until compacting sensor 126 senses that container 106 is full after compaction by ram 123. The platform is then energized and container 106 is automatically ejected out of the compacting station 3, down ramp 129 to a disposal station (not shown).

A sprayer 130 may be provided at compacting station 3 to spray a chemical solution containing insecticide, and/or deoder-agents, and/or a sealing compound on top of the compacted material in the container 106 prior to ejection of container 106 down ramp 129.

Generally, ram force of about 3,000 lbs. will be used for ordinary apartment house use. Obviously, this can be greater or less as required for household, commercial or industrial use, and depending upon the type of material being compacted.

In order to facilitate movement of the containers 106 throughout the system, a container holder 107 is optionally provided. The container holder 107 in the F168. is a device of substantially square configuration within which the container 106 is accommodated. It should be clear that container holder 107 can take any other convenient shape, depending upon the application and depending upon the shape of the container 106. It has been found in practice that by providing a container holder 107, the movement of the container 106 within the system between the various stations is greatly facilitated. The bottom of the holder is so constructed to accommodate the configuration of the bottom of the container and to withstand the force applied by the ram. Clearly, depending upon the particular system, container holder 107 may be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 2, the platform 101 can be extended and can be linked with a further platform 101a which also includes a chain drive mechanism, a roller bearing surface, conveyor belt, or the like, for storage of empty containers which are automatically fed to the refuse receiving station 1 when a full container 106 is ejected down ramp 129. The operation of the additional platform or platforms is coordinated with the system by means of control circuit 2.

Doors

131 and 132 are located above and below the gate 112 in order to provide access to gate 112 in the event a jam occurs.

In order to insure that too much refuse does not fall into a container 106, a second gate 134 (see FIG. 3) may be mounted a predetermined distance above gate 112 in chute 100. The second gate 134 is maintained closed whenever gate 112 is opened. The spacing between gates is such that the volume of material accommodated therebetween does not exceed the capacity of a container. This will reduce the possibility of an overflow of refuse at the receiving station 1 when lower gate 112 is opened. Gate 134 includes sensing switch 135 coupled to control circuit 2 to signal when the gate 134 is closed. A sensing switch 133, coupled to control circuit 2, is provided to sense the presence of material to be compacted on gate 134. Switch 133 operates in a similar manner as does switch 113. These

sensors

133 and 135 are coupled to control circuit 2 which causes gate 134 to operate at the appropriate times. Further details of the operation of gate 134 should be apparent to those skilled in the art.

FIG. 3 shows another modification of the present system which is usable with or without the upper gate 134. Additional switches and 161, coupled to control circuit 2 and operable by protrusion 127 on rod 126 are located above switch 128. Selective operation of these switches by protrusion 127 as the ram 123 descends will sense the degree to which container 106 is filled. This information is operated on in control circuit 2. Also

sensors

162 and 163, such as sonic sensors, are provided above gate 112 to sense how much material is present in chute 100 to be compacted. This information is also sent to control circuit 2 which determines (from the selective operation of

switches

128, 160 and 161) if container 106 has enough available space to accommodate the amount of material waiting to be compacted. If not, the container is ejected down ramp 129 and an empty container is located under chute 100. This is a more complex, but more effective, method of preventing container overflow in compacting systems. However, this more complex system is not believed to be necessary in compacting systems for use with refuse chutes in large residential dwellings and the like. In these residential systems the refuse flow is predictable and the probability of overflow is slight. This modified system is particularly useful in other applications where the delivery of material to be compacted is less predictable than in residential systems.

It should be clear that other sensors may be used in place of

switches

128, 160 and 161 and in place of

sonic sensors

162 and 163 to provide equivalent results.

The control circuit 2 further includes timing circuits which are activated when a gate (gate 112 and/or gate 134) is opened. After opening, if a signal is not received from sensor switches 115 and/or 135, to indicate that the gate has closed within a predetermined period of time, an alarm is activated and the system shut down. This indicates a jam in a gate mechanism which must be cleared manually through access doors, such as

doors

131 and 132 of FIG. 1.

In a preferred embodiment, the

gates

112 and 134 are hydraulically operated (by means not shown). The design of the hydraulic system should be apparent to one skilled in the art within the spirit of this invention. The ram 123 may be a conventional hydraulically operated ram which is also not described herein in detail. The gates and ram may alternatively be pneumatically, mechanically or electrically operated devices.

Referring to FIG. 4 in order to facilitate removal of the compacted contents of a container 106 after it is ejected from the compacting system, a removable liner unit 140 is provided within the container 106. By providing a removable liner unit 140 which is made of a relatively sturdy and corrosion-proof material (such as stainless steel, fiberglass or plastics) the containers 106 can be of relatively inexpensive construction. If desired, the containers 106, when used with a liner 140 of FIG. 4, can be disposable containers, thereby enabling further automation of the present system.

Referring to FIGS. 4a and 4b, the liner 140, which is adapted for use with a cylindrically shaped container 106, includes first and second substantially

semicylindrical members

141 and 142 which are secured together at their edges by

hinges

143 and 144. In this embodiment, both hinges 143 and 144, have removable hinge pins 145 and 146, respectively, to releasably secure the two

members

141 and 142 together. Altematively, only one end of the semicylindrical portions can be releasably secured together by a removable hinge pin, the other pin being permanently in place. The secthereof. As is more clearly seen in FIG. 4a, the flared portions 147 and the flange 148 of the liner 140 have cut-outs therein to form

spaces

149 and 150. The

spaces

149 and 150 are to facilitate the removable hinge pins 145 and 146 while the liner is still within the container 106. The

spaces

149 and 150 are also provided when only one removable hinge pin is used so that sufficient room is provided for the

semi-cylindrical members

141 and 142 to be pivoted about the fixed hinge in the outward direction to release the compacted refuse so that the liner can be easily removed from the container without simultaneously removing the compacted refuse.

FIG. 40 shows an insert 151 which may be used to fill the

spaces

149 and 150, shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b. When a liner having two removable hinge pins is used, such as in the embodiment of FIGS. 4a and 4b, the insert 151 is attached to each hinge pin (FIG. 40 shows a single insert 151 attached to a single hinge pin 145). When a fixed hinge pin is used, the insert 151 may be removably secured in place by other means, not shown. Inserts 151 serve a dual function, the first of which is to fill the

spaces

149 and 150 during filling of the container so that material to be compacted is prevented from falling through

spaces

149 and 150 and into the space between liner 140 and container 106. The second function of the inserts 151 is to facilitate removal of a removable hinge pin.

Since the container 106 rests on a strong base of the container holder 107 there is no need to provide a bottom for the removable liner 140. Even when the container 106 is not constructed of very strong material, no damage is inflicted on the container 106 during the compacting process by virtue of the presence of protecting liner 140.

FIGS. and 5b illustrate liner and container configurations for use with disposable bags, such as plastic or paper bags. Referring to FIG. 5a, the container holder 107 has a container 106 inserted therein. Inserted within the container 106 is a disposable bag 152, the upper edges 153 of the disposable bag being turned over the upper edge of the container 106 to keep the bag 152 in place. Inserted within the disposable bag 152 is a liner 140 of the type previously described in conjunction with FIG. 4 or of the type described below in conjunction with FIGS. 6a and 6b. The liner 140

tions

141 and 142 will pivot about the fixed hinge pin. H

However, when both hinge pins are made removable, the

members

141 and 142 can be detached from each other in order to facilitate removing the liner 140 from the container 106.

As seen in FIG. 4b, the upper portions of the

semicylindrical members

141 and 142 are outwardly flared as shown at 147 and have a flange 148 at the end of the flared portion. The flange 148 may be omitted. The flared portion 147 is to further insure that all of the material from the chute is directed into the container and the combination of the flared portion 147 and flange 148 is to facilitate removal of the liner 140 from the container 106. The flange 148 protrudes from the container 106 so that it is easily gripped for removal (when of the type shown in FIG. 4) may include removable hinge pins at either or both halves thereof, as discussed in connection with FIG. 4. After the container containing the liner 140 is filled with compacted matemoved. Then, the disposable bag 152 is closed, re-

use a container 106 which does not have a bottom thereon in this application. Thus, the container 106, in this embodiment, can take the form of two members which are hingedly secured together at their ends, the hinges having removable hinge pins. Such a container could be substantially identical to a liner 140 of FIG. 4 except the container 106 would not include the outwardly flared portion and the flange portion. In this configuration, the container could be round, square or any other convenient shape. Other types of quick release locking mechanisms may be utilized for such a bottomless container in place of hinges with removable hinge pins. Since the outside surface of the container is readily accessible, it is preferable to utilize quick release locking devices in order to permit removal of the disposable bag without the necessity of lifting the bag over the upper edge of the container.

An alternative to the construction shown in FIG. 5a is shown in FIG. 5b. In this alternate construction an integral structure 153, which combines the functions of container 106 and container holder 107, is provided. The operation of this type of configuration is substantially the same as the operation of the configuration shown in FIG. 5a. Structure 153 is provided with a closable opening having a quick release locking mechanism 154, shown schematically. Various known locking devices, such as hinges with removable hinge pins or the locking mechanism of FIG. 7 may be used. Again, after removal of the liner 140 in the above-described manner, either the disposable bag 152 is lifted out of the integral structure 153 or the door, or the like, is opened by means of locks 154 so that the disposable bag 152 can be easily removed from the side, without necessitating lifting of the bag over the upper edge of the integral structure.

FIG. 6a illustrates another liner 165 according to the present invention. The operation of liner 165 will be described in conjunction with a system using disposable bags, but it should be clear that liner 165 could be used with the conventional system described in conjunction with FIG. 1 with minor modifications being made to the liner 165.

Referring to FIGS. 6a6c the liner 165 is constructed of springy material which tends to spring outward in the direction of the arrows A and has a flange 166 secured thereto or formed as an integral part thereof. The container 167 (FIGS. 6b and 6c) within which the liner is inserted has a square base 168 (for ease of movement throughout the system). The container and base are constructed of three parts: a rear portion 169; and two front portions 170 and 171, each of which are hingedly coupled to rear portion 169 by means of hinges 172 and 173, respectively. Front portions 170 and 171 are releasably coupled together by quick release buckles 174, the design of which are known. The hinges 172 and 173 are located behind the center line 175 of the container (see FIG. 6c) to enable the liner 165 to be easily removed.

In operation, a disposable bag 176 is placed in container 167. Then the liner 165 is pressed together in the direction of the arrows B (see FIG. 6a) and inserted within bag 176 in container 167. It should be apparent that the liner 165, in its free and expanded state has a diameter larger than the inner diameter of the container. Also, the bag 176 is larger than the liner 165 in its free expanded state. The reason for this will become apparent in view of the following description.

After the container and liner are filled with compacted material and ejected by the system to a disposal station, the quick release buckles 174 are opened and the front portions and 171 of container 167 are opened to the position shown by the dot-dash lines in FIG. 60. Since the hinges 172 and 173 are beyond the center line 175, the liner 165 is no longer restrained by the walls of container 167 and will spring outward in the direction of the arrows A of FIG. 6a to release the compacted material. The liner is then easily lifted out of the disposable bag 176, leaving the compacted material remaining in bag 176. The bag 176, filled with compacted material is then disposed of.

FIG. 7 illustrates a quick release type of locking device which may be used in place of one of the hinges on the liner 140 of FIG. 4. The locking devices will be described with reference to the liner 140 of FIG. 4 but it should be apparent that it may be adapted for use with the containers of FIGS. 5b, 6b and 6c. The bars 180 of FIG. 7 are pivotally secured at one end to member 141 of liner 140 by means of pivot pins 181 and are pivotally secured at their other ends to bar 182 by means of povot pins 183. Bars 180 each have respective protrusions 184 thereon which engage stop members 185 which are fixedly secured to member 142 of liner 140. A raised bar 186 is provided over the bars 180 to guide them and to insure that protrusions 184 properly engage stop members 185 to secure the liner in its closed position. A grip member 187, which is either part of bar 182 or removably secured thereto by means of a bore 188 in bar 182, is optionally provided to facilitate release of the locking device of FIG. 7.

In operation, to open the lock, the bar 182 is raised to cause the bars 180 to pivot about pins 181 to raise the protrusions 184. When the bar 182 is sufficiently raised, the protrusions 184 will no longer engage stop members 185, thereby releasing the

members

141 and 142 of liner 140. The

members

141 and 142 are then separated (then pivot about a hinge at their other ends) and removed from the container. The horizontal spacing between

bars

182 and 186 limits the separation between

members

141 and 142 to a desired amount.

It should be clear that the locking device may also be used in conjunction with liner 165 of FIG. 6a. The locking device could be used to lock the liner in its compressed state (i.e., after it has been pressed in the direction of the arrows B in FIG. 6a). Then the liner 165 could be used in much the same manner as the liner of FIG. 4 without disposable bags and without an openable container. In this case, after the liner has been filled with compacted material, the bar 182 on the locking device is lifted and the liner will spring out in the direction of the arrows A in FIG. 6a, thereby releasing the compacted material. Of course, in this configuration, the diameter of liner 165 in its free or expanded condition should be smaller than that of the container, otherwise the liner will be difficult to remove. However, even if the liner is slightly larger than the container removal thereof is still practical.

When compacting systems are used with chutes in refuse handling systems, the problem often encountered is that of eliminating vermin from within the chute. It has been found in practice that merely spraying insecticides into the chute is not a suitable means for controlling vermin. In accordance with a furtherfeature of the present invention, a section of the chute above the gate unit 112 of FIG. 1 is lined with fire brick and a burner is installed above the gate to inject flames within the chute. This feature is shown in FIGS. 8a and 8b.

Referring to FIGS 8a and 8b, the chute 100 is lined with fire brick 155 for a predetermined distance above the gate unit 112. A burner 1156 is mounted in the wall of the chute for injecting flames into the chute to rid the system of vermin. The flames produced by burner 156 are generally shown at 157 in FIGS. 8a and 8b. The burner 156, the specific design of which is known in the art, may operate from gas, oil or any other suitable fuel. It has been found in practice that the heat generated by the flames produced by the burner 156 is effective to kill vermin in the chute. The height of the fire brick 155 above the gate 112 will depend upon the size and other characteristics of the particular system in which the compacting system is used. For residential systems, such as in apartment houses, a height of approximately 2-3 feet above the gate unit 112 is adequate.

The burner 156 is coupled to the control circuit 2 which controls the burner 156 to operate at times when refuse is not being fed down the chute 100. In residential dwellings, such as apartment houses and the like, the control circuit 2 will be programmed to operate the burner 156 in the early morning hous.

An advantage of the present invention is that the system may be installed in existing incinerator installations without making major modifications thereto. A further advantage of the described system is that it utilizes a straight-line (rather than curved) container feed arrangement. See, for example, FIG. 2 which shows-a top view of an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the empty containers are stored at platform portion 101 and are moved in a straight line to the refuse receiving station 1. The containers are then moved, also in a straight line, to the compacting station 3 where the refuse is compacted. After compaction, the container is moved, again in a straight line, either back to the refuse receiving station or down the ramp 129 to the disposal station (not shown). Thus, there are no curved paths through which the container must be moved, thereby enabling simpler, and therefore more reliable transporting mechanisms to be used with the system of the present invention.

Instead of chute having a square configuration as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, chutes of other configuration such as rectangular, circular, oval, etc. can also be utilized.

As mentioned above, the design of the control circuit 2 should be apparent to one ordinarily skilled in the art in view of the detailed description of the system and its operation set forth hereinabove. The logic contained within control circuit 2 may be designed in a straightforward manner by use of standard Boolean Algebra techniques. The circuitry itself may comprise relay, vacuum tube, or semi-conductor elements. Preferably, semi-conductor circuits comprising AND-gates, OR- gates, flip-flops, and the like, the designs of which are all well-known, are used. Since the operation of the various portions of the system and the interplay therebetween is described in detail above, a detailed description of the inner workings of the control circuit 2 is not included herein for the sake of clarity so as not to unduly obscure the present inventive concept.

What is claimed is:

1. A method for compacting material in a container characterized by the steps of:

a. moving an empty container along a given openended path to a position under a chute for receiving material to be compacted;

b. opening a gate unit to open said chute for feeding material to be compacted into said container, and then closing said gate unit;

c. moving said container, when said gate is closed, from under said chute to a compacting station along another given path which is independent of said first-mentioned given path wherein said mate rial is compacted;

d. sensing the level of said compacted material in said container at said compacting station; and

e. moving said container along said another given path to a position back under said chute for receiving further material to be compacted if the level of the compacted material in said container is below a predetermined level, and ejecting said container from the compacting system if the level of the compacted material in said container is above said predetermined level;

f. repeating steps (b) (e) in the event that the level of the compacted material in said container is below said predetermined level.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of opening said gate unit includes sensing the presence of material to be compacted in said chute, and then opening said gate unit.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said gate unit includes a pair of spaced gate members in said chute, and said step of opening said gate unit includes opening the lower of said gate members when the upper of said gate members is closed.

4. The method of claim 3 including opening said upper gate member when said lower gate member is closed, and then opening said lower gate member.

5. The method of claim ll comprising moving another empty container along said first-mentioned given path to a position under said chute for receiving material to be compacted when a full container is ejected from the compacting system.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of ejecting said container comprises ejecting said container from the compacting system along said another given path.

7. The method of claim 1 comprising sensing the amount of material to be compacted lying on said gate unit before opening said gate unit; and operating said transport means for ejecting a container from said compacting station if the amount of material lying on said gate unit exceeds the available capacity of said container, and for moving said container back to said position under said chute for receiving material to be compacted if the capacity of said container is not exceeded.

8. The method of claim 11 wherein said firstmentioned given path and said another given path are linear paths and are substantially perpendicular to each