US3929064A

US3929064A - Refuse compactor with receptacle controlled actuation

Info

Publication number: US3929064A
Application number: US430175A
Authority: US
Inventors: Thomas R Macfarlane
Original assignee: Whirlpool Corp
Current assignee: Whirlpool Corp
Priority date: 1974-01-02
Filing date: 1974-01-02
Publication date: 1975-12-30
Anticipated expiration: 1992-12-30

Abstract

A refuse compactor having structure for providing automatic compaction of refuse as a result of movement of the refuse compacting receptacle from a refuse receiving station to a refuse compacting position.

Description

United States Patent 1 1 MacFarlane REFUSE COMPACTOR WITH RECEPTACLE CONTROLLED ACTUATION Thomas R. MacFarlan'e, St. Joseph, Mich.

Inventor:

[73] Assigneez. Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor, Mich.

Filed: Jan. 2, 1974 Appl. No.: 430,175

US. Cl 100/53; 100/229 A Int. Cl. B30B 15/14 Field of Search 100/100, 53, 229 A, 48, 100/49, 53, 215, 221, 223, 224, 229 R; 307/141.4; 318/484 [5 6] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 11/1952 Smith 100/49 Primary Examiner-Bil1y J. Wilhite Attorney, Agent, or FirmHofgren, Wegner, Allen, Stellman & McCord 57 ABSTRACT A refuse compactor having structure for providing automatic compaction of refuse as a result of movement of the refuse compacting receptacle from a refuse receiving station to a refuse compacting position.

13 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures US. Pawnt Dec. 30, 1975 J millllill IIMII l|| v mmm'fil mmum ll l I I I IL f I I I l I IL REFUSE COMPACTOR WITH RECEPTACLE CONTROLLED ACTUATION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to refuse compactors, and in particular, to means for controlling the compacting operation of refuse compactors.

2. Description of the Prior Art In one improved form of refuse compactor disclosed in U.S. letters Pat. No. 3,613,560 of Bottas et al, a refuse receiving receptacle is provided in the form of a drawer which may be selectively moved to a refuse receiving position wherein refuse may be placed in the drawer. The drawer may then be moved into a housing portion of the compactor. A compacting ram is disposed within the housing portion and may be operated by manipulation of suitable control means provided on the compactor to compress the refuse deposited in the receptacle. At the end of each compacting operation, the ram may be placed in a retracted position permitting the drawer to then be withdrawn from the housing for placement therein of further refuse as desired.

A number of different apparatuses have been developed for controlling the operation of such refuse compactors. Thus, in U.S. letters Pat. No. 3,625,139 of Cyril R. Gollnick, a control is provided in a refuse packing apparatus which automatically operates the ram each time a predetermined amount of refuse material is placed in the receptacle.

A number of different circuits have been developed for effecting automatic operation of an electrical appliance such as illustrated in U.S. letters Pat. No. 3,337,756 of Carl J. Mendenhall and U.S. Pat. No. 3,434,028 of Raymond G. McCready.

In the conventional refuse compactor, a manually operable switch is provided to initiate operation of the compacting ram with suitable limit switches being associated with the ram for limiting the compacting movement and retracting movement to provide a single compactionoperation each time the control switch is suitably manipulated. The ram may be repeatedly operated with the receptacle in the compacting position as desired by the user, although each operation requires a separate actuation of the ram mechanism.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION ceptacle is placed in the refuse compacting position with the compactor door closed. While the improved control has been found to be highly desirable in industrial and commercial installations of the refuse compactor, it may be similarly used to provide improved compaction density in domestic applications as well.

The control may be arranged to provide normal manual control of the compaction operation as desired, and means may be provided for locking the control against unauthorized operation. Such locking means have been found to be particularly desirable in domestic applications where children may otherwise inadvertently cause operation of the compactor with possible injury.

In the illustrated embodiment, a time delay circuit is utilized to permit a resetting of the control for subsequent automatic compaction operation while permitting an initiated compaction operation to proceed to completion. Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, the time delay circuit bypasses the normal limit switches to permitoperation of the ram during initiation of the compaction cycle while permitting the ram to be controlled by the limit switches at the end of the compaction cycle to stop movement of the ram in'the retracted The present invention comprehends a refuse compactor having an improved automatic control circuit providing improved efficiency in the compaction operation.

When only a small amount of refuse is placed in the receptacle, the user may often elect not to operate the compacting ram but wait until a substantial amount of refuse has been placed in the receptacle before effecting such operation.

It has been found unexpectedly that such use of the compactor does not provide effectively maximum compaction of the refuse notwithstanding a high pressure force developed by the compacting ram which may be in the order of 2000 p.s.i. More specifically, it has been found that a compaction operation substantially each time any amount of additional refuse is placed in the compactor provides optimum compaction of the refuse. Thus, the present invention comprehends providing automatic control means for effecting a compaction operation each time additional refuse is delivered to the compaction space and the reposition. Suitable switch means responsive to the movement of the closure door to the compacting position may be provided for initiating the compaction operation.

The compactor control of the present invention is extremely simple and economical of construction while yet providing the highly desirable features discussed above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refuse compactor having an improved automatic control embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially along the line 22 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic wiring diagram of the electrical circuit of the control.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the exemplary embodiment of the invention as disclosed in the drawing, a refuse compactor generally designated 10 is shown to comprise a freestanding refuse compactor, it being understood that the present invention may be utilized in connection with other forms of compactors, such as built-in compactors. A refuse-holding receptacle generally designated 11 is provided for receiving and holding the refuse in the compaction operation. Receptacle 11 may be a drawer selectively disposed forwardly of the cabinet 12 of the compactor in a refuse-receiving position as shown in FIG. 1. Upon introduction of the refuse into the drawer, the drawer may be moved rearwardly into a front opening 13 in cabinet 12 to a compacting position subjacent a compacting ram 14 movably carried on a plurality of uprights 15 within the cabinet as shown in FIG. 2. The drawer includes a front wall or door 16 providing closure means for front opening 13. The front wall 16 is provided with suitable manipulating handle 17 for facilitating movement of the drawer between the refuse-loading and compacting dispositions.

In the conventional use of such refuse compactors, the drawer is lined with a suitable bag (not shown) permitting facilitated disposal of the compacted refuse.

Compacting movement of the ram 14 downwardly into the drawer, in the compacting position of FIG. 2, is effected by energizing of an electric drive motor 18 to drive a chain drive 19 which rotates threaded drive elements 20 within threaded female elements 21 on the ram for effecting selective vertical movement of the ram as a function of the direction of rotation of the elements 20. Suitable control of electric motor 18 to effect such reversible rotation of the drive elements 20 is herein effected by an electrical control 22 schematically illustrated in FIG. 3. As indicated briefly above, control 22 provides an improved operation of the refuse compactor in causing selectively automatic compacting operation of ram 14 each time drawer receptacle 11 is moved from the refuse-receiving position of FIG. 1 to the refuse-compacting position of FIG. 2.

Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, control 22 includes a drawer switch 23 which is closed when the drawer is in the compacting position as by engagement thereof by a suitable operator 24 carried on the drawer. It is to be understood that switch 23 may be mounted such that it is operated by engagement with an operator mounted on the drawer front wall 16. A top limit switch 25 is provided at the top of cabinet 12 to be engaged by the ram 14 when the ram is in the upper, retracted position of FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 3, drawer switch 23 is connected from lead L1 of the power supply to a manually controllable Off-Run switch 26 mounted on the front wall of the cabinet to provide manual control of the compacting operation. A normally open reset switch 27 is connected in series with switch 26 and through the run winding 28 of motor 18 and a motor protector overload device 29 to the other power supply lead L2. A start winding 30 of motor 18 is connected in parallel with run winding 28 by a suitable directional switch device generally designated 31 including a pair of single pole,

double throw switches

32 and 33. As shown in FIG. 3, switch 32 includes a movable contact 32a selectively engageable with a first fixed contact 32b connected to lead 34 interconnecting switch 27 and run winding 28, and a second fixed contact 32c connected to a lead 35 in turn connected to between run winding 28 and overload protector device 29. Switch 33 includes a movable contact 33a selectively engageable with a first fixed contact 33b connected to lead 35 and a second fixed contact 330 connected to lead 34. A Run" light 36 is connected between

leads

34 and 35 to indicate the operation of the compacting ram motor 18. A conventional centrifugal switch 37 is connected between'movable contact 32a of switch 32 and one end of start winding 30 and the other end of the start winding is connected to movable contact 33a of switch 33.

In the illustrated embodiment, automatic control of the ram operation is effected by a time delay relay generally designated 38 having a coil 39 and a normally closed holding contact 40. One end of coil 39 is connected through a lead 41 to between

switches

26 and 27, and the other end of the coil is connected to an electronic switch 44, which, in turn, is connected to lead 35. Contact 40 of time delay relay 38 is connected from lead 41 to a lead 42 between switch 25 and a conventional normally closed single pole, single throw drawer tilt switch 43 which, in turn, is connected to lead 34.

Time delay is provided by a conventional resistancecapacitance network consisting of a resistor 45 and a capacitor 46. A predetermined charge on capacitor 46 is necessary in order to gate electronic switch 44 to a conductive state, thus energizing coil 39.

In the operation of the refuse compactor, the user may effect a normal compaction operation by manipulating reset switch 27 to energize the motor 18 across power supply leads L1 and L2, switches 23 and 26 being maintained in the closed position. Centrifugal switch 37 opens as the motor increases to above a predetermined speed to remove power from the start winding 30. Top limit switch 25 closes as soon as the ram drops slightly below the retracted position of FIG. 2 so as to maintain the circuit to the drive motor upon release of the normally open control switch 27 by the operator. Ram 14 descends with the direction switch 31 switching to the

opposite contacts

32b and 33b of the arrangement shown in FIG. 3 shortly after switch 25 closes. At such time as the compaction pressure reaches a preselected pressure, such as 2000 p.s.i., the motor 18 stalls and is restarted in the opposite direction by the closure of centrifugal switch 37 re-energizing start winding 30 in the opposite direction due to the aforementioned switching of switch 31. The ram is thereby withdrawn from drawer 11 back to the retracted position of FIG. 2 in which position the top limit switch 25 is opened by the ram to limit further operation of the motor. A more detailed explanation of the operation of top limit switch 25 and the directional switch 31 may be had by reference to the aforementioned Bottas et al patent, which disclosure is herein incorporated by reference.

The compactor is further operated each time drawer 11 is moved from the refuse loading position to the compacting position. Thus, as shown in FIG. 3, time delay relay coil 39 is normally continuously energized as long as the drawer is retained in the compacting position with switch 23 being maintained closed and the apparatus arranged in the Run mode by the selective positioning of the Off-Run" switch 26 in the closed position. When the drawer is opened, switch 23 opens so as to de-energize the control, effectively preventing compacting operation during the open drawer condition. With coil 39 de-energized, contact 40 closes. However, when the drawer is again moved to the compacting position, switch 23 closes, thereby energizing the time delay relay coil 39 and energizing the drive motor 18 through the normally closed contact 40 of time delay relay 38 notwithstanding the opened condition of the top limit switch 25. Downward movement of the ram is thereby initiated to initiate the compaction operation. After a preselected period of time, which is the time delay of time delay relay 38, contact 40 is opened by the energization of coil 39 with the continued operation of the drive motor now being under the control of the top limit switch and the other safety elements of the control circuit. At the completion of the automatic compaction operation, the top limit switch again limits the retraction of the ram. When the drawer is again moved to the loading position. of FIG. 1, the reopening of the switch 23 again de-energizes the time delay relay coil 39 so as to permit contact 40 to close and thereby condition the compactor for initiation of a subsequent automatic compaction ope ration when the switch 23 is again closed by movement of the drawer back to the compacting position. The compactor then goes through a subsequent compacting cycle as described above.

While in the illustrated embodiment a time delay relay is utilized to provide the desired automatic control of the compactor motor operation, as will be obvious to those skilled in the art, other suitable controls may be utilized within the scope of the invention. it has been found that as a result of such automatic compaction each time the refuse-holding receptacle is moved to the compacting position, up to 30 percent increase in the compaction ratio is effected so as to provide a substantially greater amount of refuse compaction before the necessity of disposal of the compacted refuse. In a domestic application, such improved compaction may permit the use of smaller size disposable bagged refuse of a preselected maximum weight, and in industrial and commercial installations, a substantial increase in the total amount of refuse compacted for a given size of compacted refuse may be utilized with the total weight of the compacted refuse being increased by up to 30 percent or more by the improved automatic compaction operation.

The foregoing disclosure of specific embodiments is illustrative of the broad inventive concepts comprehended by the invention.

Having described the invention, the embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A refuse compactor comprising: a receptacle defining a compacting space; means for movably mounting said receptacle for selective disposition in a refuse compacting position and in a refuse receiving position; ram means for compacting refuse in the receptacle; control means for causing sequential movement of the ram means from a retracted position, into compacting engagement with refuse in the receptacle in the compacting position, and back to the retracted position; and means responsive to movement of the receptacle from said refuse receiving position to said refuse compacting position for temporarily operating said ram to move a preselected small amount away from said retracted position and cause said control means to complete a said sequential movement of the ram means.

2. A refuse compactor comprising: a receptacle defining a compacting space; means for movably mounting said receptacle for selective disposition in a refuse compacting position and in a refuse receiving position; and means for compacting refuse in the receptacle as the result of movement of the receptacle from said refuse receiving position to said refuse compacting position including a control having a time delay relay for selectively arranging the control to provide seriatim a compacting operation of the compacting means upon movement of the receptacle to said refuse compacting position and rearrangement of the compacting means in a retracted disposition upon completion of the compacting operation, said control further automatically providing subsequent operation of the compacting means as a result of firstly moving the receptacle to said refuse receiving position and then to said refuse compacting position.

3. The refuse compactor of claim 1 wherein said refuse compacting means further includes means for selectively initiating operation thereof independently of movement of the receptacle.

4. The refuse compactor of claim 1 further including lock means for selectively preventing operation of the compacting means notwithstanding movement of the 6 receptacle from said refuse receiving position to said refuse compacting position.

5. The refuse compactor of claim 1 wherein said refuse compacting means includes an electrically powered ram and On-Off switch means for selectively energizing the refuse compactor, said refuse compacting means including electrical control means responsive to said On-Off switch means to effect a refuse compacting operation as an incident of manipulating said On-Off switch means to the On condition with said receptacle disposed in said refuse compacting position.

6. The refuse compactor of claim 1 wherein said refuse compacting means includes an electrically powered ram, and On-Off switch means for selectively energizing the refuse compactor, said refuse compacting means including electrical control means responsive to said On-Off switch means to effect a refuse compacting operation as an incident of manipulating said On-Off switch means to the On condition with said receptacle disposed in said refuse compacting position, and manually operable means for selectively initiating operation of said ram with said receptacle disposed in said refuse compacting position and said On-Off switch means in the On condition.

7. A refuse compactor comprising: a receptacle defining a compacting space; means for movably mounting said receptacle for selective disposition in a refuse compacting position and in a refuse receiving position; an electrically powered ram; and control means for operating said ram to compact refuse in the receptacle as the result of movement of the receptacle from said refuse receiving position to said refuse compacting position, said control means including a receptacle switch normally closed when said receptacle is disposed in said refuse compacting position, a holding switch connected in series with said receptacle switch, and means for closing said holding switch as an incident of moving of the receptacle from said refuse compacting position to said refuse receiving position, said holding switch being maintained closed upon return of the receptacle from the refuse receiving position to the refuse compacting position and being caused to be opened after initiation of compacting operation of said ram.

8. A refuse compactor comprising:.a receptacle defining a compacting space; means for movably mounting said receptacle for selective disposition in a refuse compacting position and in a refuse receiving position; an electrically powered ram; and control means for operating said ram to compact refuse in the receptacle as the result of movement of the receptacle from said refuse receiving position to said refuse compacting position, said control means including a receptacle switch normally closed when said receptacle is disposed in said refuse compacting position, a holding switch connected in series with said receptacle switch, means for closing said holding switch as an incident of moving of the receptacle from said refuse compacting position to said refuse receiving position, and means for opening said holding switch comprising time delay relay means arranged to open said holding switch a preselected time after said receptacle is moved to said compacting position.

9. A refuse compactor comprising: a receptacle defining a compacting space; means for movably mounting said receptacle for selective disposition in a refuse compacting position and in a refuse receiving position; an electrically powered ram; and control means for operating said ram to compact refuse in the receptacle as the result of movement of the receptacle from said refuse receiving position to said refuse compacting position, said control means including a receptacle switch normally closed when said receptacle is disposed in said refuse compacting position, a holding switch connected in series with said receptacle switch, and means for closing said holding switch as an incident of moving of the receptacle from said refuse compacting position to said refuse receiving position, said means for closing said holding switch including a time delay relay having an operating coil in series with said receptacle switch.

10. A refuse compactor comprising: a receptacle defining a compacting space; means for movably mounting said receptacle for selective disposition in a refuse compacting position and in a refuse receiving position; an electrically powered ram; and control means for operating said ram to compact refuse in the receptacle as the result of movement of the receptacle from said refuse receiving position to said refuse compacting position, said control means including a receptacle switch normally closed when said receptacle is disposed in said refuse compacting position, a holding switch connected in series with said receptacle switch, and means for closing said holding switch as an incident of moving of the receptacle from said refuse compacting position to said refuse receiving position, said means for closing said holding switch including a time delay relay having an operating coil in series with said receptacle switch, said operating coil being connected to be energized continuously after an initial time delay controlled by said relay while said receptacle remains in said refuse compacting position, said control further including a top limit switch for de-energizing said electrically powered ram when the ram is in a retracted 8 position upon completion of a compaction operation, said holding switch being connected in parallel with said top limit switch for initiating a compaction operation from said retracted position notwithstanding the open condition of the top limit switch.

11. A refuse compactor comprising: means for delivering refuse to a compacting space; compacting means for selectively compacting refuse in the compacting space; first control means for initiating compacting operation of said compacting means as a result of delivery of refuse to said compacting space; means for causing said first control means to be disabled a preselected time subsequent to said initiation of the compacting operation; and second control means for continuing operation of said compacting means notwithstanding the disabling of said first control means for completing the initiated compacting operation of said compacting means, said first control means remaining disabled until a subsequent delivery of refuse to said compacting space is effected 12. The refuse compactor of claim 11 including an outer housing wall defining an opening through which said refuse is delivered by said delivering means, said refuse delivering means including closure means for selectively closing said opening, said control means causing operation of said compacting means concurrently with each closing of said opening by said closure means following delivery of refuse through said opening.

13. The refuse compactor of claim 11 wherein said control means further includes means for selectively initiating operation of the compacting means independently of the delivery of refuse to said compacting space by said delivering means.

Claims

4. The refuse compactor of claim 1 further including lock means for selectively preventing operation of the compacting means notwithstanding movement of the receptacle from said refuse receiving position to said refuse compacting position.

5. The refuse compactor of claim 1 wherein said refuse compacting means includes an electrically powered ram and On-Off switch means for selectively energizing the refuse compactor, said refuse compacting means including electrical control means responsive to said On-Off switch means to effect a refuse compacting operation as an incident of manipulating said On-Off switch means to the ''''On'''' condition with said receptacle disposed in said refuse compacting position.

6. The refuse compactor of claim 1 wherein said refuse compacting means includes an electrically powered ram, and On-Off switch means for selectively energizing the refuse compactor, said refuse compacting means including electrical control means responsive to said On-Off switch means to effect a refuse compacting operation as an incident of manipulating said On-Off switch means to the ''''On'''' condition with said receptacle disposed in said refuse compacting position, and manually operable means for selectively initiating operation of said ram with said receptacle disposed in said refuse compacting position and said On-Off switch means in the ''''On'''' condition.

8. A refuse compactor comprising: a receptacle defining a compacting space; means for movably mounting said receptacle for selective disposition in a refuse compacting position and in a refuse receiving position; an electrically powered ram; and control means for operating said ram to compact refuse in the receptacle as the result of movement of the receptacle from said refuse receiving position to said refuse compacting position, said control means including a receptacle switch normally closed when said receptacle is disposed in said refuse compacting position, a holding switch connected in series with said receptacle switch, means for closing said holding switch as an incident of moving of the receptacle from said refuse compacting position to said refuse receiving position, and means for opening said holding switch comprising time delay relay means arranged to open said holding switch a preselected time after said receptacle is moved to said compacting position.

10. A refuse compactor comprising: a receptacle defining a compacting space; means for movably mounting said receptacle for selective disposition in a refuse compacting position and in a refuse receiving position; an electrically powered ram; and control means for operating said ram to compact refuse in the receptacle as the result of movement of the receptacle from said refuse receiving position to said refuse compacting position, said control means including a receptacle switch normally closed when said receptacle is disposed in said refuse compacting position, a holding switch connected in series with said receptacle switch, and means for closing said holding switch as an incident of moving of the receptacle from said refuse compacting position to said refuse receiving position, said means for closing said holding switch including a time delay relay having an operating coil in series with said receptacle switch, said operating coil being connected to be energized continuously after an initial time delay controlled by said relay while said receptacle remains in said refuse compacting position, said control further including a top limit switch for de-energizing said electrically powered ram when the ram is in a retracted position upon completion of a compaction operation, said holding switch being connected in parallel with said top limit switch for initiating a compaction operation from said retracted position notwithstanding the open condition of the top limit switch.

11. A refuse compactor comprising: means for delivering refuse to a compacting space; compacting means for selectively compacting refuse in the compacting space; first control means for initiating compacting operation of said compacting means as a result of delivery of refuse to Said compacting space; means for causing said first control means to be disabled a preselected time subsequent to said initiation of the compacting operation; and second control means for continuing operation of said compacting means notwithstanding the disabling of said first control means for completing the initiated compacting operation of said compacting means, said first control means remaining disabled until a subsequent delivery of refuse to said compacting space is effected

12. The refuse compactor of claim 11 including an outer housing wall defining an opening through which said refuse is delivered by said delivering means, said refuse delivering means including closure means for selectively closing said opening, said control means causing operation of said compacting means concurrently with each closing of said opening by said closure means following delivery of refuse through said opening.