US3106888A

US3106888A - Device for crushing containers

Info

Publication number: US3106888A
Application number: US75568A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard J Chapleau
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1960-12-13
Filing date: 1960-12-13
Publication date: 1963-10-15
Anticipated expiration: 1980-10-15

Description

Oct. 15, 1963 R. J. CHAPLEAU DEVICE FOR CRUSHING CONTAINERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 15, 1960 RICHARD J. CHAFLEAU INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Oct. 15, 1963 R. J. CHAPLEAU DEVICE FOR CRUSHING CONTAINERS 4 Sheets-Sheet' 2 Filed Dec. 15, 1960 INVENTOR. RICHARD J. CHAPLEAU ATTORNEY Oct. 15, 1963 R. J. CHAPLEAU 3,106,388

DEVICE FOR CRUSHING CONTAINERS Filed Dec. 15, 1960 r 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 F as. 5 54 44 I: l/Z 44 I 24 E Q: E

INV EN TOR.

RICHARD J. CHAPLEAU Y @M MM ATTQQJEY Oct. 15, 1963 R. J. CHAPLEAU DEVICE FOR CRUSHING CONTAINERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 15, 1960 lZO ATTOR NEY United States Patent Ofiice 3,106,888 Patented Oct. 15, 1963 3,196,888 DEVICE FOR CRUSHING CONTAINERS Richard J. Chapleau, 52930 Timberland Road, South Bend, 1nd. Filed Dec. 13, 1960, Ser. No. 75,568 14 Claims. (ill. 100-232) This invention relates to a device for crushing containers and more particularly to a device for crushing metal containers or cans.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a novel, simple, strong, light weight and compact means for crushing containers.

A further object is to provide a device of this character having two pairs of crushing devices disposed in angular relation to each other and operating sequentially to crush a container to predetermined shape and fiat form.

A further object is to provide a device of this character having opposed crushing means carrying spring-urged container supporting means and having second opposed crushing means normally in retracted relation to the path of the first means and adapted to travel perpendicularly to the path of the first means to partially crush a metal can while the sarne is supported upon the aforesaid supporting means.

A further object is to provide a device of this character having a novel frame of strong construction which is adapted to receive or accept containers to be crushed and to discharge such containers when crushed.

A further object is to provide a device of thischaracter having a pair of angularly disposed, successively ope-rated can crushing means, wherein one of such means supports a can during the successive operations of both crushing means and automatically discharges the cans when crushed.

Other objects will be apparent from the following specification.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan View of the device with .parts shown schematically;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary'vertical sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on line 44 of PEG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the device illustrating the initial crushing action performed by the device;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view illustrating the final crushing action performed by the device;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 2 but illustrating a modified embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary detail sectional view taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9is a fragmentary view of a can after the same has been partially deformed at the end thereof by the can-creasing means of the construction illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 1-1t of FIG. 7 and shown in reduced scale; and

lFlG. 11 is a fragmentary vertical detail sectional view taken on line -111-1 of FIG. 7 and illustrating the can in substantially fully crushed condition.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1 to 6, inclusive, which illustrate one embodiment of the invention, the numeral 10 designates a frame of sub stantially cylindrical form, open at its top and bottom. The frame It) may be mounted upon any suitable support (not shown) or may be enclosed within any desired housing. It will be understood that, while the cylindrical form is preferred because of the strength and simplicity thereof, other forms may be employed and the frame may be of any configuration desired to facilitate assembly of cooperating parts, to provide the desired appearance or design or to satisfy any operating requirement. The frame is rigid and is constructed to resist deforming thereof incident to the stresses of operation of the device.

A pair of power-operated crushing units are carried by the frame 11 in opposed relation. Each of these units includes a power-operated actuator 12 adapted to be connected with a source of power. I have chosen for illustration herein the use of fluid pressure operated actuators, and more particularly actuators operated by compressed air.

In the form shown, each actuator has an end or base plate 14 which is secured to the frame 10 by bolts 16 or other suitable securing means, as illustrated in FIG. 3. A cup-shaped diaphragm 18 is anchored at its margin to the base plate 14 by means of a clamping ring 20. The securing means 16 also serve the function of drawing the clamping ring 20 into clamping engagement with the margin of the diaphragm so that the latter is seal ingly mounted upon the base 14 at its margin.

The central portion of the diaphragm 18 bears against an inner rigid disk 22 mounted upon a rod or shaft 24 extending centrally and :slidably through an opening 26 in the base plate 14. Rod 24 passesfreely through an opening 28 in the frame 10 and terminates in a screwthreaded end portion 30. Rod 24 extends substantially radially in the frame It and rods 24 of opposite crushing units are preferably substantially aligned.

The member 22 is preferably cup-shaped and is provided with a marginal cylindrical portion 32 hearing against the inner surface of the cup-shaped part of the diaphragm wall 18 and serving to confine and position one end of a coil spring 34 located within the diaphragm and bearing at its opposite end against the plate 14. The spring 34 serves normally to urge the diaphragm to expanded cup-Shaped position, as shown in FIG. 3, wherein the opposed crushing units to be described are separated and inoperative.

The actuator 12 includes means for anchoring the central portion of the diaphragm to the plate 22 and the rod 24 and, in the form here shown, such means constitutes a clamping plate 36 anchored upon the projecting end portion 38 of the rod 24 and cooperating with the cupshaped member 22 to clamp the central portion of the diaphragm.

Power-actuated member 12 has a cup-shaped housing whose free cylindrical end portion is mounted upon the plate 14 and whose end portion 42 has a central opening in which is mounted a nipple or fitting member 44. A fluid pressure line 46 is connected to the nipple 44 in a suitable manner, as by means of a hose coupler 48.

The screw-threaded end portion 31] of the rod 24 is positioned within the outline of the frame 10 in all operative positions and, as here shown, mounts thereon a hub or fitting member 50 to which is fixedly secured an elongated rigid crushing plate 52 positioned in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the rod 24 and with its major longitudinal dimension horizontal.

Each of the crushing plates 52carries a pair of springpres sed supporting members. These members may be of the construction illustrated in FIG. 4, wherein a cylindrical spring housing 54 is screw-threaded at one end portion 56 thereof within an opening in the plate 52 and has screw-threaded on its opposite end a cap or closure member 58. The part 56 has an axial opening therein within which is slidable an elongated rigid pin 60 having an enlarged head 62 at its inner end slidable within the bore of the part 54 and pressed upon by a coil spring 64 11 within the part 54 whose opposite end engages the cap 58. The pins 60 project from the inner faces of the plate 52, as illustrated in FIG. 1, and are located adjacent the bottom margins of said plates 52, as illustrated in FIG. 3. The two pins on each crusher plate 52 are located at substantially the same level, and the pins 60 on opposite crushing members 52 are spaced apart in the normal or inoperative relation of the parts as illustrated in FIG. 1.

A second pair of power-actuated crushing members is mounted on the frame in diametrically opposed relation to each other and substantially perpendicularly related to the power-actuator of crushing

members

12, 52. The second power actuated crushing members include actuator portions 70 adapted to be operated by any suitable source of power and conveniently or preferably being actuated by the same source of power as is utilized to operate the actuators 12. Fluid pressure actuators, preferably of the compressed air type, have been elected for illustration.

In the form shown, each actuator 70 has a housing portion 72 characterized by a base 74 secured to the frame 10 by suitable securing means. The outer end of the housing 72 is preferably open and may be flanged at 78 to engage the marginal portion of a diaphragm 80 which is clamped thereto by the marginal portion of an end cap or closure plate 82 detachably mounted on the end of the housing 72 by any suitable means, such as a retainer ring 84. The cap 82 preferably has a central opening to which is connected one end of a fluid pressure line or conduit 86.

The base 74 of the housing 72 preferably has a central aperture in which is slidably mounted one end of a rod 88 which preferably terminates in or mounts a cupshaped member 90 to which the central portion of the diaphragm 80 is secured in any suitable manner, as by the use of a clamp plate 92 mounted on the projecting end portion of the shaft 88 and pressing the central portion of the diaphragm against the member 90. A coil spring 94 bears at one end against the base 74 and at its opposite end against the member 90 to normally urge the shaft 88 to retracted position, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

The rod 88 of each unit is preferably axially aligned with the similar rod of the other unit and, upon endwise shifting thereof, moves substantially parallel to the plates 52 and between the same. At its inner free end each rod 88 mounts a V-shaped crushing member 96 having its sharp edge positioned innermost and preferably having its longitudinal dimension vertical. In the normal position of the parts as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the innermost or edge portion of each of the members 96 is positioned clear of the path of travel of plates 52.

In a compressed air-operated device of the character here shown, conduits 86 are connected into open communication with each other as by means of a T-fitting 100 connected to one part of a control valve 102 and the conduits 46 are connected in communication as by means of a T-fitting 104 connected to another part of the control valve 100. Valve housing 102 is connected by conduit 106 with a source of fiuid under pressure, such as an air compressor 108. The valve has an exhaust port 110 and may be of the type having a rotatable valve plug 112 provided with

passages

114 and 116. The valve will preferably be capable of connecting inlet 106 with either of the

fittings

100 or 104 and of connecting the other of said fittings with the outlet 110 so as to control the flow of fluid under pressure from the pressure source 108 to a selected pair of actuators and fiow of fluid under pressure from the other pair of actuators to atmosphere.

Any suitable means (not shown) may be provided to render the device safe for operation. Thus, in event the device is mounted within a casing or housing (not shown) the valve may be so located that it cannot be easily actuated until the casing or housing has been closed. Hence the operator cannot have his hand within the device or in 4 a position at which he could be injured incident to the operation of the device.

In the use of the device, the container or metal can 129 to be crushed is mounted in the device to rest upon the inner ends of the pins 60, as illustrated in dotted lines in FIG. 3. The tips of the pins 60 will be spaced apart a distance less than the diameter of the container 120 so as to support the container 120 with its axis parallel to the plates 52. In the event containers 120 of small diameter are to be crushed, spacers (not shown) may be interposed between the head 50 and the plate 52 on the one hand, and the frame 10 to limit the extent to which the springs 34 move the crush plates 52 outwardly after each crushing stroke. After the can 120 has been so positioned, the casing or enclosure may be closed and the valve 102 operated as by rotation of the valve plug 112 counterclockwise to bring the valve plug passage 116 into communication with the inlet passage 106 and the fitting to which the conduits 86 are connected. Fluid pressure is thereby applied to the two actuators 70 against the diaphragm 80 thereof for the purpose of moving endwise and inwardly the rods 88 and the V- shaped crushing members 96 mounted thereon. The V-shaped crushing members 96 engages the central portions of the opposite ends of the can, as illustrated in FIG. 5, to form transverse creases 122 therein. The creases 122 formed in the end faces and rims 124 of the can preferably extend completely thereacross, are substantially V-shaped and may be shallow. These creases also result in the formation of bulges 126 in the sides of the can adjacent the creases 122. The creasing of the ends of the can in this manner does not interfere with its continued support upon the pins 60 and the plates 52 will preferably be spaced apart sufliciently so that they are free from contact with the can during the end creasing operation.

Upon completion of the creasing stroke of the creasing

members

88, 96 energized by the actuator 70, the valve 102 is actuated to reverse the setting of the

plug passages

114 and 116. Thus the passage 114 is brought into communication with the supply conduit 106 and the fitting 104 with which the conduits 46 communicate, and the passage 116 is brought into communication with passage .160 with which the conduits 86 communicate and the exhaust 110. This provides for simultaneous operation of the power operated

actuators

112 and 70 by permitting venting of the actuators 70 to atmosphere with incident return of the creasing members 96 to the retracted position illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 6 and energizing the actuators 12 to move the pressure plates 52 toward each other from the position shown in FIG. 5 toward that shown in FIG. 6. As the plates 52 contact the sides of the can 120, the can is crushed and folded in a plane parallel to the plates 52 as accommodated by the initial end creases 122 and side bulges 126 produced by the end creasing illustrated in FIG. 5. The plates 52 have a stroke suflicient to compress the can to thin fiat form in which the ends thereof are folded into substantially complete V-fold, as illustrated in FIG. 6 and the sides thereof are flattened to a width substantially greater than the diameter of the can. When the cam flattening operation has proceeded to a point which brings the plates 52 together to a spacing less than the amount of projection of the fingers 60, said fingers are retracted against the action of the spring 64. Thus the pins 60 do not interfere with crushing of the can inasmuch as they retract into the cylinder 54 as required. Pins 60 are preferably spaced apart so as to engage the can near the opposite ends thereof, as seen in FIG. 5, and this arrangement permits the vertical expansion of the side walls of the can to occur during crushing thereof without interference from the pins 60 and without requiring substantial change in vertical position of the can as the crushing operation proceeds.

After the can has been crushed, the control valve 102 may be actuated to normal position, as illustrated in FIG. '1, closing the connection of the device with the source of fluid under pressure. Any suitable means to vent or bleed the pressure within the power actuators 12 may be provided, such as a venting construction inherent in the valve 102 which normally places the fitting 104 in communication with the exhaust valve when the valve is in a closed position, or such as the use of a venting valve 130 separately operated and located in the line 46, as illustrated in FIG. 1 in cases where air pressure is the motivating force. When pressure is released from the power actuators 12, the springs 34 retract the pressure piston 52 and, as the pressure plates move away from each other, the crushed can is free to fall to a discharge receptacle below the frame 10.

FIG. 7 illustrates a modification of the invention. In referring to this modified embodiment, parts similar to those in the preferred embodiment will be identified by the same reference numerals.

One of the differences in the construction shown in FIG. 7, as compared to that shown in FIG. 1, relates to the character of the members mounted on the rods 88 and serving to deform the ends of the cans. In this embodiment an elongated rigid member mounted on each rod '88 has a curved can-contacting edge of concave configuration so that initial contact With the can end is made only at diametrically opposed marginal portions thereof. Another characteristic of this can-crushing form is that the can-engaging edge or portion is comparatively narrow and it carries hardened wear shoes at the portions thereof which initially contact the can. In the specific embodiment illustrated, the can-crushing members include a central elongated rigid blade portion 1-30 reinforced by strengthening members, such as angle irons 132, welded or otherwise fixedly secured thereto at one marginal portion thereof to which the rod 88 is connected. A portion of the rigid blade projects beyond the innermost edges of the reinforcing members 132 and has a concave curved edge 134 positioned to confront the can 120, as seen in FIG. 7. Adjacent each end the blade carries pad members 136 formed of Wear-resisting material, such as tungsten carbide, said pads being brazed, welded or otherwise suitably secured to the projecting portions of the blade 130 and extending to the concave edge 134 thereof, said brazing being illustrated at .138. The pads are preferably elongated and are so spaced and positioned as to contact the opposite edge portions of a can end of any of the sizes with which the device is to be used. The pads preferably are of the cross-sectional configuration illustrated in BIG. 8, being characterized by a rounded leading edge or nose portion 140 and a flaring rear portion -142 of such thickness that the trailing portions 142 will project outwardly relative to the reinforcing members 132.

The use of can-crushing means having a relatively thin blade portion with a curved can-engaging edge and wear pads at the portions of the blades engaging the edges or rims of the can is advantageous in that creasing of the ends of the cans occurs with minimum resistance and minimum requirements for exertion of force and with assured uniformity of creasing of the can ends and with minimum danger of binding of the can ends, as creased, to the creasing members. FIG. 9 illustrates a typical creased can end produced by creasing members of the character illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8. The shape of the crease 123 is such that maximum depth of creasing occurs at the center of the crease and the sides of the crease curve symmetrically to follow the contour shown as a result of the center contact only with the creasing means as distinguished from a crease as shown in FIG. 5 produced by a large area of contact between the can end and the creasing member.

The use of yieldable or spring-urged can supports upon the crushting plates 52, while preferred, is not essential. Thus rigid or non-yielding can supports may be mounted upon said plates 52 if desired. A construction illustrating the use of such rigid plates is shown in FIGS. 7, l0 and 11. In this construction, a plurality of fingers 150 carried by the plates 5-2 serve to support the can 126*. The fingers are preferably rigid and are fixed with respect to the plates 52 and project from the lower margins thereof. Each plate 52 will carry at least one finger, and a total of at least three fingers mounted upon the two plates will be required in each case. In FIGS. 7 and 10 I have chosen to illustrate the provision of three fingers 150 carried by each of the plates, the same being adapted to enter slots or cutouts in .the opposite plate 52, for which purpose the fingers 150 of opposite plates will be out of alignment with each other, as illustrated in FIG. 10. If desired, the upper edges of the fingers 150 may be inclined at 154, as seen in FIG. 11. This arrangement permits the fingers to center the can as the can is being crushed, as illustrated in FIG. 11, although it will be understood that the inclination of the upper edges 154 is not essential for can support during crushing thereof.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be understood that changes in the construction may be made within the scope of the appended claim-s without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A device for crushing containers comprising a rigid frame open at its upper and lower ends, a pair of container-crushing members carried by said frame in spaced opposed relation and shiftable substantially horizontally toward and from each other, means carried by said crush ing members and projecting therebetween to support a container, and a pair of spaced opposed members carried by said frame normally clear of the path of said crushing members and adapted to move substantially horizontally between and independently of said crushing members to deform a container carried by said supporting means.

2. A device for crushing containers comprising a rigid frame open at its upper and lower ends, a pair of contamer-crushing members, at least one of said member-s being shiftably carried by said frame and movable substantially horizontally toward and from the other between operative and inoperative positions, container supports carried by and positioned between said crushing members, and a pair of container-deforming members Shift-r ably carried by said frame and movable substantially horizontally toward and from each other between operative and inoperative positions in a direction at an angle to the movement of and between said crushing members.

3. A device for crushing containers comprising a rigid frame open at its upper and lower ends, a pair of container-crushing members, at least one of said members being carried by said frame in spaced opposed relation and shiftable substantially horizontally relative to the other, means carried by said crushing members and adapted to support a container, and a pair of spaced opposed members carried by said frame normally clear of the path of said crushing members and adapted to move between said crushing members to deform a container carried by said supporting means, said last named members having container-engaging parts of substantially V-shape in cross section.

4. A device for crushing containers comprising a rigid frame open at its upper and lower ends, a pair of container-crushing members, at least one of said members being carried by said frame in spaced opposed relation and shiftable substantially horizontally relative to the other, means carried by said crushing members and adapted to support a container, and a pair of spaced opposed members carried by said frame normally clear of the path of said crushing members and adapted to move substantially horizontally between said crushing members to deform a container carried by said supporting means, said last named members having elongated parts having angularly converging can-engaging wall portions.

5. A device for crushing containers comprising a rigid frame open at its upper and lower ends, a pair of container-crushing members carried by said frame in spaced opposed relation and shiftable substantially horizontally, means carried by said crushing members and adapted to support a container, and a pair of spaced opposed members carried by said frame normally clear of the path of said crushing members and adapted to move substantially horizontally between said crushing members to deform a container carried by said supporting means, said crushing members having substantially flat and parallel plate portions, said container-supporting means being carried by the lower marginal portion of said plates.

6. A device for crushing containers comprising a rigid frame, a pair of power-operated actuators carried by said frame in opposed relation, each actuator including a part shiftable substantially horizontally toward and from the other, a plate carried by each shiftable part, said plates being arranged in confronting relation, container-supporting means carried by each plate and projecting toward the other plate, and a pair of power-operated means carried by said frame and each including an elongated member shiftable between and substantially parallel to said plates, said last named member engaging and indenting opposite parts of a container upon said supporting means.

7. A device for crushing containers comprising a rigid frame, a pair of power-operated actuators carried by said frame in opposed relation, each actuator including a part shiftable substantially horizontally toward and from the other, a plate carried by each shiftable part, said plates being arranged in confronting relation, container-supporting means carried by each plate and projecting toward the other plate, and a pair of power-operated means carried by said frame and each including an elongated member shiftable between and substantially parallel to said plates, said last named member engaging and indenting opposite parts of a container upon said supporting means, said last named shiftable members being spring-urged to positions clear of the paths of movement of said plates.

8. A device for crushing containers comprising a rigid frame, a pair of power-operated actuators carried by said frame in opposed relation, each actuator including a part shiftable substantially horizontally toward and from the other, a plate carried by each shiftable part, said plates being arranged in confronting relation, container-supporting means carried by each plate and projecting toward the other plate, and a pair of power-operated means carried by said frame and each including an elongated member of substantially V-shape in cross-section, the edges of said V-shaped members being positioned in adjacent relation to constitute leading edges.

9. A device as defined in claim 2, wherein said container supports are spring urged and yieldably engage the opposed crushing member.

10. A device as defined in claim 2, wherein the cont ainer supports of opposite crushing members are offset and each crushing member has openings therein receiving the container supports of the opposite crushing member.

11. In a device for crushing containers, a frame, means for supporting a container in said frame, a pair of poweroperated actuators carried by said frame in opposed relation adjacent opposite ends of a container within said frame and having parts shiftable toward and from each other, and a rigid member carried by each shiftable actuator part and having a concave curved container-engaging edge of a length greater than the transverse dirnension of the adjacent end of said container, said members being narrow and shiftable edgewise by said actuators, and wear resistant pads carried by each of said members at each end of said container engaging edges for engagement with opposite marginal portions of the ends of said container, said members being wider at said pads than at the remainder of the container-engaging margins thereof.

12. A device for crushing containers as defined in claim 1, wherein said container supporting means constitute spring-pressed supports carried by the crushing members of said first pair and each yieldingly projecting toward the other member of said first pair.

13. A device for crushing containers as defined in claim 1, wherein said container supporting means constitute spring-pressed supports carried by the crushing members of said first pair and each yieldingly projecting toward the other member of said first pair,.said supports constituting elongated members slidably carried by said crushing members and extending substantially parallel to the direction of movement of said crushing members.

14. A device for crushing containers as defined in claim 1, wherein said container supporting means constitute spring-pressed supports carried by the crushing members of said first pair and each yieldingly projecting toward the other member of said first pair, said supports constituting elongated members slidably carried by said crushing members and extending substantially parallel to the direction of movement of said crushing members, and guides carried by said crushing members and slidably supporting said elongated members.

References Cited in the file of this patent

Claims

1. A DEVICE FOR CRUSHING CONTAINERS COMPRISING A RIGID FRAME OPEN AT ITS UPPER AND LOWER ENDS, A PAIR OF CONTAINER-CRUSHING MEMBERS CARRIED BY SAID FRAME IN SPACED OPPOSED RELATION AND SHIFTABLE SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTALLY TOWARD AND FROM EACH OTHER, MEANS CARRIED BY SAID CRUSHING MEMBERS AND PROJECTING THEREBETWEEN TO SUPPORT A CONTAINER, AND A PAIR OF SPACED OPPOSED MEMBERS CARRIED BY SAID FRAME NORMALLY CLEAR OF THE PATH OF SAID CRUSHING