Trash compactor

Abstract

A cabinet for a trash or refuse compactor having a recessed area formed in the inside surfaces of its side and rear panels and extending upward from the floor thereof for a predetermined distance, the depth and size of the recess in the side and rear panels being such that the vertical sides of a box-type container may be disposed completely within the recess so as to avoid contact with a descending compaction plate.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A cabinet for a trash compactor of the type including a frame defining a generally rectangular parallelepiped and having a base and top panel separated by two generally rectangular side panels and a rear panel, each having an inner and an outer planar surface, said panels being attached to said frame, said cabinet being functionally partitioned vertically into three separate compartments including an upper machinery containing compartment, an intermediate trash receiving compartment and a lower trash compacting compartment, .Iadd.and said compactor being of the type having a generally planar, horizontally disposed compaction plate mounted for upward and downward movement within said trash receiving and trash compacting compartments, said plate having peripheral edges in inwardly spaced relation to said inner planar surface of said side and rear panels within said trash receiving and trash compacting compartments, .Iaddend.the improvement comprising: (a) an inwardly extending planar recess formed in the inner surface of .Iadd.each of .Iaddend.said side and rear panels .[.in the area.]. of said trash compacting compartment, said .[.recess.]. .Iadd.recesses .Iaddend.being of a predetermined depth such that when a box-type container having vertical side walls of a predetermined thickness is inserted into said trash compacting compartment, at least three of said vertical side walls of said container are wholly contained within said recesses .Iadd.and said recesses defining a stripping edge at the juncture between said trash receiving and trash compacting compartments, whereby items of trash caught on said peripheral edges of said planar compaction plate will be stripped therefrom by said stripping edge as said compaction plate moves upwardly from said trash compacting compartment into said trash receiving compartment.Iaddend..   
     
     
       2. The cabinet as in claim 1 and further including a front panel hingedly coupled to a forward vertical edge of one of said side panels and providing an access door to said trash compacting compartment. .Iadd. 
     
     
       3.  A cabinet for a trash compactor of the type including a frame defining a generally rectangular parallelepiped and having a base and top panel separated by two generally rectangular side panels and a rear panel, each having an inner and an outer planar surface, said panels being attached to said frame, said cabinet being functionally partitioned vertically into three separate compartments including an upper machinery containing compartment, an intermediate trash receiving compartment and a lower trash compacting compartment, the improvement comprising: a generally planar, horizontally disposed compaction plate mounted on power actuation means housed within said machinery containing compartment for upward and downward movement within said trash receiving and trash compacting compartments, said plate having an open and exposed top surface terminating at its peripheral extremities at side edges spaced inwardly from said inner planar surface of said side and rear panels and thus freely exposed such that items of trash tend to become wrapped around said freely exposed side edges and carried up and down on said plate; and   an inwardly extending planar recess formed in the inner surfaces of each of said side and rear panels of said trash compacting compartment, each of said recesses being of a predetermined depth such that when a box-type container having vertical side walls of a predetermined thickness is inserted into said trash compacting compartment, at least three of said vertical side walls of said container are wholly contained within said recesses, and said recesses joining said inner surfaces of said trash receiving compartment and said trash compacting compartment along a line of demarcation therebetween defining a stripping edge, whereby upon the upward movement of said compaction plate from said trash compacting compartment into said trash receiving compartment any items of trash wrapped around said freely exposed side edges will be stripped off said compaction plate by said stripping edge, thereby avoiding jamming of said compaction plate. .Iaddend. .Iadd.   
     
     
       4.  A trash compactor of the type having a vertically oriented cabinet defining a generally rectangular parallelepiped having a base and a top panel, opposed, generally rectangular side panels, and a rear panel, with at least said side and rear panels having an inner and an outer planar surface, said cabinet being functionally partitioned vertically into three separate compartments including an upper machinery containing compartment, an intermediate trash receiving compartment and a lower trash compacting compartment, and comprising: a generally planar, horizontally disposed compaction plate mounted on power actuation means for upward and downward movement within said trash receiving and trash compacting compartments, said plate having side edges around its peripheral spaced inwardly from said inner planar surface of said side and rear panels and defining a clearance space therebetween within said trash receiving compartment and said trash compacting compartment, said side edges joining freely exposed top and bottom surfaces of said plate around which items of trash tend to become wrapped and carried up and down on said plate; and   an inwardly extending planar recess formed in the inner surfaces of each of said side and rear panels of said trash compacting compartment, said recesses being of a predetermined depth such that when a box-like container having vertical side walls of a predetermined thickness is inserted into said trash compacting compartment, at least three of said vertical side walls of said container are wholly contained within said recesses, and said recesses defining a stripping edge which contacts and strips items of trash from said peripheral edges of said compaction plate as said compaction plate moves upwardly past said recesses. .Iaddend. .Iadd.   
     
     
       5.  The trash compactor as defined in claim 4 and further including a front panel hingedly coupled to a forward vertical edge of one of said side panels and providing an access door to said trash compacting compartment. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 
     
     
       6.  The trash compactor as defined in claim 4 wherein: the side edges of said compaction plate are spaced laterally inwardly a predetermined distance from said inner surfaces of said side and rear panels within said trash receiving compartment to maintain a clearance space therebetween as said compaction plate moves upwardly and downwardly within said trash receiving compartment. .Iaddend. .Iadd.7. The trash compactor as defined in claim 4 wherein:   said power actuation means is secured to the top of said compaction plate; and   a plurality of vertically extending guide rods are secured to said compaction plate, said guide rods extending through bushing means supported within said machinery containing compartment of said cabinet and serving to guide said compaction plate during its upward and downward movement and to maintain said plate in a generally horizontal disposition. .Iaddend.