Importance

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Abstract

A crushing apparatus adapted for crushing cans and the like has a piston assembly reciprocal within a cylindrical housing. The piston assembly includes a piston head and a drive rod which is provided with a plurality of gear teeth. The gear teeth of the drive rod are engaged by a circular gear mounted on a shaft positioned transversely in the housing with the shaft being rotatable by means of a crank arm to reciprocate the piston assembly in the housing. An end wall secured to the housing defines a fixed crushing surface while the piston head provides a movable crushing surface. An enlarged entry opening is provided in the housing to permit insertion of a can to be crushed between the fixed and movable crushing surfaces with the piston head being movable completely past this opening. An exit opening is also provided in the housing, preferably at an angularly spaced-apart orientation to the entry opening with the exit opening permitting the removal of the can after it has been crushed. Lid assemblies enclose both openings so that the can is completely encased in the apparatus during the crushing operation, and a limit stop is provided to prevent the piston head from actually contacting the fixed crushing surface.

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First Claim