A compaction capable receptacle may include a housing with a trash receiving opening, a compaction unit arranged within the housing, and a trash bin arranged within the housing and articulable between a compaction position within the housing and a trash receiving position within the housing, the compaction position aligning the trash bin with a compaction stroke of the compaction unit and the trash receiving position aligning a portion of the trash bin with the trash receiving opening.

A trash compactor may include a frame, a cavity, a trash receptacle, a platen movable to compress trash collected in the trash receptacle, a set of linkages and a drive mechanism configured to drive said platen up and down, the drive mechanism further configured as one of the link elements, and a platen guide mechanism configured to restrict the motion of the platen in an up and down manner.

An agricultural harvesting machine for crop material including a crank arm connected to a rotational power source, a plunger having an extended position which is located further rearward in a compression chamber than a retracted position, and a connecting link connected between the crank arm and the plunger. The movement plunger is decoupled from the movement of the crank arm during a startup mode of the agricultural harvesting machine. The movement plunger is coupled to the movement of the crank arm during a run mode of the agricultural harvesting machine. The connecting link, crank arm, or both have a variable length.

An agricultural harvesting machine for crop material may include a crank arm connected to a rotational power source, a plunger having an extended position which is located further rearward in a compression chamber than a retracted position, and a connecting link connected between the plunger and the crank arm, with one of the connecting link and the crank arm having a variable length. The agricultural harvesting machine may include a startup mode and a run mode. The movement of the plunger can be decoupled from the movement of the crank arm at the beginning of the startup mode. The plunger can move to a predetermined position during the startup mode. The movement of the plunger can be coupled to the movement of the crank arm during the run mode.

An agricultural harvesting machine for crop material including a crank arm connected to a rotational power source, a plunger having an extended position which is located further rearward in a compression chamber than a retracted position, and a connecting link connected between the plunger and the crank arm. One of the connecting link and the crank arm has a variable length. The plunger moves between the retracted and extended positions during a run mode as the crank arm rotates. The plunger changes speeds during an event phase based upon one of the connecting link and the crank arm varying lengths.

Disclosed are embodiments that relate to apparatus for compacting materials. The apparatus comprising a mechanical linkage designed to be mounted within the interior of an existing waste receptacle, a compression surface operably connected to the mechanical linkage, and a motor operably connected to the mechanical linkage, wherein the motor is capable of extending and retracting the mechanical linkage, thereby lowering and raising the compression plate. Some embodiments will take advantage of integrated sensors and processors in order to capture and analyze large amounts of data related to the compactor operations. This data may lead to refinements and greater efficiency in the waste disposal processes.

A trash compactor may include a frame, a cavity, a trash receptacle, a platen movable to compress trash collected in the trash receptacle, a set of linkages and a drive mechanism configured to drive said platen up and down, the drive mechanism further configured as one of the link elements, and a platen guide mechanism configured to restrict the motion of the platen in an up and down manner.

A baler including a flywheel driven by a PTO of a tractor, an input shaft which connects to the PTO, an output shaft which connects to the flywheel, an intermediate gear mounted for rotation between the input shaft and the output shaft, the intermediate gear being parallel to the input shaft and adapted to drive the output shaft, wherein the input shaft includes a displaceable geared collar adapted to engage the intermediate gear with either a first lower gear ratio or a second higher gear ratio. This allows the tractor PTO a lower ratio (speed) range to start the flywheel and then accelerate the flywheel to an intermediate speed before shifting and accelerating to the final desired operating speed.

A refuse collection apparatus is disclosed. A refuse collection apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention a main body unit into which a refuse is inserted, a refuse compression unit installed in the main body unit and configured to compress the refuse inserted into the main body unit and a movement range detection unit located inside of the main body unit and configured to detect a movement range of the refuse compression unit.

A vertical baler includes a frame defining a compaction chamber, a platen configured for vertical travel within the compaction chamber to compact refuse contained within the compaction chamber, a linear actuator coupled to the platen and configured to raise and lower the platen within the compaction chamber, an electric motor coupled to the linear actuator and configured to control extension and retraction of the linear actuator, an encoder coupled to the electric motor and configured to measure rotation of the motor, and one or more processors.