Apparatus for destroying hypodermic needles

An apparatus for destroying hypodermic needles comprising:

• a rotatable electrode wheel;
• means for rotating said electrode wheel;
• an electrode element, said electrode element being disposed in closely spaced relation to said electrode wheel;
• means for energizing said electrode wheel and said electrode element with a sufficient level of electrical current to cause the electrical destruction of a hypodermic needle positioned in electrical contact with both said electrode wheel and said electrode element;
• and
• means for automatically actuating said means for rotating said electrode wheel and said means for energizing said electrode wheel and said electrode element when an operator approaches said apparatus to destroy a needle therewith.

An apparatus for destroying hypodermic needles comprising:

• a rotatable electrode wheel;
• means for rotating said electrode wheel;
• an electrode element, said electrode element being disposed in closely spaced relation to said electrode wheel;
• means for energizing said electrode wheel and said electrode element with a sufficient level of electrical current to cause the electrical destruction of a hypodermic needle positioned in electrical contact with both said electrode wheel and said electrode element;
• a housing have a needle entry opening therein, said electrode wheel, said electrode element and said guide means being located in said housing, said guide means being operative for guiding a needle longitudinally inserted into said needle entry opening so that it passes into engagement with both said electrode wheel and said electrode element;
• and
• filter means and fan means in said housing, said fan means being operative for withdrawing air from around said electrode wheel and said electrode element so that the withdrawn air passes through said filter means and is then exhausted from said apparatus.

An apparatus for destroying hypodermic needles comprising:

• a rotatable electrode wheel;
• means for rotating said electrode wheel;
• an electrode element, said electrode element being disposed in closely spaced relation to said electrode wheel;
• means for energizing said electrode wheel and said electrode element with a sufficient level of electrical current to cause the electrical contact with both said electrode wheel and said electrode element;
• and
• filter means and fan means in said housing, said fan means being operative for drawing air inwardly into said housing through said needle entry opening so that it passes by said electrode wheel and said electrode element, then through said filter element and is then exhausted from said housing.

An apparatus for destroying hypodermic needles comprising:

• a rotatable electrode wheel;
• means for rotating said electrode wheel;
• an electrode element, said electrode element being disposed in closely spaced relation to said electrode wheel;
• means for energizing said electrode wheel and said electrode element with a sufficient level of electrical current to cause the electrical destruction of a hypodermic needle positioned in electrical contact with both said electrode wheel and said electrode element;
• guide means for guiding a hypodermic needle approaching said electrode wheel so that it passes into engagement with both said electrode wheel and said electrode element;
• and
• spark shield means for shielding an operator inserting a needle through said guide means against sparks generated as said needle is destroyed at it contacts said electrode wheel and said electrode element, wherein said spark shield means comprises a pair of resiliently yieldable spark shield elements, each of said spark shield elements being made of a resiliently flexible sheet material and having a pair of intersecting slits therein which are disposed in substantially perpendicular relation to each other, said spark shield elements being disposed in closely spaced, substantially parallel relation so that the intersections of the slits therein are substantially aligned but so that the slits in one spark shield element are at angles of approximately 45.degree. with respect to the adjacent slits in the other spark shield element.

An apparatus for destroying hypodermic needles comprising:

• a rotatable electrode wheel;
• means for rotating said electrode wheel;
• an electrode element, said electrode element being disposed in closely spaced relation to said electrode wheel;
• means for energizing said electrode wheel and said electrode element with a sufficient level of electrical current to cause the electrical destruction of a hypodermic needle positioned in electrical contact with both said electrode wheel and said electrode element;
• guide means for guiding a hypodermic needle approaching said electrode wheel so that it passes into engagement with both said electrode wheel and said electrode element;
• a housing have a needle entry opening therein, said electrode wheel, said electrode element and said guide means being located in said housing, said guide means being operative for guiding a needle longitudinally inserted into said needle entry opening so that it passes into engagement with both said electrode wheel and said electrode element;
• and
• cartridge means in said housing, said cartridge means including a container portion and a cover portion, said container portion being operative for receiving debris generated through contact with said electrode wheel and said electrode element, said cartridge means being removable from said apparatus, said cartridge means being adapted so that said cover portion is automatically received on said container portion upon removal of said cartridge means form said housing.