Countertop can crusher

An apparatus for crushing a workpiece such as a can, comprising:

• a housing having an opening defined therein for receiving a workpiece such as a can, said housing including an internal support member having a guide track defined therein;
• a compression member mounted for movement along a linear path within said housing;
• drive means for moving said compression member along the linear path, said drive means including an elongate, axially movable rack member, said rack member being substantially centered above said compression member and having first and second toothed racks, respectively, on opposite sides thereof, said drive means further comprising a motor, and transferring means to transmit force from said motor to said first and second toothed racks, whereby force is transmitted evenly to said compression member so as to lessen the possibility of jamming;
• and
• means within said housing which is adapted for initially crimping the workpiece, said crimping means being mounted for movement with said compression member and including means for engaging said guide track, said guide track being configured so as to urge said crimping means into the workpiece at an upper portion of the downward movement of said compression member, thereby reducing the amount of force which is needed to crush the workpiece.

An apparatus for crushing a workpiece such as a can, comprising:

• a housing having an opening defined therein for receiving a workpiece, said housing including an internal support member having a guide track defined therein;
• a compression member mounted for movement along a linear path within said housing between an initial position and a lower limit position;
• drive means for moving said compression member along the linear path;
• means within said housing which is adapted for initially crimping the workpiece, said crimping means being mounted for movement with said compression member and including means for engaging said guide track, said guide track being configured so as to urge said crimping means into the workpiece at an upper portion of the downward movement of said compression member, thereby reducing the amount of force which is needed to crush the workpiece;
• actuation means for actuating said drive means;
• control means for controlling said drive means so that, upon actuation of said drive means, said compression member is caused to move from the initial position downwardly to the lower position, and then upwardly to the initial position;
• and
• disabling means for disabling said actuation means after said drive means is actuated until said compression member is moved upwardly to the initial position after being moved downwardly toward the lower limit position.