Compress/melt processor for contaminated plastic waste

A compress/melt waste processor for processing contaminated plastic waste to produce a sanitary end product suitable for long-term storage, comprising:

• a frame;
• a chamber hatch mounted upon said frame;
• a chamber housing having walls, said chamber housing mounted upon said chamber hatch, wherein said housing walls and said chamber hatch define a chamber therein;
• a ram movably disposed in said chamber, wherein said housing walls, said chamber hatch and said ram define a space therebetween;
• means for feeding a first volume of contaminated plastic waste into said space;
• means operatively connected to said ram for compacting said first volume of contaminated plastic waste into a second volume of contaminated plastic waste, said compacting means being an actuator functioning to cause said ram to apply a first predetermined compaction pressure of between approximately 40 psi and 50 psi and a second predetermined compaction pressures of between approximately 20 psi and 50 psi to the contaminated plastic waste;
• means for heating said housing walls, said ram and said chamber hatch to a predetermined temperature of between approximately 325.degree. F. and 350.degree. F. wherein said heating functions to raise an internal temperature of the contaminated plastic waste to a predetermined internal temperature at approximately a center of the contaminated plastic waste of 212.degree. F.;
• means for cooling said housing walls, said ram and said chamber hatch;
• a sensor for sensing said first and second predetermined compaction pressures applied by said ram;
• means for detecting said predetermined internal temperature of the contaminated plastic waste and said predetermined temperature of at least one of said housing walls, said ram and said chamber hatch;
• and
• control means, responsive to input signals received from said sensor and said temperature detecting means, for controlling said actuator and said heating means such that 1) at times when the contaminated plastic waste is fed into said space, said control means controls said actuator to cause said ram to apply said first compaction pressure to the contaminated plastic waste, 2) upon said first compaction pressure being obtained, and while continuing to cause said ram to compact the contaminated plastic waste at said first compaction pressure, said control means activates said heating means to heat said housing walls, said ram, and said chamber hatch to said predetermined temperature, 3) upon said housing walls, said ram, and said chamber hatch reaching said predetermined temperature, and while continuing to cause said heating means to heat said housing walls, said ram, and said chamber hatch at said predetermined temperature, said control means controls said actuator such that said ram compacts the contaminated plastic waste at said second compaction pressure, and 4) upon the contaminated plastic waste exceeding said predetermined internal temperature, said control means deactivates said heating means and activates said cooling means while continuing to control said actuator such that said ram continuously compacts the contaminated plastic waste until said housing walls, said ram, and said chamber hatch cool to at least approximately 140.degree. F.