Method and apparatus for measuring the length of a waste log and/or weight of waste log while compacting and transferring the waste log for transport

A method of measuring the length of a waste log during a compaction and transfer operation, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a compaction chamber to accommodate waste material;
• loading waste material into the compaction chamber;
• compacting the waste material to form said waste log;
• opening a discharge opening of the compaction chamber, at least partially, to permit transfer of said waste log out of said compaction chamber;
• and
• detecting movement of said waste log through said discharge opening, said movement corresponding to the length of said waste log extending out of said compaction chamber.

A compaction and transfer apparatus adapted to measure the weight of a waste log during compaction and transfer thereof, said apparatus comprising:

• a compaction chamber adapted to receive waste material, said compaction chamber having a discharge opening;
• a closure device which is selectively movable into and out of the discharge opening to control a size of the discharge opening;
• a compaction ram which is movable through the chamber to press said waste material against said closure device and thereby provide compaction of said waste material;
• and
• a weight detector adapted to detect a total weight of the waste material in said compaction chamber and any portion of the waste log which extends out through the discharge opening.

A method of measuring the weight of a waste log during a compaction and transfer operation, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a compaction chamber to accommodate waste material;
• loading waste material into the compaction chamber;
• detecting an initial weight of the waste material;
• compacting the waste material using a compaction ram to provide a waste log;
• retracting said compaction ram;
• loading additional waste material into the compaction chamber;
• detecting any incremental increases in the weight of the waste material attributable to said additional waste material and keeping a running total of said initial weight and said incremental increases, said running total corresponding to said weight of the waste log;
• compacting said waste material and said additional waste material to augment said waste log;
• and
• opening, at least partially, a discharge opening of the compaction chamber to permit transfer of said waste log out of said compaction chamber.