WO2010089591A2

WO2010089591A2 - A crusher for a container

Info

Publication number: WO2010089591A2
Application number: PCT/GB2010/050163
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dermot Mccartan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-02-03
Filing date: 2010-02-02
Publication date: 2010-08-12
Anticipated expiration: 2011-08-03
Also published as: GB0901641D0; WO2010089591A3

Abstract

A crusher (1) for crushing a container (13), the crusher (1) having a pair of crushing members (2, 4) each having a crushing surface (3, 5). The crushing members (2, 4) are operably coupled together to allow relative movement there between so that the crushing surfaces (3, 5) are partially overlapping in a container crushing position. One of the crushing surfaces (3, 5) has a crushing edge (6) and the other crushing surface (3, 5) has a projecting portion (8) extending across and beyond the crushing edge (6) in the crushing position. A container (13) is mountable on its side on one of the crushing surfaces (3, 5) so that a portion of the container (13) most resistant to compressive force overhangs the crushing edge (6) and is substantially in alignment with the projecting portion (8) during crushing.

Description

Description A CRUSHER FOR A CONTAINER

[1] The present invention relates to a crusher for a container and in particular to a steel can crusher requiring minimal force to effect crushing.

[2] Waste disposal is currently a hot topic of discussion with recycling and landfill the major concerns. Before the waste products from everyday use make it into the landfills or recycling centers, other major problems associated with the waste disposal cycle already exist. One problem is reduced government resources for collecting waste containers with proposals already in place for the public's wheelie bins to be collected less frequently. This highlights the area of space conservation in waste containers that people currently use. Most of the space in waste disposal bins is taken up by rigid, bulky containers which are not easily compacted by hand. Large drinks receptacles such as two litre plastic bottles and aluminium or steel cans take up a lot of space in bins blocking other materials from making their way down the bin. This results in the bin filling up prematurely requiring the user to empty refuse sacks from the bin frequently. Compressing the contents of the bin by hand provides limited relief and is often undesirable because of associated hygiene and health risks.

[3] Another problem associated with waste disposal of bulky rigid containers is that a percentage of the world's population lives in apartments and flats which are often high rise buildings having communal refuse containers in the basement. By their very nature, apartments and flats are compact with little storage space leaving residents with limited space for waste disposal bins. As a result, smaller bins are used in apartments so space in the bins is at a premium. Residents understandably want to make the most effective use of the space in their bins because a full bin means a trip to the basement with the refuse sack in tow. There is clearly a need for an apparatus which is capable of crushing bulky rigid containers, especially steel containers. It is also essential that the force required to crush the sturdy steel containers such as dog food cans and baked bean cans does not exceed that which an elderly person or a young child can safely exert.

[4] In addition to the problems of residential waste disposal, problems also arise with crushing larger industrial sized steel containers such as steel oil drums. These containers are specifically designed to be rugged and to be stacked with like containers on top of one another. Therefore their resistance to compressive forces applied along their longitudinal axis is high so a requirement exists for a commercial crusher designed for crushing large steel containers. Containers of this type are often cylindrical steel drums manufactured in varying sizes from 5 litres to 250 litres with the most common size of drum being the 210 litre steel drum. Other types of containers falling into this category and requiring to be crushed include oil filters and fuel filters.

[5] Most containers of this type for storing and transporting goods have a base, a lid and a tubular wall extending between the base and the lid for defining a cavity for storing the goods. Cylindrical containers are particularly useful because larger containers can be rolled by a single user. Crushers generally are provided by a pair of crusher plates having their main planes substantially parallel which come together to crush whatever objects are placed between them. Prior art crushers have attempted to crush containers like these in the upright position namely with the base resting on one plate and the tubular wall of the container standing upright thereon. The problem with these crushers is that the tubular wall is substantially perpendicular to the direction of application of the compressive force so that the tubular wall acts as a hollow strut. This results in the crusher plates having to apply huge forces to the tubular wall before the container will buckle if it buckles at all. This imposes great strain on the parts and systems of the crusher and often reduces the working life of the crusher.

[6] To circumvent this problem other prior art crushers have attempted to crush the containers by applying the compressive forces laterally onto diametrically opposed sides of the tubular wall as the container rests on its side on one of the crusher plates. However, the problem with this crushing technique is that the base and/or lid are often still in place in the container to be crushed. When the container is resting on its side, the lid and/or base are substantially perpendicular to the direction of application of the compressive force so that the lid and base also act as struts. This results in the crusher plates again having to apply huge forces to the lid and base before the container will buckle.

[7] It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate the problem of crushing steel containers.

[8] Accordingly, the present invention provides a crusher for crushing a container, the crusher comprising a pair of crushing members each having a crushing surface, the crushing members being operably coupled together to allow relative movement there between so that the crushing surfaces are partially overlapping in a container crushing position, one of the crushing surfaces having a crushing edge and the other crushing surface having a projecting portion extending across and beyond the crushing edge in the crushing position, a container being mountable on its side on one of the crushing surfaces so that a portion of the container most resistant to compressive force overhangs the crushing edge and is substantially in alignment with the projecting portion during crushing.

[9] Advantageously, the portion of the container most resistant to compressive force overhanging the crushing edge in alignment with the projecting portion allows steel containers to be crushed without having to apply a compressive force to the base or lid. The base or lid is simply pressed around the crushing edge during crushing allowing the crushing surfaces to compress the tubular side wall of the container together during crushing. This design of crusher allows most of the compressive force to be applied to the structurally weakest parts of the steel container by simply pushing the strut like lid and/or base around the crushing edge.

[10] Preferably, the portion of the container most resistant to compressive force is the lid and/or the base.

[11] Ideally, both of the crushing surfaces have a crushing edge and a projecting portion extending across and beyond the crushing edge of the other crushing surface in the crushing position. Advantageously, this arrangement of crusher can be utilised to crush containers where the base and the lid are substantially intact prior to crushing.

[12] Preferably, one of the crushing surfaces has a crushing aperture formed there through with an edge of the aperture creating the crushing edge so that the portion of the container most resistant to compressive force is alignable with the crushing aperture during crushing.

[13] Ideally, one of the crushing surfaces has two apertures formed there through with a portion of the crushing surface between the apertures for receiving the container on its side, the two apertures providing two crushing edges so that the portions of the container most resistant to compressive force are alignable with the crushing apertures during crushing. Advantageously, this arrangement of crusher can be utilised to crush containers where the base and the lid are substantially intact prior to crushing.

[14] Ideally, the crushing aperture is located on one of the crushing surfaces so that a closed end of the container is alignable with the crushing aperture during crushing when the container is set on its side on a crushing surface.

[15] Preferably, means for moving at least one of the crusher members between a container inserting position and the container crushing position are provided.

[16] Ideally, the movement means are powered by mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic or electromechanical means or any combination of these.

[17] Advantageously, the location of the crushing aperture to align with the portion of the container most resistant to compressive force allows steel containers to be crushed without having to apply a compressive force to the strongest part of the steel container, which part is simply pressed into the aperture around the crushing edge during crushing allowing the crushing surfaces to compress the container about its weakest points.

[18] Preferably, the crushing members are provided by a container engaging member having a container receiving surface and a container crushing member having a container crushing surface.

[19] Ideally, the crushing aperture is formed in the container receiving surface of the container engaging member.

[20] Alternatively, the crushing aperture is formed in the container crushing surface of the container crushing member.

[21] Preferably, the crushing members are mechanically coupled together via a support member.

[22] Ideally, at least one of the crushing surfaces has magnetic means. Advantageously, this ensures the container remains substantially in place once set on the surface.

[23] Preferably, the support member is an elongate support member.

[24] Ideally, the support member is formed for mounting the crusher to a fixed surface.

[25] Preferably, at least one of the crushing members is movable along the support member.

[26] Ideally, at least one of the crushing members is operably coupled to an operating handle.

[27] Ideally, the container crushing member and the container engaging member protrude laterally from the elongate support member.

[28] Preferably, the container engaging member protrudes laterally from the elongate support member proximal to one end of the elongate support member.

[29] Ideally, the operating handle is movably coupled to the elongate support member.

[30] Preferably, the operating handle is movably coupled to the elongate support member proximal to the end opposite the container engaging member.

[31] Ideally, the crushing aperture is a quadrilateral shaped aperture.

[32] Preferably, the quadrilateral shaped aperture has two opposing sides tapering towards an edge of the container engaging member distal to the elongate support member.

[33] Ideally, the quadrilateral shaped aperture is a trapezium.

[34] Ideally, the container crushing member is slidably movable along the elongate support member.

[35] Preferably, at least one of the container crushing surface and the container engaging surface are inclined towards one another in a direction towards their free ends. Advantageously, the angle of incline between the main planes of the container crushing surface and the container engaging surface help to crush the container into/towards the elongate support member to prevent the container escaping from the crusher under the compression forces of the crushing process.

[36] Ideally, the edge of at least one of the container crusher member and the container engaging member distal to the elongate support member has a hook member. The hook member is for engaging a portion of the container during the crushing process preventing lateral movement of the container. Advantageously, in combination with the angle of incline between the main planes of the container crushing member and the container engaging member, the hook member further reduces the risk of the container flying out of the crusher during crushing thereby reducing the risk of injury to the operator.

[37] Ideally, the elongate support member has a partially open tubular body.

[38] Preferably, the container crushing member and the container engaging member are at least partly housed within the partially open tubular body of the elongate support member.

[39] Ideally, the partially open tubular body, the container crushing member and the container engaging member define a cavity for at least partly receiving the container. Advantageously, this configuration for the crusher results in a large proportion of the container being enclosed within the framework provided by the partially open tubular body, the container crushing member and the container engaging member further reducing the risk of the container leaving the confines of this framework during crushing.

[40] Preferably, the operating handle is operably coupled to a crushing member by an intermediate strut.

[41] Preferably, the intermediate strut is pivotally coupled between the operating handle and the container crushing member.

[42] Ideally, the operating handle is pivotally mounted to the elongate support member.

[43] Preferably, the operating handle has a main plate and a portion of the main plate has a recess. Advantageously, this recess increases the strength of the operating handle.

[44] Ideally, the crushing aperture is also formed for capturing a bottle neck.

[45] Preferably, the crushing aperture has a part circular portion for partially encircling and supporting a portion of a bottle neck, in particular a tapered bottle neck. Advantageously, the part circular portion of the crushing aperture restricts lateral and longitudinal motion of the neck of the bottle during crushing.

[46] Advantageously, the crusher allows rigid steel cans like soup cans to be crushed with a significantly reduced force because of the alignment of the most resistant part of the container with the crushing aperture during crushing. Both aluminium cans such as soft drinks cans and steel cans such as soup cans can be crushed. Furthermore the same crushing aperture can accommodate the neck of a two litre plastic bottle for crushing. A larger version of the crusher using the same basic principle of the invention can be used to crush large steel containers such as oil drums and similar industrial type containers.

[47] Ideally, the part circular portion of the crushing aperture opens into the main crushing aperture.

[48] Preferably, a second aperture for receiving container necks is provided in the other surface. Advantageously, this second aperture allows containers to be crushed in an upright orientation which prevents liquids spilling on the floor and allows the container opening to be recapped easily.

[49] Accordingly, the present invention also provides a method of crushing a container comprising the steps of setting a container between the crushing surfaces of a pair of crushing members of a crusher where one of the surfaces has a crushing edge and the other surface has a projecting portion extending across and beyond the crushing edge in a crushing position, locating the container on its side between the surfaces so that the portion of the container most resistant to compressive force overhangs the crushing edge and is substantially in alignment with the projecting portion in a crushing position, moving at least one of the crushing surfaces towards the other crushing surface, pressing the portion of the container most resistant to compressive force around the crushing edge and crushing the remainder of the container between the crushing surfaces.

[50] Preferably, the method further comprising rotating the partially crushed container through 180° about its longitudinal axis so that the portion of the container most resistant to compressive force still overhangs the crushing edge and is substantially in alignment with the projecting portion and repeating the steps of the method above.

[51] Ideally, the method further comprising setting a cylindrical steel container with an open end and a closed end between the crushing surfaces with the closed end of the cylindrical steel container overhanging the crushing edge and substantially in alignment with the projecting portion.

[52] The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings which show by way of example only three embodiments of a crusher in accordance with the invention. In the drawings :-

[53] Figure 1 is a first perspective view of a crusher in accordance with the invention;

[54] Figure 2 is a second perspective view of the crusher of Figure 1 in a second position;

[55] Figure 3 is a third perspective view of the crusher in a position midway through the crushing process;

[56] Figure 4 is a fourth perspective view of the crusher in an end position of the crushing cycle;

[57] Figure 5 is a partial perspective view of the crusher housing a container;

[58] Figure 6 is a schematic drawing of two crushing members of a second embodiment of crusher; and

[59] Figure 7 is a perspective view of a crushing member of a third embodiment of crusher.

[60] Referring to the drawings and primarily to Figures 1 to 4, there is shown a crusher indicated generally by the reference numeral 1 for crushing containers 13 especially steel containers 13 such as cylindrical steel cans and drums. The crusher 1 has a pair of crushing members 2, 4 having crushing surfaces 3, 5 provided by a container engaging member 2 having a container receiving surface 3 and a container crushing member 4 having a container crushing surface 5. The container engaging member 2 and the container crushing member 4 are operably coupled together to allow relative movement there between so that the container receiving surface 3 and the container crushing surface 5 are substantially overlapping in a container crushing position see Figure 4. A movement control arrangement indicated generally by the reference numeral 7 is operably coupled to at least one of the container engaging member 2 and the container crushing member 4. In the embodiment shown, the container crushing member 4 is coupled to the arrangement 7 for moving them relative to one another between a container inserting position see Figure 1 and the container crushing position see Figure 4. One of the container receiving surface 3 and the container crushing surface 5 has a crushing edge 6 and the other surface has a projecting portion 8 extending across and beyond the crushing edge 6 in the crushing position. In this way, a container 13 is mounted on the surface so that the portion of the container 13 most resistant to compressive force overhangs the crushing edge 6, see Figure 5 and is in alignment with the projecting portion 8 during crushing. The container engaging surface 3 has a crushing aperture 9 extending there through and an edge 6 of this aperture 9 provides the crushing edge 6. The crushing aperture 9 is located on the surface 3 so that the portion of the container 13 most resistant to compressive force is aligned with the crushing aperture 9 during crushing when the container 13 see Figure 5, is set on its side on the container engaging surface 3.

[61] Advantageously, the location of the crushing aperture 9 to accommodate alignment between the crushing aperture 9 and the portion of the container 13 most resistant to compressive force allows the steel container 13 to be crushed without having to apply a compressive force to the strongest part of the steel container 13, which part is simply pressed into the crushing aperture 9 around the crushing edge 6. The crushing aperture 9 is located on the container engaging surface 3 so that the closed end of the container 13 is aligned with the crushing aperture 9 during crushing when the container 13 is set on its side on the surface 3.

[62] Alternatively, the crushing aperture 9 can be formed in the container crushing surface

5 of the container crushing member 4. The container crushing member 4 and the container engaging member 2 are mechanically coupled together via a support member 14. The container crushing member 4 and the container engaging member 2 are movable relative to one another by mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic or electromechanical means or any combination of these. In the embodiment shown, the two members 2, 4 are moved relative to one another using a mechanical operating handle 15 as the crusher 1 shown in the drawings is suitable for domestic use. Where much large containers such as steel drums with a volume of 210 litres for example are to be crushed, much greater compressive forces are involved requiring the use of hy- draulically or electrically powered arrangements for crushing.

[63] Either of the container receiving surface 3 and the container crushing surface 5 can be magnetic. Advantageously, this ensures the container 13 remains substantially in place once set on the surface.

[64] The crusher 1 has an elongate support member 14 for mounting the crusher 1 to a fixed surface such as a wall or other surface, preferably close to a refuse bin. The elongate support member 14 supports the container engaging member 2 for receiving a container 13 and the container crushing member 4 which is slidably movably mounted along the elongate support member 14. The container crushing member 4 is operably coupled to an operating handle 15 so that actuation of the operating handle 15 moves the container crushing member 4 between a container inserting position as shown in Figures 1 and 2 and container crushing position as shown in Figures 3 to 5. The container engaging member 3 has the crushing aperture 9 formed therein for allowing a portion of the container 13 most resistant to compressive force to be pushed there through during crushing.

[65] Advantageously, the crusher 1 allows rigid steel cans like soup cans to be crushed with a significantly reduced force because of the alignment of the portion of the can most resistive to compressive force with the crushing aperture 9 during crushing. Both aluminium cans such as soft drinks cans and stainless steel cans such as soup cans can be readily crushed. Furthermore the same crushing aperture 9 accommodates the neck of a plastic container 13 such as a two litre plastic bottle for crushing.

[66] The container engaging member 3 protrudes laterally from the elongate support member 14 proximal to one end of the elongate support member 14 and the operating handle 15 is movably coupled to the elongate support member 14. The operating handle 15 is pivotally coupled to the elongate support member 14 proximal to the end opposite the container engaging member 3.

[67] The crushing aperture 9 has a part circular portion 17 for partially encircling and supporting a portion of a pouring neck of a plastic container, in particular a tapered bottle neck. Advantageously, the part circular portion 17 of the crushing aperture 9 restricts lateral and longitudinal motion of the neck of the bottle during crushing. The part circular portion 17 of the crushing aperture 6 opens into the crushing aperture 9. It will of course be appreciated that the invention works without the additional part circular hole 17 which simply allows the main invention to perform secondary crushing tasks.

[68] The crushing aperture 9 is a quadrilateral shaped aperture 9 being a trapezium and the quadrilateral shaped aperture 9 has two opposing sides 19 tapering towards an edge 20 of the container engaging member 3 distal to the elongate support member 14. The container crushing member 4 is inclined towards the container engaging member 3 so that the container crushing member 4 crushes the container 13 into/towards the body of the elongate support member 14 to prevent the container 13 escaping from the crusher 1 under the compression forces of the crushing process. The main plane of the container crushing member 4 is inclined at an angle of between 5 and 25 degrees to the horizontal in use towards the container engaging member 2. Alternatively, the main plane of the container engaging member 2 is inclined at an angle of between 5 and 25 degrees to the horizontal in use towards the container crushing member 4. In another embodiment, both members 2, 4 are inclined towards each other towards their free end. The edge of the crusher member 4 distal to the elongate support member 14 has a hook member 25 for engaging a portion of the container 13 during the crushing process preventing lateral movement of the container 13. Advantageously, in combination with the inclined members 2, 4 the hook member 25 further reduces the risk of the container 13 flying out of the crusher 1 during crushing thereby reducing the risk of injury to the operator.

[69] The elongate support member 14 has a partially open tubular body 22 formed by a c- shaped channel section 26. The free ends 23 of the c-shaped channel section 26 prevent the container crushing member 4 moving laterally relative to the elongate support member 14 and act as guide means for the longitudinal motion of the container crushing member 4. The spine 27 of the c-shaped channel section 26 has a plurality of openings 18 for reducing the weight of the crusher 1.

[70] The container engaging member 3 and the container crushing member 4 are at least partly housed within the partially open tubular body 22 of the elongate support member 14. The partially open tubular body 22, the container engaging member 3 and the container crushing member 4 define a cavity 31 for receiving the container 13. Advantageously, this configuration for the crusher 1 results in a proportion of the container 13 being enclosed within the cavity 31 provided by the partially open tubular body 22, the container engaging member 3 and the container crushing member 4 further reducing the risk of the container 13 leaving the confines of this framework during crushing.

[71] The operating handle 15 is operably coupled to the container crushing member 4 by an intermediate strut 32 pivotally coupled to the operating handle 15 and the container crushing member 4. The operating handle 15 is pivotally mounted to the elongate support member 14. The operating handle 15 has a main plate and a portion of the main plate has a recess 37. Advantageously, this recess 37 is a concave recess 37 increasing the strength of the operating handle 15.

[72] In a second embodiment of crusher partially shown in Figure 6, the crushing members 52 and 54 both have a crushing edge 56 and a projecting portion 58 extending across and beyond the crushing edge 56 of the other crushing member 52, 54 in the crushing position. Advantageously, this arrangement of crusher can be utilised to crush containers 13 where the base and the lid are substantially intact prior to crushing.

[73] In a third embodiment of crusher partially shown in Figure 7, one of the crushing surfaces 55 has two apertures 59 formed there through with a portion of the crushing surface 55 between the apertures 59 for receiving the container 13 on its side. The two apertures 59 provide two crushing edges 56 so that the portions of the container 13 most resistant to compressive force are alignable with the crushing apertures 59 during crushing. Advantageously, this arrangement of crusher can be utilised to crush containers 13 where the base and the lid are substantially intact prior to crushing.

[74] In use, in order to crush a container 13, an operator sets the steel container 13 between a container engaging surface 3 and a container crushing surface 5 of the crusher 1 where one of the surfaces 3, 5 has a crushing aperture 9. The operator aligns the portion of the container 13 most resistant to compressive force with the crushing aperture 9 and moves the container engaging surface 3 and the container crushing surface 5 towards one another. The portion of the container 13 most resistant to compressive force is pressed into the crushing aperture 9 and the remainder of the container 13 is crushed between the surfaces 3, 5.

[75] This amount of crushing will significantly reduce the volume of the container 13, but further crushing of the container 13 is achieved where the operator rotates the partially crushed container 13 through 180° about its longitudinal axis so that the portion of the container 13 most resistant to compressive force is still aligned with the crushing aperture 9. The operator then repeats the crushing steps to completely flatten the steel container 13. Generally, the container 13 is a cylindrical steel container 13 with an open end and a closed end between the surfaces 3, 5 with the closed end of the cylindrical steel container 13 in alignment with the crushing aperture 9. Alternatively, both ends can be at least partially closed where a lid and a base are still intact on the container 13.

[76] Alternatively, where the lid and base of the container 13 are still intact an operator can place the container on the crushing members 52, 54 of the second embodiment of crusher or on the crushing surface 55 of the third embodiment of crusher. The crusher members 52, 54 of these embodiments are designed so that both the lid and the base are pressed around the crushing edges 56 as the crusher members 52, 54 are closed together.

[77] The features disclosed in the foregoing description or the following drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing a disclosed function, or a method or a process of attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may separately, or in any combination of such features be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

[1] L A crusher (1) for crushing a container (13), the crusher (1) comprising a pair of crushing members (2, 4) each having a crushing surface (3, 5), the crushing members (2, 4) being operably coupled together to allow relative movement there between so that the crushing surfaces (3, 5) are partially overlapping in a container crushing position, one of the crushing surfaces (3, 5) having a crushing edge (6) and the other crushing surface (3, 5) having a projecting portion (8) extending across and beyond the crushing edge (6) in the crushing position, a container (13) being mountable on its side on one of the crushing surfaces (3, 5) so that a portion of the container (13) most resistant to compressive force overhangs the crushing edge (6) and is substantially in alignment with the projecting portion (8) during crushing.

2. A crusher (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein both of the crushing surfaces (53, 55) have a crushing edge (56) and a projecting portion (58) extending across and beyond the crushing edge (56) of the other crushing surface (53, 55) in the crushing position.

3. A crusher (1) as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein one of the crushing surfaces (3, 5) has a crushing aperture (9) formed there through with an edge of the aperture (9) creating the crushing edge (6) so that the portion of the container (13) most resistant to compressive force is alignable with the crushing aperture (9) during crushing.

4. A crusher (1) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein one of the crushing surfaces (3, 5) has two crushing apertures (59) formed there through with a portion of the crushing surface (53, 55) between the crushing apertures (59) for receiving the container (13) on its side, the two apertures (59) providing two crushing edges (56) so that the portions of the container (13) most resistant to compressive force are alignable with the crushing apertures (59) during crushing.

5. A crusher (1) as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the crushing aperture (9) is located on one of the surfaces (3, 5) so that a closed end of the container (13) is alignable with the crushing aperture (9) during crushing when the container (13) is set on its side on a crushing surface (3, 5).

6. A crusher (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein means (7) for moving at least one of the crushing members (2, 4) between a container inserting position and the container crushing position are provided.

7. A crusher (1) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the movement means (7) are powered by mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic or electromechanical means or any combination of these.

8. A crusher (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the crushing members (2, 4) are mechanically coupled together via a support member (14).

9. A crusher (1) as claimed in claim 8, wherein at least one of the crushing members (2, 4) is movable along the support member (14).

10. A crusher (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the crushing members (2, 4) is operably coupled to an operating handle (15).

11. A crusher (1) as claimed in claim 10, wherein the operating handle (15) is movably coupled to the support member (14).

12. A crusher (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the crushing surfaces (3, 5) is inclined towards the other in a direction towards their free ends.

13. A method of crushing a container (13) comprising the steps of setting a container (13) between crushing surfaces (3, 5) of a pair of crushing members (2, 4) where one of the surfaces (3, 5) has a crushing edge (6) and the other crushing surface (3, 5) has a projecting portion (8) extending across and beyond the crushing edge (6) in a crushing position, locating the container (13) on its side between the crushing surfaces (3, 5) so that the portion of the container (13) most resistant to compressive force overhangs the crushing edge (6) and is substantially in alignment with the projecting portion (8), moving at least one of the crushing surfaces (3, 5) towards the other, pressing the portion of the container (13) most resistant to compressive force around the crushing edge (6) and crushing the remainder of the container (13) between the crushing surfaces (3, 5).

14. A method as claimed in claim 13, comprising rotating the partially crushed container (13) through 180° about its longitudinal axis so that the portion of the container (13) most resistant to compressive force still overhangs the crushing edge (6) and is substantially in alignment with the projecting portion (8) and repeating the crushing steps.

15. A method as claimed in claim 13 or 14, comprising the step of setting a cylindrical steel container (13) with an open end and a closed end between the crushing surfaces (3, 5) with the closed end of the cylindrical steel container (13) overhanging the crushing edge (6) and substantially in alignment with the projecting portion (8).

16. A crusher substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.

17. A method of crushing a container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.