PURPOSE: To reduce the possibility of an empty can to be stopped by the three- point support by a fixing plate, an empty can receiving plate and a distributing chute by the relatively wide falling passage for the pressed empty can because the empty can receiving plate is not elevated toward the press space when a movable plate is retracted.

CONSTITUTION: A fixing plate 30 and a movable plate 32 movably fitted freely forward and backward to the fixing plate are arranged opposite to each other by leaving a press space 36 therebetween, and an empty can receiving plate 38 which temporatrily holds the empty can thrown into the press space 36 in the press space 36 is provided. In a press 18 of an empty can collecting machine, the empty can held in the press space 36 by the empty can receiving plate 38 is pressed by the advancement of the movable plate 32, and the pressed empty can is dropped from the press space 36 by the subsequent retraction of the movable plate 32. A pressing plate 46 is provided on the movable plate 32, and the empty can receiving plate 38 is pushed down when the movable plate 32 is retracted by the pressing plate 46.