HOUSEHOLD WASTE RECYCLING MODULE AND APPLIANCE ASSEMBLY

This invention relates at least in part to household waste crushing and compacting and storing. In particular, the invention relates to installation features of appliances for crushing and storing metal food and drinks containers, and for compacting and storing packaging, cartons and containers, and for waste storage, e.g. for glass. Appliances for can crushing and storing; for compacting and storing paper, cardboard cartons or cardboard or plastics material containers; and for waste storage, e.g. for glass are described in our copending patent applications.

Pressure to recycle has led to many household waste collection services offering the facility to treat recyclable and non-recyclable waste differently. This generally requires households to separate recyclable waste from non-recyclable waste and even to subdivide recyclable waste into different types. As a result, households need to be able to store all the different types of waste ready for collection. What is more, in order to store waste efficiently, it is preferable to crush or compact it first.

Take, for example, metal drinks or food containers, such as cans; once emptied, they have a large volume to weight ratio, and it is much more efficient to store them in a crushed, reduced volume form. (Metal containers are hereinafter referred to as "cans".) Take also, for example, packaging, cartons and containers, e.g. plastics drink or food containers; once emptied, they have a large volume to weight ratio, and it is much more efficient to store them in a compacted, reduced volume form. So, there is a requirement for a household appliance that can not only store recyclable waste but also crush or compact it first.

Like other household appliances, such as a dishwasher or washing machine, the appliances of the present invention are often installed in a kitchen or utility room where household waste is collected for disposal by facilities that treat recyclable and non- recyclable waste. Many such kitchens or utility rooms have fitted cupboard and drawer units and household appliances, such as a dishwasher, freezer, refrigerator or washing machine, with a common unit front finish Units usually abut each other laterally, and the units are often of standard widths within a range, and of the same height and the same depth so that the units are coterminous in their abutting faces, and the units are readily interchangeable. In fitting or retrofitting the appliances of the present invention in a kitchen or utility room with household units with a common unit front finish, and with units that abut each other laterally, are of standard widths within a range, and of the same height and the same depth, it is desirable that the appliances of the present invention are in adapted units that also have the common unit front finish, and are of the same height and the same depth as the other household units.

Tooling costs for producing a bespoke casing for each appliance of the present invention with a common unit front finish, of the same standard widths within a range, and of the same height and the same depth, and the consequent cost of the units, would be prohibitive.

It is therefore an aim of certain embodiments of the present invention to provide an appliance adaptations which at least partially mitigates these disadvantages.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an adapted appliance comprising means for adjusting the front finish, width, height and depth of an appliance for crushing and/or compacting recyclable waste materials, such as cans, paper, cardboard cartons or cardboard or plastics material containers; or for waste storage of such waste and glass.

Such an appliance adaptation may overcome the above disadvantages. Advantages of such an appliance adaptation include lower weight, quick replacement if damaged, and different adjustable unit finishes, widths, heights and depths, without the burdensome need for different specific tooling for producing a bespoke unit for each appliance in a range.

The term "household units" as used herein refers to any integer, such as fitted cupboard and drawer units and household appliances, such as a dishwasher, freezer, refrigerator or washing machine, and adapted appliances of the present invention including any with an "appliance adaptation" as used herein. Units usually abut each other laterally, and the units often have a common unit front finish, and are of standard widths within a range, and of the same height and the same depth

The term "appliance adaptation" as used herein refers to any integer or combination of a number of integers required to provide an appliance, e.g. for crushing and/or compacting recyclable waste materials, such as cans, paper, cardboard cartons or cardboard or plastics material containers; and for waste storage, e.g. for glass, with any of a common unit front finish, standard widths within a range, and the same height and the same depth as the other units where the appliance is being installed, e.g. in a kitchen or utility room, where household waste may be collected for disposal by facilities that treat recyclable and non-recyclable waste.

The term "adapted appliance" as used herein refers to any appliances of the present invention, e.g. for crushing and/or compacting recyclable waste materials, such as cans, paper, cardboard cartons or cardboard or plastics material containers; and for waste storage, e.g. for glass, to which an "appliance adaptation" as used herein has been applied.

The term "appliance assembly" as used herein refers to one or more adapted appliances for crushing and/or compacting recyclable waste materials, such as cans, and or storing compacted or non-compacted recyclable waste materials.

The term "height" as used herein refers to the height of the top of any integer or combination of a number of integers above the floor or other footing where it is being installed, e.g. in a kitchen or utility room, where household waste may be collected for disposal. That is, unless the context requires otherwise.

Aptly, each appliance of the present invention is of the type described in our copending applications, with operative units, respectively for can crushing and storing, compacting and storing paper, cardboard cartons or cardboard or plastics material containers, or waste storage, and will have at least one drawer slidably received and mounted in the appliance.

The operative units, e.g. those described in our copending applications, are aptly mounted in an elongate chassis which supports a thermoplastics material casing in the form of one or more sheets, each for example a layer or panel, which together define front, sides, back, front and bottom faces that are planar, and form a cuboidal box and define a cuboidal box-shaped space within it.

The or each drawer will usually slide in and out horizontally of the space. For example, a can crushing appliance has a can crushing device mounted in a first drawer, and a waste storage box mounted in a second drawer. An appliance for compacting and storing paper, cardboard cartons or cardboard or plastics material containers has a waste receptacle in a drawer slidably mounted in the chassis below a drive means and a compacting means. An appliance for waste storage, e.g. for glass, has a receptacle in a drawer slidably mounted in the chassis.

Any two operative units may be mounted in the space within the appliance chassis, e.g. a can crushing module and a waste compacting module may be mounted within a single chassis.

Appliance adaptations of the present invention may include any integer or combination of a number of integers from the following:

a range of standardised appliance shells, each comprising a chassis which supports a thermoplastics material casing in the form of one or more sheets, each for example a layer or panel;

three or more legs adjustably mounted in an appliance, whereby the height of the appliance may be adjusted;

means for adjusting the front finish, which comprises means on the front of at least one drawer slidably received and mounted in the space within the appliance chassis for supporting a panel with the desired front finish; and

means for adjusting the width and height of the appliance front, which comprises a framework mounted on the at least partially open front of a cupboard unit that houses the appliance around the front of the appliance.

In a first aspect, the present invention provides adapted appliances with a range of standardised appliance shells, each comprising a chassis which supports a thermoplastics material casing in the form of one or more sheets, each for example a layer or panel.

Aptly, the chassis, which also usually houses at least one crushing, compacting and/or storing operative unit, will have the same standardised height between the top and bottom faces for a range of appliances of the present invention, irrespective of the different function that each unit will usually perform, e.g. crushing cans, compacting recyclable waste materials, or storing compacted or non-compacted recyclable waste materials. Thus, in a combination of a number of such standardised appliance shells, the units are coterminous in height in their abutting faces, and the units are readily interchangeable.

The overall height of the appliance, irrespective of the function the unit will usually perform, may be adjusted by means of three or more legs adjustably mounted in an appliance, as described below in this application.

Aptly, the chassis which supports the appliance will have the same standardised width between the side faces for appliances of the present invention with the same function, e.g. crushing cans, compacting recyclable waste materials, or storing compacted or non- compacted recyclable waste materials. Thus, appliances of the same type are readily interchangeable.

For the appliances of the present invention, having a chassis and a casing, the chassis may suitably comprise members forming a box and defining a box-shaped space having at least three and aptly a plurality of walls.

Aptly, the members are linear and elongate, and define front, sides, back, front and bottom faces that are planar, and form a cuboidal box and define a cuboidal box-shaped space within the box. The members preferably form an open framework, e.g. a cagelike structure. Aptly, the members each comprise two integral linear and elongate parts with a right angle between their common edges where the two parts meet, i.e. each member is in the form of an angle iron. Three linear and elongate members will meet at each corner of the cuboidal box, and are connected and/or attached together (depending on the materials of the chassis) by bonding, such as by adhesive, welding or thermal welding, and/or by fastening, such as bolting.

Aptly, the thermoplastics material is used in the form of a sheet, for example a layer or panel. Where the chassis is in the form of a cuboidal box, the adapted appliance may comprise at least one piece of thermoplastics material sheet that is wrapped around more than one side of the chassis. The sheet may be folded along and around edges where two sides of the chassis meet.

In an alternative embodiment, the adapted appliance may comprise a number of pieces of thermoplastics material sheet, each applied to one side of the chassis. An adapted appliance of the present invention which is in the form of a cuboidal box with a chassis in the form of an open framework, e.g. a cage-like structure, comprises at least one drawer slidably received and mounted in the cuboidal box-shaped space within the box, e.g. on conventional sliders and/or rollers. The or each drawer will usually slide in and out horizontally of the space through the front of the adapted appliance.

In such an embodiment, the front is open, and the adapted appliance may comprise one piece of thermoplastics material sheet that is wrapped around the sides, top and optionally bottom faces of the cuboidal box chassis, the sheet being folded along and around the top and bottom edges where the two side faces of the chassis meet the top and bottom faces respectively. In such an embodiment, the adapted appliance will comprise a separate piece of sheet covering the back face of the box. It will be seen that the pieces of thermoplastics material sheet applied to the faces of the chassis will meet or overlap along their edges.

Suitable materials for the chassis which supports the adapted appliance include metals, such as mild steel, aluminium alloys, e.g. duralumin, and

engineering plastics, such as polyetherketone (PEK), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyetherketoneketone (PEKK), polyetherimide (PEI), polyethersulphone (PES) and polyethylenechlorinates (PEC).

Suitable materials for the chassis which supports the appliance casing include metals, such as mild steel. Suitable thermoplastics materials for the adapted appliance include high molecular- weight polymers, such as polyolefins, e.g. polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP); polyamides, e.g. polyamide (PA or nylon) and polyamideimide (PAI); polyesters, e.g. polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polycyclohexylene terephthalate (PCT), polycarbonate (PC) and polyhydroxyalkanoates, such as polycaprolactones, polyketones (PK) and aromatic polymers, such as polystyrene.

Materials may also include semi-crystalline thermoplastics, such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polybutylene terephthalate (PBT). Suitable thermoplastics materials include polymers such as polyolefins, for example polyethylene and polypropylene, particularly polypropylene. Aptly, such polyolefins are high-density polyolefins, especially high-density polypropylene. Any two appliances may be mounted in the space within the appliance chassis, e.g. a can crushing module and a waste compacting module may be mounted in a single chassis.

Appliance adaptations of the present invention also include any integer or combination of a number of integers which comprises three or more legs adjustably mounted in an appliance chassis, whereby the height of the appliance may be adjusted.

In a second aspect, the present invention provides adapted appliances with three or more legs adjustably mounted in the appliance, whereby the height of the appliance may be adjusted.

The design for leg adjustment of this aspect of the present invention provides adapted appliances wherein the height may be readily adjusted without the burdensome need for different specific tooling for producing a bespoke unit for each appliance. The height of an appliance may typically be adjusted to 400 to 1200 mm, for example 500 to 1 100 mm, such as 600 to 1000 mm, i.e. allowing for great amount of vertical adjustment, more than in any other similar appliance hitherto.

This is advantageous in international markets for such appliances where large variations in standard heights exist, and overcomes the disadvantages of known appliances, which do not have this facility to the same extent.

Three or more, usually four, legs may each suitably comprise an elongate male docking member having at least three or four walls defining a box-shaped rectangular channel or box cross-section transverse to the longitudinal axis of the elongate member. The appliance is usually in the form of a cuboidal box with a cuboidal box-shaped space within the box, and usually has an open front, and sides, back and bottom faces that are planar and rectangular. The elongate male member of each leg may suitably be slidably and adjustably mounted in a conforming elongate female docking socket or sheath. The socket or sheath also has at least four walls defining a box-shaped rectangular channel or box cross-section transverse to the longitudinal axis of the elongate socket or sheath. Each socket or sheath is mounted on or in, or integral with, and piercing or perforating the planar bottom face of the appliance cuboidal box and extending in a generally upwards direction into the cuboidal box-shaped space within it. Each male leg member will slide in and out uprightly of the female socket or sheath of the appliance chassis, whereby the height of the appliance may be adjusted.

The elongate male docking member of each leg and the conforming elongate female docking socket or sheath suitably comprise locking or securing means. These may comprise one, aptly two, series of identical apertures or openings, such as circular holes, or slots regularly spaced along, and capable of being in register across, abutting faces of the male docking member and the conforming female docking socket or sheath. An elongate shaft or shank is capable of being snugly and slidably received in a pair, aptly two pairs, of such apertures or openings, in register across abutting faces of the male docking member and the conforming female docking socket or sheath to lock or secure the legs at the desired adjusted height of the appliance. The elongate shaft or shank may taper down towards its tip to aid engagement in the apertures or openings, i.e. it is a cotter pin.

The appliance may suitably comprise four legs, which may each suitably be adjustably mounted in the appliance towards the two front and the two back corners of the planar bottom face of the cuboidal box casing.

For extra stability, any pair of the three or more legs adjustably mounted in the appliance may be rigidly connected or coupled by an elongate brace or strut, e.g. in the form of a bar with box-shaped rectangular channel or box cross-section transverse to its longitudinal axis or a cylindrical rod, aptly at a position clear of, and extending in a generally horizontal direction below, the planar bottom face of the appliance. In an alternative embodiment, all the three or more legs adjustably mounted in the appliance may be rigidly connected or coupled by elongate braces or struts, e.g. in the form of such bars or rods.

The end of each leg where it contacts the floor or other footing where it is being installed, e.g. in a kitchen or utility room, may extend in generally horizontal directions as a continuous lateral flange and/or bear a guard or protector, such as a cushion or pad of a thermoplastics material.

Suitable materials for such a cushion or pad include a polyolefin, for example polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), or a thermoplastic elastomer.

In an alternative embodiment, the appliance may be installed, e.g. in a kitchen or utility room cupboard, where a great amount of vertical adjustment of the height of the appliance may not be required. The end each leg may then be provided with conventional means for the height of the appliance, which comprises a flat-headed bolt, the threaded shank of which adjustably engages with and is received in a co-operating threaded socket passing uprightly through the bottom face of the leg, and the head of which forms a foot for the leg, whereby the height of the appliance may be adjusted.

The appliances of the present invention may be of the type described in our copending applications, with operative units mounted in an elongate chassis which supports a thermoplastics material casing in the form of one or more sheets, each for example a layer or panel.

Suitable construction and materials for the chassis and the casing of the adapted appliance of this second aspect of the present invention include those constructions and materials so described above. Advantages of such an appliance adaptation include lower weight, quick replacement if damaged, and different adjustable unit finishes, widths, heights and depths, without the burdensome need for different specific tooling.

The appliances of the present invention all have means for storing compacted or non- compacted recyclable waste materials, e.g. a receptacle in a drawer slidably received and mounted in the space within the appliance adjacent to the bottom of the chassis, and below a crushing or compacting unit and/or the drive means therefor. For example, a can crushing appliance has a can crushing device mounted in a first drawer, and a waste storage box mounted in a second drawer. An appliance for compacting and storing paper, cardboard cartons or cardboard or plastics material containers has a waste receptacle in a drawer slidably mounted in the chassis below a drive means and a compacting means. An appliance for waste storage, e.g. for glass, has a receptacle in a drawer slidably mounted in the chassis.

Some compacted or non-compacted recyclable waste materials are relatively dense. Take, for example, metal drinks or food containers, such as cans; once in a crushed, reduced volume form, they have a relatively high density. Even packaging, cartons and containers, e.g. plastics drink or food containers, once in a compacted, reduced volume form have a moderate density. Some non-compacted recyclable waste materials, e.g. glass have a relatively high density.

The receptacle in a drawer slidably mounted in the chassis will often only be fully pulled out to in order to access it to remove crushed or compacted recyclable waste materials in a reduced volume form with a relatively high density or non-compacted recyclable waste materials, e.g. glass also with a relatively high density, and this will often occur when the receptacle is relatively full of such waste.

The appliance may often comprise four legs, which may each be mounted in the appliance in front and rear pairs towards its two front and the two back corners. In such a case, in the operative units of the type described above in the appliances of the present invention, the weight of recyclable waste in the receptacle will have a significant moment in a generally downwards direction around the pair of feet below the bottom edge of the front of the appliance of the present invention. Consequently, the appliance of the present invention may tend to tip forwards in such circumstances, and it may be desirable that a floor plate is used to secure the appliance at the rear to prevent it tipping forward, the floor plate being bolted to the floor or other footing where it is being installed, e.g. in a kitchen or utility room cupboard.

The floor plate may extend in a generally horizontal direction laterally as an elongate bar with a box-shaped rectangular C-channel or box cross-section transverse to its longitudinal axis. Where the end of each leg in the rear pair where it contacts the floor or other footing where it is being installed, e.g. in a kitchen or utility room cupboard, extends in generally horizontal continuous lateral flange, the floor plate may secure the appliance at the rear to prevent it tipping forward, by the floor plate receiving such flanges in its box-shaped rectangular C-channel or by trapping such flanges beneath it, the floor plate being bolted to the floor or other footing where the appliance is being installed. Appliance adaptations of the present invention also include any integer or combination of a number of integers which comprises means for adjusting the front finish of an appliance, which comprises means on the front of at least one drawer slidably received and mounted in the space within the appliance chassis for supporting a panel with the desired front finish.

In a third aspect, the present invention provides adapted appliances with means for adjusting the front finish, which comprises means on the front of at least one drawer slidably received and mounted in the space within the appliance chassis for supporting a panel with the desired front finish.

Appliances of this aspect of the present invention usually comprise operative units of the type described above in this application and in our copending applications, i.e. for crushing or compacting and/or storing waste.

Within these:

a can crushing appliance has a can crushing device is mounted in a first drawer, and a storage box, mounted in a second drawer below the first drawer, and

a crushing unit is typically mounted in the first drawer, adjacent to the top of the chassis of the appliance and the first drawer typically occupies approximately the top one third of the volume of the space within the chassis, adjacent to the top of the chassis of the appliance. The second drawer below the first drawer is typically mounted adjacent to the bottom of the chassis of the appliance and typically occupies approximately the bottom two thirds of the volume of the space within the chassis, adjacent to the bottom of the chassis of the appliance. Correspondingly, the front of the second drawer below the first drawer typically occupies approximately the bottom two thirds of the area of the front of the appliance.

An appliance for compacting and storing paper, cardboard cartons or cardboard or plastics material containers has a waste receptacle in a drawer slidably mounted in the chassis below a drive means and a compacting means.

An electrically powered drive means of an adapted compacting and storing appliance for paper, cardboard cartons or cardboard or plastics material containers is typically mounted adjacent to the top of the chassis of the appliance and typically occupies approximately the top one third of the volume of the space within the chassis adjacent to the top of the chassis of the appliance. The drawer below the drive means is typically slidably received and mounted in the space within the appliance adjacent to the bottom of the chassis of the appliance and typically occupies approximately the bottom two thirds of the volume of the space within the chassis. Correspondingly, the front of the drawer below the first drawer typically occupies approximately the bottom two thirds of the area of the front of the appliance.

As described below in this application and as described in our copending applications, an adapted appliance of this invention may comprise two or more operative units, e.g. the type described above in this application, within a common chassis. Such an appliance adaptation that comprises two or more units with a common chassis comprises units for

can crushing and storing, comprising a first drawer, slidably mounted in the chassis, and a can crushing device, wherein the can crushing device is mounted in the first drawer, and

compacting and storing paper, cardboard cartons or cardboard or plastics material containers, comprising a drive means and a compacting means, wherein the drive means is operably connected to the compacting means,

and comprises a receptacle for both units in a drawer slidably mounted in the chassis below the crushing unit and the drive means. The crushing unit is typically mounted in the first drawer, adjacent to the top of the chassis of the appliance and the first drawer typically occupies approximately half of the top one third of the volume of the space within the chassis, adjacent to the top of the chassis of the appliance. The electrically powered drive means of the compacting and storing adapted appliance for paper, cardboard cartons or cardboard or plastics material containers is typically mounted adjacent to the top of the chassis of the appliance and typically occupies approximately half of the top one third of the volume of the space within the chassis adjacent to the top of the chassis of the appliance.

The drawer below the drive means is typically slidably received and mounted in the space within the appliance adjacent to the bottom of the chassis of the appliance and typically occupies approximately the bottom two thirds of the volume of the space within the chassis. Correspondingly, the front of the drawer below the first drawer typically occupies approximately the bottom two thirds of the area of the front of the appliance. An appliance for waste storage, e.g. for glass, has a receptacle in a drawer slidably mounted in the chassis. The drawer is typically mounted adjacent to the bottom of the chassis of the appliance and typically occupies approximately all the volume of the space within the chassis. Correspondingly, the front of the drawer typically occupies approximately all the area of the front of the appliance.

In any of these appliances, this appliance of the second aspect of the present invention is to be installed, e.g. in a kitchen or utility room which has or is to have fitted cupboard and drawer units and/or household appliances, such as a dishwasher, freezer, refrigerator or washing machine, with a common unit front finish, it will usually be desirable that the appliances of the present invention are adapted to have the common unit front finish, and are of the same height as the other household units. Consequently, it may be desirable that the appliance of the present invention is adapted to have a common unit front finish that is a single panel with the desired front finish, extending in a generally upwards direction over, and at least to the full height of, the appliance of the present invention.

Additionally, the other units where the appliance is being installed, e.g. in a kitchen or utility room, may have fronts extending in a generally downwards direction below the level of the bottom edge of the front of the appliance of the present invention. Consequently, it may be desirable that the appliances of the present invention are adapted to have a front finish which is of the same height as that of the other household units.

Additionally again, even where the appliances of the present invention are adapted to have a common unit front finish that is a single panel with the desired front finish, extending generally upwards and/or downwards, the appliance of the present invention may be mounted relatively deeply in the space within a cupboard unit that houses it.

Hence the front face of the appliance of this invention cannot abut the back face of panel with the desired front finish. Consequently, it may be desirable that such appliances of the present invention are adapted to bear a front finish which is flush with the matching front finish panels on the other units where the appliance is being installed, e.g. in a kitchen or utility room.

Thus, this third aspect of the present invention provides adapted appliances with means on the front of at least one drawer, which is slidably received and mounted in the space within the appliance chassis, for supporting a panel with the desired front finish, which has the same height as, and/or is flush with, the matching front finish panels on the other units where the appliance is being installed, e.g. in a kitchen or utility room. Such means for supporting a panel with the desired front finish is typically mounted on the front of a drawer slidably received in the space within the appliance adjacent to the bottom of the chassis of the appliance.

Such means may suitably comprise securing means which comprise a drawer securing component mounted on the front of the drawer and a co-operating panel securing component mounted on the back of the panel, such that the panel securing component mounted on the back of the panel is demountable from the drawer securing component mounted on the front of the drawer, allowing mounting, demounting and interchange of panels, each of which may be specific to any given range of household units.

This is may be achieved by means of panel docking means, which engage with drawer docking means, such as two parts of at least one fastener such as a clasp or clip.

This is may also be achieved by means of panel docking means, which are slidably and snugly received in drawer docking means; or vice versa.

Suitable securing means may comprise drawer female docking means mounted on or in, or integral with the front of the drawer, with one, aptly two, series of aptly identical indentations, such as

notches or castellation in an edge or edges of the drawer docking means,

apertures or openings, such as holes, slots or C-section grooves in a surface of the drawer docking means, and/or

elongate hollow members, such as elongate sockets or sheaths on and parallel to a surface of the drawer docking means, all regularly spaced along the drawer front face. These are in register with, and capable of receiving and snugly engaging co-operating members, also in a series all regularly spaced along the panel back face, of panel male docking means, such as

hooked lugs, shafts or shanks, or

in the case of a C-section grooves in a surface of the drawer docking means slidably receiving the head of a flat-headed slider pin.

Alternatively, the drawer front face may have male docking means in register with, and capable of being received and snugly engaged by co-operating female panel docking means.

Aptly, the docking means have at least one pair of series of respective indentations or apertures, and members, the components of the two series being in register across respectively the front face of the drawer and the back face of the panel. Aptly, both or each series of pairs of series will extend upwards and downwards.

Both or each series of pairs of series may comprise:

elongate male docking means, such as

hooked lugs, shafts or shanks, or

flat-headed slider pins,

capable of being received and snugly engaged by

co-operating elongate female docking means, such as

notches or castellation in an edge or edges of the drawer docking means,

apertures or openings, such as holes, slots or C-section grooves in a surface of the drawer docking means, and/or

elongate hollow members, such as elongate sockets or sheaths on and parallel to a surface of the drawer docking means, all regularly spaced along the drawer front face.

Aptly, in such case, each such individual elongate docking means will also extend generally upwards and downwards, such that male docking means such as

hooked lugs, shafts or shanks, or

flat-headed slider pins,

are capable of being received and snugly engaged under gravity by

co-operating elongate female docking means, such as

notches or castellation in an edge or edges of the drawer docking means,

apertures or openings, such as holes, slots or C-section grooves in a surface of the drawer docking means, and/or elongate hollow members, such as elongate sockets or sheaths on and parallel to a surface of the drawer docking means, all regularly spaced along the drawer front face.

Aptly, in such case, the male elongate docking means are mounted on the back face of the panel, and the elongate female docking means are mounted on or in the front of the drawer, allowing mounting, demounting and interchange of panels.

Aptly, all docking means are of the suitable types of materials for the chassis described above in this application, which include metals, such as mild steel and aluminium alloys, e.g. duralumin, and engineering plastics.

As noted above, means for supporting a panel with the desired front finish is typically mounted on the front of a drawer slidably received in the space within the appliance adjacent to the bottom of the chassis of the appliance, and such means may suitably comprise securing means.

These may comprise a drawer securing component mounted on the front of the drawer and a co-operating panel securing component mounted on the back of the panel, such that the panel securing component mounted on the back of the panel is demountable from the drawer securing component mounted on the front of the drawer.

In addition to panel docking means which engage with drawer docking means, the securing means may comprise drawer support means which are capable of engaging co-operating panel support means.

The drawer support means which are capable of engaging co-operating panel support means may suitably comprise an elongate upright riser and a projection in a generally horizontal forwards direction away from the drawer front face, which is aptly integral with the riser, together forming a bracket.

Aptly, the riser and projection are each planar and rectangular, the projection in a generally horizontal forwards direction away from the drawer front face forms an upwardly open channel, or a ledge, shelf or sill, and they together form a generally L- shaped bracket. The projection may be capable of being in register with, and engaging, co-operating panel support means, which may suitably comprise a projection in a generally horizontal rearwards direction towards the drawer front face. Aptly, however, it is in a position extending in a generally horizontal direction below, and capable of being in register with, and engaging the bottom edge of the generally planar panel with the desired front finish. Where the panel extends downwards below the bottom front edge of the appliance, the bracket will also do so. The riser on the front of the drawer is aptly planar and rectangular and mounted on the drawer front face such that it may slide up and down, but be fixed or locked, so that the height of the panel with the desired front finish relative to the appliance may be adjusted.

The drawer front face, so that the bracket may slide up and down, but be fixed or locked, may suitably comprise at least one pair e.g. one pair of slots extending generally upwards and downwards, and each slot being capable of slidably receiving the heads of at least one pair e.g. one pair of flat-headed lockable slider bolts received in threaded holes regularly spaced in and passing through the upright riser and being in register across abutting faces of the elongate upright riser and the drawer front face with the slots extending generally upwards and downwards in the drawer front face.

Alternatively, the holes passing through the upright riser may be unthreaded, and may receive screws which may be screwed into the drawer front face at an appropriate position of the panel with the desired front finish relative to the appliance.

The projection which may receive the bottom edge of the panel with the desired front finish at or below the bottom edge of the front of the appliance of the present invention may also have unthreaded holes passing through it. These holes may receive screws which may be screwed into the bottom edge of the panel with the desired front finish.

The adapted appliance of the present invention may be mounted relatively deeply in the space within a cupboard unit that houses it, so that the front face of the appliance of this invention cannot abut the back face of panel with the desired front finish. Consequently, it may be desirable that such appliances of the present invention are adapted to bear a front finish which is flush with the matching front finish panels on the other units where the appliance is being installed, e.g. in a kitchen or utility room. Thus, the means on the front of the drawer for supporting the bottom edge of the panel with the desired front finish to be flush with the matching front finish panels on the other units where the appliance is being installed will need to forming a bracket, the riser may suitably comprise a dogleg offset in a forwards direction away from the drawer front face, and aptly is in a position below that part of it which comprises flat-headed lockable slider bolts received in threaded holes passing through it or unthreaded holes receiving screws which may be screwed into the drawer front face at an appropriate position.

In this embodiment, the panel back face will need to be demountably mounted on a spacer docking means to span the offset between the drawer front face and the back of the panel with the desired front finish corresponding to the dogleg offset in the integral riser of the bracket. This is a separate integer which suitably comprises docking means which engage with drawer docking means, and docking means which engage with panel docking means.

For example, in an adapted appliance where male docking means such as hooked lugs, shafts or shanks, etc. are mounted on the back face of the panel, and elongate female docking means, such as notches or castellation, or apertures or openings, such as holes, slots, etc are mounted on or in, or integral with the front of the drawer, the intermediate docking means comprises

elongate female docking means, such as notches or castellation, or apertures or openings, such as holes, slots, etc which engage with elongate male panel docking means, such as hooked lugs, shafts or shanks, or flat-headed slider pins, etc., and elongate male docking means, such as hooked lugs, shafts or shanks, or flat-headed slider pins, which engage with elongate female drawer docking means, and docking means which engage with panel docking means, such as notches or castellation, or apertures or openings, such as holes, slots, etc are mounted on or in, or integral with the front of the drawer.

It will be seen that the panel with the desired front finish may covers the whole of the forward facing face of the appliance of this invention including in particular the construction of a waste compacting module in an adapted appliance of this invention.

It may thus cover the front face of the drive means of an adapted compacting and storing appliance for paper, cardboard cartons or cardboard or plastics material containers which is typically slidably received and mounted in the space within the appliance adjacent to the top of the chassis of the appliance and typically occupies approximately the top one third of the volume of the space within the chassis adjacent to the top of the chassis. The drive means is typically slidably received and mounted to facilitate its removal for maintenance and repair. The panel back face is demountably mounted on the drawer front face, as necessary with a spacer corresponding to the dogleg offset in the integral riser of the bracket, so that it may be readily removed in order to access the unit or the inside of unit for maintenance or repair.

It will be seen that in the type of this appliance adaptation described above in this application, the panel with the desired front finish is only fixed on the appliance by screws or bolts which may be screwed into the bottom edge of the panel with the desired front finish and received in holes passing through the projection from the generally L- shaped in a position extending in a generally horizontal direction below, and capable of being in register with, and receiving the bottom edge of the panel with the desired front finish. The panel with the desired front finish is readily removed in order to access the unit or the inside of unit for maintenance or repair by first undoing the screws or bolts which are screwed into the bottom edge of the panel with the desired front finish and received in holes passing through the projection which receives the bottom edge of the panel with the desired front finish at or below the bottom edge of the front of the appliance of the present invention.

The panel with the desired front finish is then lifted up sufficiently to disengage and remove the panel from the projection if it forms an upwardly open channel and any male docking means, such as hooked lugs, shafts or shanks, or flat-headed slider pins, which engage with elongate female drawer docking means, such as notches or castellation, or apertures or openings, such as holes, slots, etc mounted on or in, or integral with the front of the drawer, the spacer or the back of the panel.

Panels with the desired front finish are readily interchangeable in the same way.

In any of the present appliances, where the appliance is to be installed, e.g. in a kitchen or utility room which has or is to have fitted cupboard and drawer units and/or household appliances, such as a dishwasher, freezer, refrigerator or washing machine, with a common unit front finish, it will usually be desirable that the appliances of the present invention are adapted to have a common unit front finish of the same front width and height as those within a standardised range of height and widths of the other household units where it is installed. This may be achieved by means that span the gap between the appliance front face and the cupboard unit that houses the appliance, and comprises a framework mounted on the at least partially open front of a cupboard unit that houses the appliance and around the front of the appliance. In a fourth aspect, the present invention provides an adapted appliance with a front finish of the same front width and height as those within a standardised range of height and widths of the other household units where it is installed.

The adapted appliance comprises means that span the gap between the appliance front face and the chassis, which comprises a framework mounted on the at least partially open front of a cupboard unit that houses the appliance and around the front of the appliance.

Aptly, the framework comprises three linear and elongate members, a transverse member joined or attached to first and second upright members with a right angle between the transverse member and each of the first and second upright members. The cupboard unit that houses the appliance is usually in the form of a cuboidal box with a cuboidal box-shaped space within the box, and usually has open front and bottom faces.

The framework members are mounted on the front edges of the cupboard unit, around the front of the appliance, usually flush with the top and side faces of the cupboard unit that houses the appliances, but projecting in a generally inwards direction towards the appliance front face, to span the gap between the appliance and cupboard front faces. The members are mounted on the front edges of the cupboard by means of screws which are received in holes passing through the members and may be screwed into the cupboard front face at appropriate positions.

An adapted appliance of this invention may serve as a stand-alone appliance in its own right, or it may comprise two or more operative units, e.g. of the type described above in this application, within a common chassis. Each unit will usually perform a different function, e.g. crushing cans, compacting recyclable waste materials, or storing compacted or non-compacted recyclable waste materials. Accordingly, in a fifth aspect, the present invention provides an adapted appliance comprising at least two operative units for crushing cans, compacting recyclable waste materials, or storing compacted or non-compacted recyclable waste materials and means for adjusting the front finish, width, height and depth of the appliance.

Such an adaptation may provide an appliance with a front finish of the same front width and height as those within a standardised range of height and widths of other household units where it is installed.

Two units, e.g. the type described in our copending applications, respectively for can crushing and storing, and for compacting and storing paper, abut each other laterally. The units are then aptly of the same height and the same depth so that the units are coterminous in the abutting faces and the units are readily interchangeable between the adapted appliances.

Suitable construction and materials for the chassis and the casing of the adapted appliance of this aspect of the present invention include those constructions and materials so described above.

That is, a chassis and a adapted appliance carried by, and covering, the chassis, and materials for the chassis and the adapted appliance, including thermoplastics materials for the adapted appliance, including in particular the construction wherein a first plastics material sheet covers the back, top, bottom and side faces of the appliance of this invention.

Aptly appliances of this aspect of the present invention usually comprise operative units of the type described in our copending applications, respectively for can crushing and storing, and for compacting and storing paper, cardboard cartons or cardboard or plastics material containers.

Such an adapted appliance that comprises two or more units with a common chassis comprises units for

can crushing and storing, comprising a first drawer, slidably mounted in the chassis, and a can crushing device, wherein the can crushing device is mounted in the first drawer, and a storage box, mounted in a second the drawer, slidably mounted in the chassis, in the storage unit below the crushing unit;

compacting and storing paper, cardboard cartons or cardboard or plastics material containers, comprising a receptacle in a drawer slidably mounted in the chassis below a drive means and a compacting means, wherein the drive means is operably connected to the compacting means, and, during a compacting operation, the drive means drives the compacting means into the receptacle; and

optionally, waste, comprising a waste storage container in a drawer slidably mounted in the chassis.

Two or more operative units of the type described above, respectively for can crushing and storing, and for compacting and storing paper, usually abut each other laterally. The adapted appliances are then aptly of the same height and the same depth so that the adapted appliances are coterminous in the abutting faces and the adapted appliances are readily interchangeable between the adapted appliances.

Aptly, each operative unit is one that is used in a range of adapted appliances comprising one or more such adaptations, such that the operative units are interchangeable in the appliance, thus avoiding the burdensome need for different specific tooling for producing specific units for each adapted appliance.

It is an aim of certain embodiments of the present invention to provide an adapted appliance which at least partially mitigates the disadvantages of known appliances, which do not have this facility.

An adapted appliance of this invention may serve as a stand-alone appliance in its own right, or it may be combined with one or more other adapted appliances to form an integrated appliance assembly comprising two or more adapted appliances, e.g. of the type described above in this application, each with its own chassis.

Each adapted appliance will usually perform a different function, e.g. crushing cans, compacting recyclable waste materials, or storing compacted or non-compacted recyclable waste materials. Aptly, each adapted appliance is one that is used in a range of adapted appliances comprising one or more such adaptations, such that the adaptations are interchangeable in the assembly, thus avoiding the burdensome need for different specific tooling for producing an adapted appliance for each assembly. It is an aim of certain embodiments of the present invention to provide an adapted appliance which at least partially mitigates the disadvantages of known appliances, which do not have this facility. Accordingly, in a sixth aspect, the present invention provides an appliance assembly comprising two or more adapted appliances, wherein each adapted appliance is attached or fastened to another adapted appliance to form an integrated appliance assembly.

Aptly, each adapted appliance is of the preferred type described in our copending applications and above in this application, respectively for can crushing and storing, compacting and storing paper, cardboard cartons or cardboard or plastics material containers, or waste storage.

Such an appliance assembly with two or more adapted appliances each with its own chassis thus aptly comprises adapted appliances for

can crushing and storing, comprising a first drawer, slidably mounted in the chassis, and a can crushing device, wherein the can crushing device is mounted in the first drawer, and a storage box, mounted in a second the drawer, slidably mounted in the chassis, in the storage unit below the crushing unit;

compacting and storing paper, cardboard cartons or cardboard or plastics material containers, comprising a receptacle in a drawer slidably mounted in the chassis below a drive means and a compacting means, wherein the drive means is operably connected to the compacting means, and, during a compacting operation, the drive means drives the compacting means into the receptacle; and

optionally, waste, comprising a waste storage container in a drawer slidably mounted in the chassis.

Two or more adapted appliances of the type described above, respectively for can crushing and storing, and for compacting and storing paper, abut each other laterally. The adapted appliances are then aptly of the same height and the same depth so that the adapted appliances are coterminous in the abutting faces and the adapted appliances are readily interchangeable between the adapted appliances.

Where the adapted appliances are coterminous in the faces where they are attached or fastened and will be attached or fastened to one another to form an integrated adapted appliance by locking, securing or tying means, such as bolting, across the common abutting faces of two adapted appliances. Suitable construction and materials for the chassis and the adapted appliance of the adapted appliances in this aspect of the present invention include those include those constructions and materials so described above. That is, a chassis and a adapted appliance carried by, and covering, the chassis, and materials for the chassis and the adapted appliance, including thermoplastics materials for the adapted appliance, including in particular the construction wherein a first plastics material sheet covers the back top, bottom and side faces of the adapted appliance of this invention.

The present invention will now be described hereinafter, by way of example only, with reference to the following Figures, in which:

Figure 1 shows an exploded isometric view of a can crushing and storing module according to the present invention ;

Figure 2 shows a side cross-sectional view of a waste compacting and storing module according to the present invention, with the storage unit drawer fully pulled out; Figure 3a shows an exploded front isometric view of the storage unit drawer within the waste compacting and storing module of Figure 2, and its cage-like container part. Figure 3b shows a frontal cross-sectional view of the receptacle of the storage unit drawer, held by three arms of the container part. Figure 3c shows an exploded rear isometric view of the storage unit drawer of the waste compacting and storing module of Figure 2. Figure 3d shows a front isometric view of the load bearing member within the waste compacting and storing module of Figure 2. Figure 3e shows a front elevation view of the load bearing member within the waste compacting and storing module of Figure 2; Figure 4a shows an isometric view of an extended module comprising two different modules for crushing, compacting and storing recyclable waste, including the can crushing and storing module of Figure 1 . Figure 4b shows a cross-sectional view from the longitudinal mid-point of the extended module of Figure 7a facing rearwardly; and Figure 5 shows an exploded isometric view of an appliance assembly comprising three different adapted appliance of the present invention. All the adapted appliances depicted have a range of standardised appliance shells, each comprising a chassis which supports a thermoplastics material casing in the form of one or more sheets. Referring to Figure 1 , the can crushing and storing module 1 has a chassis 2 comprising a framework consisting of metal members defining a rectangular box-shaped space 3.

Adjustable leg units 38 are slidably received in the bottom of the chassis 2, adjacent to the chassis front and back. The leg units 38 consist of four upright metal male leg members 89a, 89b, 89c, 89d, each having a rectangular box-shaped cross-section transverse to its longitudinal axis.

Each male leg member 89a, 89b, 89c, 89d, is slidably received in a corresponding female socket, 90a, 90b, 90c, 90d, each having a rectangular box-shaped cross-section transverse to its longitudinal axis, and is mounted in and pierces the planar bottom face 91 of the chassis 2, adjacent to the chassis front and back. The end of each of each male leg member 89a, 89b, 89c, 89d, where will contact the floor or other footing where it is being installed, extend in generally horizontal directions as a continuous lateral flange bearing a guard or protector 96a, 96b, 96c, 96d.

The front pair 89a, 89b and back pair 89c, 89d of the male leg members adjustably mounted in the appliance are rigidly connected by an elongate brace, respectively 92a, 92b with a box-shaped rectangular cross-section transverse to its longitudinal, in a position clear of, and extending in a horizontal direction below, the planar bottom face 91 of the appliance.

Each elongate male leg member 89a, 89b, 89c, 89d, and each corresponding female 90a, 90b, 90c, 90d comprises locking means. These consist of threaded holes 97a, 97b, 97c, 97d (not shown) in the female sockets 90a, 90b, 90c, 90d, in which are received threaded bolts 98a, 98b, 98c, 97d capable of being tightened to grip abutting faces of the male leg members 89a, 89b, 89c, 89d.

Alternatively, the locking means may consist of two series of identical circular holes 93a, 93b, 93c, 93d (not shown) in register in opposing faces of the corresponding leg member 89a, 89b, 89c, 89d, and two series of identical circular holes 94a, 94b, 94c, 94d (not shown) in register in opposing faces of the corresponding female socket, 90a, 90b, 90c, 90d, which are also capable of being in register across abutting faces of the male leg members 89a, 89b, 89c, 89d and corresponding female sockets 90a, 90b, 90c, 90d.

Each leg has a cotter pin (not shown) 95a, 95b, 95c, 95d (not shown) capable of being snugly and slidably received in two pairs, of the holes, e.g. 93a, 94a in register across abutting faces of the male leg member 89a and the corresponding female socket 90a, to lock the leg units 38 at the desired adjusted height of the appliance 1 .

Other integers of the appliance 1 include the following:

The space 3 is enclosed on all sides apart from the front 4 by a plastics material skin 5. The module 1 has an upper, can crushing unit 6 comprising a first drawer 7, occupying approximately the top one third of the volume of the space 3, and a lower storage unit 8, comprising a second drawer 9, occupying the remaining two thirds of the volume of the space 3.

The first drawer 7 comprises a drawer front 10 including a recess handle 1 1 . The first drawer 7 has a pair of side rails 13, 13 which sit on a corresponding pair of runners 14, 14 fastened to the chassis 2.

In the first drawer 7, mounted on the rails 13, 13 is a can crushing device 15 comprising a can crushing compartment 16. The can crushing compartment 16 has

a first fixed end wall 17 adjacent to the drawer front 10,

a second fixed end wall 18 at the opposite end of the compartment 16 to the drawer front 10, and

a moveable partition wall 19 which, in the resting state of the crushing unit 6, sits adjacent the second fixed end wall 18.

A continuous, partially curved side wall 20 extends around all sides of the device 15 apart from the side 21 serving as an opening to the compartment 16.

At the end of the compartment 16 nearest the first fixed end wall 17 there is a slot 22 in the side wall 20. The fixed end walls 17, 18 and the side wall 20 of the compartment 16 are a unitary construction, made from plastics material. The partition wall 19 is made from metal, here stainless steel. The device 15 further comprises a linear ram 23 fixed to the drawer 7 within the space 3 of the storing and crushing module 1 . The linear ram 23 is an electrically powered device that has a reciprocating drive rod 24 attached to the moveable partition wall 19 and the linear ram 23 is capable of driving the moveable partition wall 19 from a resting state to crush a can placed in the crushing compartment 16 against the first fixed end wall 17 adjacent to the drawer front 10. The electrical power unit 28 for the ram is mounted on the back of the chassis 2.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, a packaging, carton and container compacting and storing module 101 has a chassis 102 comprising a framework consisting of metal structural members defining a cuboidal box-shaped space.

The space is enclosed on all sides apart from the forward facing side 103 by a polypropylene skin 104 (not shown). The module 101 has a drawer 105 comprising a front 106 and a cage-like container part 107. The drawer 105 slides in and out of the space. The front 106 covers the whole of the forward facing side 103 of the space. A handle 108 is fixed on the panel 150.

In the compacting and storing module 101 , the cage-like container part 107 is elongate from the front to the rear, and as part of the drawer 105 is slidable in and out of the front of the chassis 102 to and from the rear of the chassis 102 in a direction generally corresponding to its elongate dimension.

The cage-like container part 107 comprises three arms 109a, 109b, 109c that extend from the inside face of the drawer front 106 in the sliding-in direction of the drawer 105.

The first arm 109a extends from a position on the inside surface of the drawer front 106, adjacent the lower edge 1 10 of the drawer front 106, approximately midway between the right- and left-hand edges 1 1 1 , 1 12 of the drawer front 106.

The second and third arms 109b, 109c each extend from a position adjacent to the top right- and left-hand corners 1 13, 1 14 of the inside surface of the drawer front 106 respectively. The three arms 109a, 109b, 109c are slightly shorter than the depth of the space and are interconnected at their ends remote from the drawer 105 front 106 by an integral T- piece 1 15. The arm 109a engages with a recess120 in the bottom of, and supports, a receptacle 1 19.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the chassis 102 in the compacting and storing module 101 further comprises a single load bearing member 121 , mounted on, and attached to, the chassis 102, and extending from front to back over the bottom of the module 101 , and which is disposed and extends symmetrically on each side of a runner 1 18a over which a C-shaped channel 1 17a of the arm 109a slots and runs. The load bearing member 121 is so positioned that when the drawer 5 is fully slid in, it supports the receptacle 1 19 clear of the bottom of the container part 107.

The profile of the load bearing member 121 comprises, inter alia in sequence from front to back of the module 101 underneath the container part 107;

a first inclined part 122, which is inclined upwardly from the front of the module 101 towards the back, and extends from side to side of the module 101 ; and

a high projecting part 124 extending in a generally horizontal direction from front to back and from side to side of the module 101 ; The purpose of these parts is that the load bearing members 121 takes over supporting the receptacle 1 19 when the drawer 105 is fully slid in, and carries the load of the receptacle 1 19 and any compacting load applied to it.

Referring to Figures 3d and 3e, the chassis 102 in the compacting and storing module 101 further comprises a single load bearing member 121 , mounted on, and attached to, the chassis 102. Adjustable leg units 38 are slidably received in the bottom of the chassis 2, adjacent to the chassis front and back. The leg units 38 consist of four upright metal male leg members 89a, 89b, 89c, 89d, each having a rectangular box- shaped cross-section transverse to its longitudinal axis.

Each male leg member 89a, 89b, 89c, 89d, is slidably received in a corresponding female socket, 90a, 90b, 90c, 90d, each having a rectangular box-shaped cross-section transverse to its longitudinal axis, and is mounted in and pierces the planar bottom face 91 of the chassis 102 adjacent to the chassis front and back. The end of each of each male leg member 89a, 89b, 89c, 89d, where will contact the floor or other footing where it is being installed, extend in generally horizontal directions as a continuous lateral flange bearing a guard or protector 96a, 96b, 96c, 96d. The front pair 89a, 89b and back pair 89c, 89d of the male leg members adjustably mounted in the appliance are rigidly connected by an elongate brace, respectively 92a, 92b with a box-shaped rectangular cross-section transverse to its longitudinal, in a position clear of, and extending in a horizontal direction below, the planar bottom face 91 of the appliance.

Each elongate male leg member 89a, 89b, 89c, 89d, and each corresponding female 90a, 90b, 90c, 90d comprises locking means. These consist of threaded holes 97a, 97b, 97c, 97d (not shown) in the female sockets 90a, 90b, 90c, 90d, in which are received threaded bolts 98a, 98b, 98c, 97d capable of being tightened to grip abutting faces of the male leg members 89a, 89b, 89c, 89d.

Alternatively, the locking means may consist of two series of identical circular holes 93a, 93b, 93c, 93d (not shown) in register in opposing faces of the corresponding leg member 89a, 89b, 89c, 89d, and two series of identical circular holes 94a, 94b, 94c, 94d (not shown) in register in opposing faces of the corresponding female socket, 90a, 90b, 90c, 90d, which are also capable of being in register across abutting faces of the male leg members 89a, 89b, 89c, 89d and corresponding female sockets 90a, 90b, 90c, 90d. Each leg has a cotter pin (not shown) 95a, 95b, 95c, 95d (not shown) capable of being snugly and slidably received in two pairs, of the holes, e.g. 93a, 94a in register across abutting faces of the male leg member 89a and the corresponding female socket 90a, to lock the leg units 38 at the desired adjusted height of the appliance 101 .

Referring to Figures 3a and 3c, the appliance of the present invention is adapted to have a common unit front finish that is a single panel 150 with the desired front finish, extending to the full height of, and below the level of the front bottom edge 151 of, the appliance 101 . The appliance 101 is also adapted to be mounted relatively deeply in the space within a cupboard unit that houses it.

Consequently, the appliance 101 is adapted to bear a panel 150 which is flush with the matching front finish panels on the other units where the appliance is being installed, and there is an offset between the drawer front face 106 and the back 152 of the panel 150. Securing means for supporting the panel 150 here comprise a spacer 153 to span the offset between the drawer front face 106 and the back 152 of the panel 150. The spacer 153 has spacer docking means, which comprise spacer male docking means 154 which engage with female drawer docking means 155, and spacer female docking means 156 which engage with and snugly receive panel male docking means 157, such that the panel 150 is demountable from the spacer 153 and the spacer 153 is demountable from the drawer front face 106, enabling mounting, demounting and interchange of panel 150.

The spacer male docking means 154 are here two pairs of elongate hooked lugs, capable of being engaged and snugly received by co-operating elongate female drawer docking means 155, here two out of three pairs of notches in edges of drawer docking means 158.

The two pairs of elongate hooked lugs 154 and the co-operating two pairs of elongate notches 155 in the edges of the drawer docking means 158, are all respectively in register with each other horizontally and vertically and are all elongate in a vertical direction. The two pairs of elongate hooked lugs 154 are all in register horizontally in the sliding-in direction of the drawer 105 with the co-operating two pairs of elongate notches 155 in the edges of drawer docking means 158.

The spacer female docking means 156 are here two out of three pairs of elongate slots in the spacer 153, which engage with and snugly receive co-operating panel male docking means 157, here two pairs of elongate hooked lugs on the back 152 of the panel 150.

The two pairs of elongate hooked lugs 157 and the co-operating two pairs of elongate slots 158 in the spacer 153 are all respectively in register with each other horizontally and vertically and are all elongate in a vertical direction.

The two pairs of elongate hooked lugs 157 are all in register horizontally in the sliding-in direction of the drawer 105 with the co-operating two pairs of elongate slots 158 in the spacer 153. In addition to the spacer 153, the securing means may comprise drawer support means which are capable of engaging co-operating panel support means.

The drawer support means here comprise a generally L-shaped bracket 159, consisting of a rectangular riser 160 and a planar and rectangular projection 161 in a generally horizontal forwards direction away from the drawer front 106 face in the form of a ledge.

The ledge 161 extends in a generally horizontal direction below, and is capable of being in register with and engaging the bottom edge 162 of the panel 150. Since the panel 150 extends downwards below the bottom front edge of the appliance, the bracket 159 also does so.

The riser 160 is mounted on the drawer front face 106 such that it may slide up and down, but be fixed or locked, so that the height of the panel 150 relative to the appliance 101 may be adjusted.

The drawer front face 106 therefore comprises a pair of slots 163 extending generally upwards and downwards, and each slot 163 receives the heads 164 of a pair flat-headed lockable slider bolts received in threaded holes 165 (not shown) passing through the upright riser 160 and being in register across abutting faces of the elongate upright riser 160 of the drawer front face 106 with the slots 163 in the drawer front face 106.

Alternatively, the holes 165 passing through the upright riser 160 may be unthreaded, and may receive screws which may be screwed into the drawer front face 106 through the slots 163 at an appropriate position of the panel 150 relative to the appliance.

The ledge 161 which receives the bottom edge of the panel 150 below the bottom edge of the front of the appliance of the present invention has unthreaded holes 166 passing through it, which receive screws 167 (not shown) which are screwed into the bottom edge 162 of the panel 150.

So that the panel 150 will be flush with the matching front finish panels on the other units where the appliance is being installed, the riser 160 has a dogleg offset 168 in a forwards direction away from the drawer front face 106, in a position below that part of it which comprises the heads 164 of the flat-headed lockable slider bolts. Referring to Figure 2, the module 1 further comprises a compacting drive means and a compacting means, here respectively:

an electrically powered linear ram 129 which is pivotally attached to a scissor jack mechanism 128, which is slidably located and sits in a compactor compartment 140 at the top of the space enclosed by the chassis 102; and

a compacting plate 127 which is attached to a bottom plate 146 of a scissor jack mechanism 128.

When a user switch is operated, control electronics command the linear ram 129 to drive the compacting plate 127 down into the receptacle 1 19, thereby to apply a compacting force to any recyclable waste material deposited in the receptacle 1 19 and to compact it. The linear ram 129 can be commanded to undergo a number of different compacting routines. Referring to Figures 4a and 4b, a recycling extended module is indicated generally at 191 .

The term "extended module" as used herein refers to a module for crushing and/or compacting recyclable waste materials which comprises two or more sub-modules. Each sub-module of the extended module performs a different function, such as a sub- module for crushing cans and storing the crushed cans, or for compacting paper, cardboard cartons or cardboard or plastics material containers and storing the compacted materials. The extended module 191 illustrated comprises two different modules:

A can crushing unit 6 comprising a first drawer 7, mounted in, and adjacent to the top left side edge 194a of, the chassis 192 of the extended module 191 , occupying approximately half of the top one third of the volume of the space 193 within the chassis 192, and extends rearwardly the front of the chassis 192.

An electrically powered drive means 196 of a compacting and storing module for paper, cardboard cartons or cardboard or plastics material containers is mounted in, and adjacent to the right top side edge 194a of, the chassis 192, also occupying approximately half of the top one third of the volume of the space 193 within the chassis 192, and extends rearwardly the front of the chassis 192. The drive means 198 (not shown) of a compacting and storing module for paper, cardboard cartons or cardboard or plastics material containers is operably connected to compacting means 199, here a planar and rectangular plate which extends in a generally horizontal direction.

The drive means 196 and the crushing unit 6 abut each other laterally. Although each component of the module performs different functions, the compacting drive means 196 and the crushing unit 6 share a common storage unit 195. The common storage unit is a storage unit drawer 195 with a cage-like container part 201 and an open-top generally box-shaped receptacle 202, which is smaller than the container part 201 and is slidably received in the container part 201 .

Adjustable leg units 38 are slidably received in the bottom of the chassis 2, adjacent to the chassis front and back. The leg units 38 consist of four upright metal male leg members 89a, 89b, 89c, 89d, each having a rectangular box-shaped cross-section transverse to its longitudinal axis. Each male leg member 89a, 89b, 89c, 89d, is slidably received in a corresponding female socket, 90a, 90b, 90c, 90d, each having a rectangular box-shaped cross-section transverse to its longitudinal axis, and is mounted in and pierces the planar bottom face 91 of the chassis 2, adjacent to the chassis front and back.

The end of each of each male leg member 89a, 89b, 89c, 89d, where will contact the floor or other footing where it is being installed, extend in generally horizontal directions as a continuous lateral flange bearing a guard or protector 96a, 96b, 96c, 96d.

The front pair 89a, 89b and back pair 89c, 89d of the male leg members adjustably mounted in the appliance are rigidly connected by an elongate brace, respectively 92a, 92b with a box-shaped rectangular cross-section transverse to its longitudinal axis, in a position clear of, and extending in a horizontal direction below, the planar bottom face 91 of the appliance.

Each elongate male leg member 89a, 89b, 89c, 89d, and each corresponding female 90a, 90b, 90c, 90d comprises locking means. These consist of threaded holes 97a, 97b, 97c, 97d (not shown) in the female sockets 90a, 90b, 90c, 90d, in which are received threaded bolts 98a, 98b, 98c, 97d capable of being tightened to grip abutting faces of the male leg members 89a, 89b, 89c, 89d. Alternatively, the locking means may consist of two series of identical circular holes 93a, 93b, 93c, 93d (not shown) in register in opposing faces of the corresponding leg member 89a, 89b, 89c, 89d, and two series of identical circular holes 94a, 94b, 94c, 94d (not shown) in register in opposing faces of the corresponding female socket, 90a, 90b, 90c, 90d, which are also capable of being in register across abutting faces of the male leg members 89a, 89b, 89c, 89d and corresponding female sockets 90a, 90b, 90c, 90d. Each leg has a cotter pin 95a, 95b, 95c, 95d (not shown) capable of being snugly and slidably received in two pairs, of the holes, e.g. 93a, 94a in register across abutting faces of the male leg member 89a and the corresponding female socket 90a, to lock the leg units 38 at the desired adjusted height of the appliance 191 .

In use, a can may be crushed in the crushing unit 6 as described hereinbefore in relation to Figure 1 , with the crushed can being dropped from the crushing unit drawer 7 into the receptacle 202. Alternatively or subsequently, the drawer 195 is slid outwards, and paper, cardboard cartons or cardboard or plastics material containers are put into the receptacle 202.

The drive means 198 drives the compacting plate 199 downwardly into the receptacle 202 such that any cans, cartons, packaging or containers in the receptacle are compacted.

Referring to Figure 5, a recycling appliance assembly is indicated generally at 80.

The term "appliance assembly" as used herein refers to one or more modules for crushing and/or compacting recyclable waste materials, such as cans, and or storing compacted or non-compacted recyclable waste materials. An appliance may consist of any one of the modules or a combination of any two or more of the modules.

The appliances illustrated consist of modules selected from three different modules: a first, left-hand, can crushing and storing module 1 ; a second, centre, compacting and storing module 42 for paper, cardboard cartons or cardboard or plastics material containers; and, a third, right -hand, storage module 63, e.g. for glass. The appliance may consist of:

The can crushing and storing module 1 in the casing 71 with bezel 81 ;

The compacting and storing module 42 for paper, cardboard cartons or cardboard or plastics material containers in the casing 74 with bezel 84 and drawer front 104;

The can crushing and storing module 1 with the compacting and storing module 42 for paper, cardboard cartons or cardboard or plastics material containers in the casing 72 with bezel 82 and drawer front 102;

The can crushing and storing module 1 with the compacting and storing module 42 for paper, cardboard cartons or cardboard or plastics material containers and the storage module 63, e.g. for glass, in the casing 73 with bezel 83 and drawer front 103.

Each module has its own chassis and where the first, can crushing and storing module 1 is combined with the second, compacting and storing module 42 for paper, cardboard cartons or cardboard or plastics material containers; or also with the storage module 63, e.g. for glass, the chassis of the first module 1 is fastened to the chassis of the second module 42 to form an integrated, two-module unit, or the chassis of the third module 63 is also fastened to the chassis of the second module 42 to form an integrated, three- module unit. Each adapted appliance has its own chassis and the chassis of the first and third adapted appliances 81 , 83 are fastened to the chassis of the second adapted appliance 82 to form an integrated, three- appliance unit. However, an appliance assembly may consist of any one of the adapted appliances or a combination of any two or more of the adapted appliances.

By way of example, the second, centre, compacting and storing adapted appliance 42 for paper, cardboard cartons or cardboard or plastics material containers, has securing means that comprise drawer support means which are capable of engaging co-operating panel support means. The drawer support means here comprise a generally L-shaped bracket 159, consisting of a rectangular riser 160 and a planar and rectangular projection 161 in a generally horizontal forwards direction away from the drawer front face in the form of a ledge. The ledge 161 extends in a generally horizontal direction below, and is capable of being in register with and engaging the bottom edge 162 of the panel 150. Since the panel 150 extends downwards below the bottom front edge of the appliance, the bracket 159 also does so. The riser 160 is mounted on the drawer front face such that it may slide up and down, but be fixed or locked, so that the height of the panel 150 relative to the appliance may be adjusted.

The drawer front face therefore comprises a pair of slots (not shown) extending generally upwards and downwards, and each slot receives the heads (not shown) of a pair flat-headed lockable slider bolts received in threaded holes (not shown) passing through the upright riser 160 and being in register across abutting faces of the elongate upright riser 160 of the drawer front face with the slots in the drawer front face. A front pair 189a, 189b and back pair 189c, 189d of male leg members are adjustably mounted in the appliance 1 and are rigidly connected by an elongate brace, respectively 192a, 192b with a box-shaped rectangular cross-section transverse to its longitudinal axis, in a position clear of, and extending in a horizontal direction below, the planar bottom face of the appliance 1 .

A front pair and back pair of male leg members adjustably mounted in the appliance 42 are rigidly connected by an elongate floor plate, respectively 292a, 292b.

The rear floor plate 292b may secure the appliance 42 at the rear to prevent it tipping forward, by the floor plate 292b receiving flanges at the end of the rear legs in a box- shaped rectangular C-channel, the floor plate 292b being bolted to the floor or other footing where the appliance 42 is being installed.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the words "comprise" and "contain" and variations of them mean "including but not limited to" and they are not intended to (and do not) exclude other moieties, additives, components, integers or steps. Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the singular encompasses the plural unless the context otherwise requires. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless the context requires otherwise. Features, integers, characteristics or groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment or example of the invention are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described herein unless incompatible therewith. All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of the features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. The invention is not restricted to any details of any described embodiments. The invention extends to any novel one, or novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.