Each compactor must have a hopper or loading device that encloses the charge chamber of the compactor.  The hopper expands the capacity of the charge chamber and is a major safety mechanism of the compactor.  Hoppers come is various styles, shapes, and sizes.

Fully Enclosed Hopper (Dog House).  The four sides and roof are typically accessed from ground level through a side door that has a safety interlock.  The compactor will not operate when the door is open.

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Rear Feed Hopper.  Three sided hopper with a safety interlock gate at the rear.  The gate is opened to load material into the hopper.  The rear feed hopper can be loaded from the ground or from a dock.

Side Feed Hopper. Three sided hopper with a safety interlocked gate on the side.  The gate is opened to load material into the hopper.  The rear feed hopper can be loaded from the ground or from a dock.

External Building Chute. From inside a building the waste or recycling material is placed through a door in the building wall and slid down a chute into the compactor.  The door in the wall has a safety interlock not allowing the compactor to run when the door is open.  The typical size of the door is 40×40″.  The compactor controls are mounted on the wall inside of the building.

Trash Chute Hopper. Four side open top hopper that is under a vertical chute.  Compactor works either automatically as the trash builds up in the hopper or manually or both.  A side door with a safety interlock not allowing the compactor to run when the door is open is typical on a trash chute hopper.

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Walk-On / Drive-On Deck Plates. When there is a need to extend a dock or to easily roll tilt carts directly up to a compactor’s charge chamber, a walk-on or drive-on deck plate is needed.  These plates are reinforced and come with OHSA required hand and toe rails.

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Full Enclosure. To fully secure and be protected from the elements a full enclosure over a compactor is ideal.  Full enclosures include a deck plate and an open hopper with a safety interlocked gate.  Cart lifts can be used in these applications.

Forklift Fed Hopper. Four sided hopper with an oversized top opening.  The forklift driver with a tilt dumper drives up to the compactor and releases the tilt dumper to empty the material into the compactor.  Forklift hoppers can have side load gates for a hand load option.  The gate has a safety interlock that will not allow the compactor to run when the gate is open.

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