hydraulic jack 18 the jack 18 is provided with a pressure gauge g for purposes that will be explained below a plurality of u shaped support members 20 are attached at their lower ends to base 12 and extend vertically therefrom the upper ends of the support members 20 are provided with respective openings 20 a for receiving a locking pin as explained below a container 22 for housing cans to be crushed is supported on the support members 20 the container 22 is provided with an open top which is closable by a removable upper plate 24 a lower plate 30 is nested within container 22 and closes the bottom thereof the lower plate 30 is vertically movable or slidable in the container 22 although a cylindrical configuration is preferred it should be recognized that the container 22 could be fabricated in other suitable configurations tension springs 19 are attached at their upper ends to hooks disposed on the bottom surface of the lower plate 30 the lower ends of the tension springs 19 are attached to respective vertical support members 20 the tension springs 19 bias the lower plate 30 to a position at or near the bottom of the container 22 as best seen in fig2 the sliding crank mechanism 11 comprises a link 40 having openings 40 a and 40 b formed at opposite ends thereof the opening 40 a is adapted to receive the shaft of a slider assembly 42 the slider assembly 42 moves back and forth along a lever 44 the proximate end 44 a of the lever 44 is attached to the jack 18 the opening 40 b is attached to the drive shaft of the motor 16 a.