AU2016201200B2 - Compactor baling machine - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract A compactor machine for use with compacting and baling empty containers. Crushed materials are constrained from reinflating and expanding inside a crush chamber by: -load locks designed with a pivot point radius operate dynamically and independently of one another to intrude into the crush chamber to constrain crushed material from reinflating and designed to be removed out of the crush chamber when the tied bale is being removed, - side slots on the body of the baler control the position of the crush plate to keep it level and central while crushing while crushing an uneven material load, -the crush chamber has an angular and stepped shape which uses the side slots to achieve the step so that the rear of the crush chamber is smaller than the front of the crush chamber and both steps are angled outwards to the door at the front of the crush chamber. 4 -49 69 ~ 60 60-'2 26' ------------------- 5 0 --47

Description

1 2016201200 07 Mar 2017

COMPACTOR BALING MACHINE

Field of the Invention 5 The present invention relates to a compactor machine which allows compacted items to be baled together. The machine will be described for use with compacting and baling empty containers such as plastic milk bottles, steel cans, cardboard and the like, but is not limited to this use. 10 Background of the Invention

Compactors and balers are used by businesses that generate significant packaging waste, to compress and bale that waste in order to reduce waste removal costs. 15

Current suppliers of compactors and balers offer two broad types: vertical balers where the ram moves the crush plate up and down to compress material, and horizontal balers where the ram moves the crush plate from left to right horizontally to compress material. 20

The present invention seeks to overcome or substantially ameliorate at least some of the deficiencies of the prior art, or to at least provide an alternative.

It is to be understood that, if any prior art information is referred to herein, such 25 reference does not constitute an admission that the information forms part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

Summary of the Invention 30 According to a first aspect, the present invention provides a machine for compacting and baling items, the machine comprising: a housing defining a compacting chamber for receiving items to be compacted and baled, the housing having side walls, the side walls having respective side slots; a compacting means for compacting items in the compacting chamber, the compacting means has a base plate 35 and an opposing movable crush plate, the base plate and the crush plate comprise a respective base plate slot and crush plate slot for a baling tie; and a perimeter slot 2 2016201200 10 Mar 2017 formed around the compacting chamber for the baling tie; and wherein the crush plate comprises guide extensions received in the side slots, and the side slots are aligned with the base plate slot and crush plate slot to form the perimeter slot. 5 Preferably, the machine further comprises a compressed load lock means for limiting the re-expansion of the compressed load.

Preferably, the machine further comprises an actuator for the compacting means. 10

Preferably, the compacting chamber comprises a rear wall and at least one pivotable front door.

Preferably, the housing is generally vertically oriented, and the compacting 15 chamber is spaced from the ground by at least 1 metre.

In another embodiment, the housing is horizontally oriented.

Preferably, the base plate slot extends from one side wall to the other side wall 20 of the housing.

Preferably, the side slots of the side walls are aligned and continuous with the base plate slot. 25 Preferably, the side slots extend from a position past the base plate.

Preferably, the crush plate slot extends from one side wall to the other side wall of the housing and aligned with side slots of the side walls. 30 Preferably, the crush plate slot is shaped to retain a baling tie therealong during movement of the crush plate, and for the baling tie to be removable from the crush plate slot.

Preferably, the load lock means comprises at least one lock formation biased to 35 extend into the compacting chamber to engage the compressed items in use. 3 2016201200 10 Mar 2017

Preferably, the load lock means comprises at least one pivotable load lock disposed along the side wall, the load lock comprising a lock formation surface or edge. 5 Preferably, the load lock means comprises at least one pair of load locks respectively disposed on opposing side walls of the housing.

Preferably, each load lock comprises an upper pivot point, a mass body extending downwardly from the pivot point, and a shaped lock formation extending 10 from a side of the mass body.

Preferably, the lock formation is shaped to have a curved lower edge having its central point at the pivot point. 15 Preferably, the side walls comprise side apertures dimensioned for the lock formation to extend through into the compacting chamber.

Preferably, the lock formations are biased into an initial position at which they extend into the compacting chamber by the mass body. 20

Preferably, the crush plate comprises side cut-outs dimensioned and disposed to align with the lock formations such that the lock formations pass through the cut-outs during movement of the crush plate. 25 Preferably, the compacting chamber comprises an ejector means for the compacted items.

Preferably, the ejector means comprises a movable section of the housing actuatable to extend into the compacting chamber. 30

Preferably, the movable section is connected to a lever. The lever can be manually operable via a foot pedal or can be operable via an actuator.

Preferably, the machine further comprises respective movable covers for the 35 side slots. The side slot covers can also be fixed in position. 4 2016201200 10 Mar 2017

Preferably, the compacting chamber has a depth of about 360mm and a width of about 230mm.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of compacting and 5 baling items using the machine of any one of the above, the method comprising: loading items to be compacted into the compacting chamber, actuating the compacting means to compact the items, and baling the compacted items with baling tie extending along the perimeter slot. 10 Preferably, the method comprises the step of baling the compacted items whilst the compacting means is compacting the items.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a machine for compacting and baling items, the machine comprising: 15 a housing defining a compacting chamber for receiving items to be compacted and baled, a compacting means for compacting items in the compacting chamber, and a compressed load lock means for limiting the re-expansion of the compressed load. 20

In another aspect, the present invention provides a machine for compacting and baling items, the machine comprising: a housing defining a compacting chamber for receiving items to be compacted and baled, 25 a compacting means for compacting items in the compacting chamber, and an ejector means for the compacted items.

Preferably, the perimeter slot is oriented longitudinally along a direction of movement of the compacting means. 30

Preferably, the perimeter slot extends through the compacting means.

Preferably, the machine further comprises a door locking assembly which prevents opening of the front door during movement of the compacting means. 35

Preferably, the door locking assembly comprises a lock bar mounted to the front door and a locking tube mounted to the compacting means, wherein the lock bar 5 2016201200 07 Mar 2017 has a distal formation and the locking tube is adapted to receive the lock bar during movement thereof and prevents removal of the distal formation therefrom.

Other aspects of the invention are also disclosed. 5

Brief Description of the Drawings

Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by 10 way of examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a compactor machine in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side cross-section view of the compactor machine;

Fig. 3 is a close-up front view of the lower section of the compacting chamber 15 of the compactor machine;

Fig. 4 is a close-up side view of the upper section of the compacting chamber; Fig. 5 is a rear right side perspective view of the upper section of the compactor machine;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of an isolated load lock of the compactor machine; 20 Fig. 7 is a bottom perspective view of the crush plate of the compactor machine;

Fig. 8a is a close-up view of the lower section of the compacting chamber showing a section of the perimeter slot for the baling tie;

Figs. 8b to 8i show example steps in compacting and baling milk containers, 25 Fig. 9 shows the use of a stand in the compacting chamber;

Figs. 10a and 10b are side views showing movement of the side slot safety covers; and

Fig. 11 shows a modified embodiment of the compactor machine having a door locking assembly, where (a) is a bottom perspective view of the top wall portion; (b) is 30 an upper perspective view of the top wall portion; and (c) is a side section view of the compactor machine and (d) is a side view of the compactor machine.

Description of Embodiments 35 It should be noted in the following description that like or the same reference numerals in different embodiments denote the same or similar features. 6 2016201200 07 Mar 2017

Figures 1 to 10 show a preferred embodiment of a compactor machine 20 according to the present invention. The compactor machine 20 in general comprises a housing 22 which defines a compacting chamber 24. Items to be compacted, such as empty containers, are placed (in a stacked manner or other sufficient manner) on a 5 base plate 26 of the compacting chamber 24. A crush plate 30 is then moved downwardly from an upper section of the compacting chamber 24 towards the stationary base plate 26 with sufficient force to compact the items in the compacting chamber 24. 10 The actuator 200 for the crush plate 30 is partly shown in Figures 2 and 4. Any suitable actuator can be used, such as an actuator having a vertical ram powered by compressed air, hydraulic or electrical means. Other actuators for driving a ram can also be used. 15 The housing 22 is generally vertically oriented, and shaped as a hollow rectangular prism having a base wall 40, rear wall 42, side walls 44, and a top wall 46. The walls 40 to 46 define an internal space 38 which are divided into different sections as described below. A front section of the housing 22 is covered by a series of doors being a base door 47, a compactor chamber lower door 48 and a compactor chamber 20 upper door 49. In the closed position of the doors 47 to 49, there is an open front window 50 formed by a gap between the base door 47 and the lower compactor chamber door 48, the purpose of which is described below.

The stationary base plate 26 is disposed at about mid-height within the internal 25 space 38. The base plate 26 is disposed horizontally, attached (ie. welded or bolted) in a firm manner to the rear and side walls 42 and 44. The base plate 26 forms the compacting chamber 24 with the upper sections of the rear and side walls 42 and 44, and the crush plate 30. The compacting chamber 24 can then be closed off by the compactor chamber doors 48 and 49. 30

As best shown in Figure 8a, the base plate 26 comprises a lower slot 52 that extends laterally, that is, extending from one side wall 44 to the other side wall 44 at a mid-portion thereof. In the embodiment, the lower base plate 26 is formed by two separate plates attached to the housing 22 with a gap between the plates to form the 35 lower slot 52. 7 2016201200 07 Mar 2017

The side walls 44 comprise vertical side slots 54 which are aligned with the lower slot 52. The side slots 54 extend from below the base plate 26 to the top wall 46, as best seen in Figure 2. As shown in Figure 8a, the side slots 54 are thus effectively continuous with the lower slot 52. The side slots 54 thus extend the full length of the 5 compacting chamber 24, and extend to a point lower than the base plate 26.

The side walls 44 further include pivotable compressed load locks 60, which in the embodiment comprises two pairs of load locks 60, being a lower pair and an upper pair, located along the compacting chamber 24. As best shown in Figure 6, each load 10 lock 60 comprises an upper pivot point 62, a mass body 63 extending downwardly from the pivot point 62, and a shaped lock formation 64 extending from a side of the mass body 63. The lock formation 64 is shaped to have a curved lower edge 66 and a support arm 68. The lower edge 66 is an arc having its central/pivot point at the pivot point 62. 15

The pivot points 62 are mounted to pivot pins 69 on opposite external surfaces of the side walls 44. The side walls 44 comprise spaced smaller side rectangular apertures 72 which are dimensioned for the lock formation 64 to extend through, thus into the compacting chamber 24. The mass body 63 cannot extend through the 20 apertures 72 and remains outside of the compacting chamber 24. The weight of the mass body 63, and its position relative to the pivot pin 62 is such that the mass body is biased to extend downwardly. The lock formations 64 are thus biased into an initial position at which they extend into the compacting chamber 24. The upper and lower pairs of lock formation 64 are thus biased to extend into the compacting chamber 24. 25 As shown in Figure 3, the pairs of lock formations 64 are aligned but spaced from each other.

The load locks 60 are movable along the pivot pins 69 which allows them to be moved forwardly/rearwardly, such that the lock formations 64 can engage the side 30 walls 44 and do not extend into the compacting chamber 24 when use thereof is not needed.

The crush plate 30 is a flat plate having an upper connection means 80 for connection to a ram of an actuator. In the embodiment, the connection means 35 comprises brackets 80 having suitable means for connection to the ram, such as a socket or other attachment. The brackets 80 comprise side extensions 84 which are received in the side slots 54 of the side walls 44. The side extensions 84 ensure that 8 2016201200 07 Mar 2017 the crush plate 30 does not deviate in its travel along the compacting chamber 24 even when encountering crush reaction force from items in the compacting chamber 24.

The crush plate 30 comprises a central, narrow, downwardly facing, upper slot 5 56 which is formed to have tapered sides as shown. The upper slot 56 is dimensioned to carry a bale tie inserted therethrough as the crush plate 30 travels down, but allow removal of the bale tie from the upper slot 56 by pulling as needed.

The upper slot 56 is vertically aligned with the side slots 54 and the lower slot 10 52 (as best seen form the side view), thus forming a perimeter slot which extends around the compacting chamber 24. The perimeter slot is used for easily wrapping a bale tie to compacted items in use as described below. The space below the base plate 26 is accessible via the front window 50. This space forms a hand chamber where the user can insert their hand to access the bale tie below the compacting 15 chamber 24 in use.

The crush plate 30 also includes side cut-outs 90 adjacent the upper slot 56, the cut-outs 90 being formed to extend from opposing side edges of the crush plate 30. The cut-outs 90 are dimensioned and disposed to vertically align with the lock 20 formations 64, such that the lock formations 64 pass through the cut-outs 90 during downward movement of the crush plate 30. In other words, the crush plate 30 does not move the lock formations 64 via the cut-outs 90.

The compacting chamber 24 additionally includes an ejector means 100. In the 25 embodiment, the ejector means 100 comprises a movable rear section 101 (see Figure 8a) of the base plate 26 which is connected to a foot pedal 102 via a bar 104 (see Figure 2). The rear section 101 has an initial position flush with the rest of the base plate 26 and is raised when the foot pedal 102 is actuated, thus assisting to eject items in the compacting chamber 24. 30

The compactor machine 20 further comprises respective movable covers 110 for the side slots 54 (see Figures 5 and 10). The covers 110 in the embodiment comprises elongated bars which are mounted to be biased, via gravity, to a position at which they are not aligned with the side slots 54. Closing the compactor chamber 35 doors 48 and 49 engages a pin which moves the bars into a position at which they substantially align and cover the side slots 54 for safety. 9 2016201200 07 Mar 2017

An example of use of the compactor machine 20 will now be described primarily with reference to Figures 8b to 8i.

Items to be compacted and baled, in this example being two litre milk bottles 5 300 are stacked onto the base plate 26 of the compacting chamber 24. As shown in

Figures 8b and 8c, the lock formations 64 of the load locks 60 are engaged by the bottles 300 and the load locks 60 are pushed outwardly out of the compacting chamber 24. As shown in Figures 8e and 8f, the crush plate 30 is moved downwardly by the actuator 200 which compresses and compacts the items 300. The compactor chamber 10 doors 48 and 49 and closed prior to moving the crush plate 30 for safety, but are shown open in the diagrams for illustration purposes. The covers 110 also move to cover the side slots 54.

Where a lower number of items 300 are to be compacted, only the lower pair of 15 load locks 60 may be moved by the items 300. The lock formations 64 of the upper pair of load lock 60 will pass through the cut-outs 90 of the crush plate 30. As the crush plate 30 moves the items 300 downward, the load locks 60 return to their biased position at which the lock formations 64 extend into the compacting chamber 24. 20 As shown in Figure 8g, when the crush plate 30 is moved up (away from the compacted items 300), the items 300 can partly re-expand based on the nature of their material. The lock formations 64 assist in keeping the items 300 at least partly compressed, or at least preventing the items 300 from re-expanding further. This provides more free space within the compacting chamber 24 which allows additional 25 items 300 to be added to the compacting chamber 24 on top of the compressed items as shown in Figure 8h. This can be done for example by opening only the upper compactor chamber door 49. The crush plate 30 is then moved downwards again to compress the items 300 in the compacting chamber 24. 30 When a sufficient amount of items 300 have been compacted, they can be baled. Baling tie 310 is used and extended from a dispenser (not shown). The baling tie 310 extends along one side wall 44, through the side slots 54 below the base plate 26, up along the other side wall and into the upper slot 56 of the crush plate 30. As the crush plate 30 comes down, ends of the baling tie 310 are tied together. When the 35 crush plate is moved up, the compacted items remain compacted and are now baled by the bailing tie 310. The bailing tie 310 passes through the permitter slot formed by the lower slot 52, side slots 54, and the upper slot 56 to be tied around the items 300. 10 2016201200 07 Mar 2017

The user can then use the ejection means 100 to assist in removing the compacted and baled bundle of items 300 from the compacting chamber 24.

This machine in the preferred embodiment will compact the following materials: 5 plastic drink containers, e.g. PET and HDPE plastic milk bottles, juice bottles, yoghurt containers, soft drink (soda) bottles, chemical containers, aluminium drink cans, steel cans used for food, paint tins, cardboard, plastic wrap, general waste and others.

The dimensions of the compacting chamber 24 in the preferred embodiment 10 were chosen to make easy the compacting and baling of plastic milk containers in the popular metric and imperial sizes, ie. two litre, three litre, and US one gallon, 300ml -5000ml PET & HDPE round, square, oblique shaped plastic bottles. The dimensions of the compacting chamber 24 in the embodiment are as follows: Depth 360mm, Width 230mm, Height 700mm. These dimensions are presently considered optimal but the 15 chamber could be smaller or greater.

The compacting chamber 24 is dimensioned so that two of each of the popular two litre and three litre plastic milk containers can be laid side by side and crushed and thereafter held in place by the load locks 60. Also the compacting chamber 20 dimensions allows the popular US one gallon milk containers to be crushed singly, stacked vertically and held in place before baling.

The preferred embodiment thus provides an advantageous slimline vertical compactor baler which reduces waste volume for plastic containers, plastic wrap, 25 cardboard and steel cans and general waste in plastic bags. Once waste is compacted, the machine allows small bundles of compacted waste to be baled (strapped) with twine. The main benefit for a business using the machine is a reduction in waste removal costs and associated C02 emissions. 30 The design of this unit allows new uncrushed material to be added on top of already crushed material, many times, so that a bundle of crushed material can be created over days and weeks if desired, then held in a compact form until the user is ready to bale the bundle and remove it. 35 Once the material is compacted, the design allows for a flexible strap to be wound around it and pulled tight to create a bale. This machine is designed to be very 11 2016201200 07 Mar 2017 effective for the task of compacting and baling plastic milk containers in the popular two litre, three litre, and US one gallon sizes.

Although baling will not work for aluminium drink cans as they are individually 5 too small to be held together by one strap, blocks of compressed aluminium cans can be achieved.

The maximum bale size is constrained by the physical size of the crush chamber (compacting chamber 24). Given this size constraint, the ideal maximum 10 bale weight is around 15kg for plastic, cardboard and steel containers. This meets OH&S standards for single person lift and carry.

Once the bale has been strapped tight, it can be removed from the crush zone and placed in a bin for transport to a recycler or waste collection centre. The volume 15 that the bale occupies in the bin, will be an order of five to fifteen times smaller than the volume that material would occupy in bins if not compacted and baled.

The vertical side slots and the crush plate locator (extensions 84) ensure the crush plate (which operates under pressure from the ram) can only rise and fall directly 20 up and down in the crush zone, or back and forth in a horizontally oriented machine. The crush plate locator and slots prevent the crush plate from flexing and twisting when uneven loads are being crushed.

This system prevents damage to the ram. It also makes unloading safer as the 25 ram can never move horizontally forward towards the door and the operator person under pressure. The crush plate locator, restrained by the vertical slots, prevents the crush plate from moving forward.

The present vertical compactor baler is designed so that the front door can be 30 kept closed during baling. This is achieved by using a split base plate and a top crush plate with angular V slot to allow a flexible strap to be guided around the crushed material in order to bale it. The strap can then be disengaged from crush plate and bottom plate, so that the bale sits in the crush chamber ready to be removed. 35 The open vertical slots on the LHS and RHS are also integral to allowing the crushed material to be baled from side to side with the front door closed and the crush plate down and maintaining pressure. 12 2016201200 07 Mar 2017

When the user is ready to bale the crushed material, the design of the split base plate, plus the two vertical slots in the side, plus the top crush plate with an angular V slot, allow the user to easily slip a flexible strap from LHS to RHS around the bale to keep the crushed material in compact shape and retain the full advantage of 5 crushing process. Once the strap or straps are tight the front door can be opened, this activates the ram to cease downward pressure and lets the ram rise to the UP position. This action pulls the baling string or wire out of the V slot automatically and the bale can be removed. In the present invention, the items can be baled without opening the compactor chamber doors 48 and 49. 10

The preferred embodiment provides a split base plate which allows baling string or wire to be passed underneath the load [bale] at any stage in the cycle, this makes baling easy and safe. 15 The preferred embodiment also provides a crush plate which an angular V slot on the bottom side. The V slot allows a flexible strap or twine to be inserted through the slot and travel from left to right or right to left across the compacted material. Combined with the open LHS slot and open RHS slot on the body of the machine, plus the split base plate, the angular V slot forms part of a system (a load perimeter slot) 20 which allows the user to easily bale the compacted material with no doors or side open and while the material is still under pressure from the crush plate and ram.

In the prior art, crushed material, particularly plastic containers, will try to return or spring back to their original shape and volume as soon as the crush plate is lifted 25 back to the top of the vertical baler, and the crushing pressure is therefore relieved.

The preferred embodiment provides one or more lobe shaped load locks that are each designed to fall through the open slot on the left hand side and right hand side of the body as the crush plate moves upwards back to its starting position after 30 crushing. When each load lock falls through their slot, they are designed to hold fast under pressure from crushed material pushing upwards from underneath the lock. This keeps compacted material compacted, in between crush cycles.

The load locks allow the crush plate to pass by them, traveling up or down, 35 without the crush plate coming in to contact with the load locks. 13 2016201200 07 Mar 2017

The locks are pushed back outside of the crush chamber when new material is added to the crush chamber. Once the crushed material is compacted by the crush plate to a point below the load locks, the locks fall into the chamber horizontally, and the crushed material is prevented from re-inflating to the full height of the crush 5 chamber. The upward force of the crushed material trying to re-inflate is constrained by the strength and shape of the load locks.

The load locks only move to the outside of the baler body using a pivot point past 90 degrees. When the user is ready to bale some crushed material, the user can 10 pull the load locks out and away from the body of the baler to allow baling strap to be inserted and easy removal of the bale.

The preferred embodiment provides a machine body which is designed with a LHS wall and RHS wall that are joined to the back wall of the machine body at an 15 angle greater than 90 degrees. This forms tapered side walls with a square/flat back, so that the strapped bale can be removed easily.

The preferred embodiment also provides slot cover plates, the cover plates being gravity lever mechanisms that runs the length of the side slot, has a top and 20 bottom holding bracket, a connection lever that is connected to the slot cover plate and then to an anchor point on the body of the compactor baler. A lever is connected to the slot cover plate and extends through the body into the top door section. The opening and closing of the door pushes the connecting lever 25 activating the sliding effect of the slot cover plate. When the door is in the closed position the slot cover plate covers the slot, when the door is opened the slot cover plate moves forward under gravity and exposes the slot for baling.

The preferred embodiment provides an ejection means with the foot pedal. When foot 30 pressure is applied to this mechanism, the extension arm pushes with an upward motion on the bottom of the bale. This action forces the bale up and forward on an angle releasing any crushed material caught in the slot area or jammed in the crushing chamber. 35 The preferred embodiment thus allows the compacting and baling of relatively small volumes of popular size two litre, three litre and US one gallon milk containers and other plastic drink containers. 14 2016201200 07 Mar 2017

Baling can be completed with no open doors or sides. When strapping the bale, all six sides are enclosed (front, back, LHS, RHS, bottom plate, top crush plate) and compacting pressure still being applied by the crush plate and ram. 5 Crush plate locators ensures the crush plate crushes straight and true, even when the crushed material is off centre. There is no risk of the crush plate or ram pushing/bursting out toward user when door or doors are opened.

The load locks restrain crushed material from re-inflating, and allow the user to 10 add uncrushed material to the crush chamber before the chamber is full and baling is required.

The vertical side slots enables two advantageous features: stable crush plate even when crush material is off centre; and bale can be strapped from left to right with 15 all six sides of the crush chamber closed and ram pressure applied to the crushed material.

The side slot protection solves the problem of the bale being difficult to remove from chamber because of crushed material jammed in open side slots. 20

The preferred embodiment uses compressed air to drive the ram and the crush plate for this application but could use hydraulic or electric means or manual means. This is cheap, efficient, low maintenance, low risk, safe, and allows the machine to be used in hospitality kitchen settings without introducing hydraulic oils to the site. 25

The preferred embodiment creates small bales that are easily carried by individuals at around 15kg maximum weight for most materials. The slim line form allows installation in tight spaces and small businesses. 30 The crush chamber is also located spaced from the ground by at least one metre to be waist high, which provides for ease of use in placing items in the compacting chamber as well as when baling.

Figure 9 shows the use of a stand 400 within the compacting chamber 24. The 35 stand 400 is placed on the base plate 26 and provides a raised base plate 26a. The stand 400 thus shortens the travel stroke of the crusher plate. The stand 400 is useful 15 2016201200 07 Mar 2017 for compacting a number of items one after another which may not necessarily be baled together, for example large food or paint cans.

The perimeter slot and the slot in the crush plate allows for the compacted 5 items to be baled whilst the crush plate is applying a crushing force to the items being compacted.

Whilst preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, it will be apparent to skilled persons that modifications can be made to the embodiments 10 described. For example, the machine described is primarily a vertical baler but can also be mounted as a horizontal baler compactor.

Also, the dimensions of the machine and the compacting chamber 24 can be changed if desired. The machine can also use only one load lock on each side, or can 15 have a number of load locks staggered on alternating sides of the machine. The load locks can also be shaped differently.

Also, the housing can be formed with opposing movable crush plates which are mechanically linked. In such a case, both crush plates can have the respective formed 20 slot therein.

The crush chamber can also have a single front door, and the crush chamber can be shorter in height. 25 The slot in the base plate can also be formed in a similar shape to the slot in the crush plate.

Fig. 11 shows a modified embodiment of the compactor machine 20b having a door locking assembly 260. The door locking assembly 260 comprises a shaped 30 elongated lock bar 262 attached in a vertical orientation to an inner surface of the upper door 49, a hollow housing tube 264 extending vertically and upwardly from the upper wall 46, and a slotted receiver lock tube 266 extending vertically and upwardly from the crush plate 30. 35 The lock bar 262 comprises in cross section a rectangular first portion 270 mounted at a first edge thereof to the upper door 49, and a shaped enlarged distal formation 272 at a second edge of the lock bar 262. The lock bar 262 can be bulb 16 2016201200 07 Mar 2017 shaped or generally T-shaped in cross section, that is, the distal formation 272 has a larger width than the first portion 270. The lock bar 262 has a constant cross-section and thus the larger distal formation 272 extends downwardly along the length of the lock bar 262. 5

An aperture 274 is formed in a front portion of the crush plate 30, the aperture 274 generally having a similar shape as the cross-section shape of the lock bar 262 but with larger dimensions such that the lock bar 262 can be received freely in the slot 274. The aperture 274 has a distal section 275 to receive the distal formation 272, and 10 a front section 277 to receive the first portion 270. The front section 277 is dimensioned to prevent the removal of the distal formation 272 therethrough.

The lock tube 266 is aligned with the distal section 275 of the crush plate aperture 274, and extends upwardly from an upper surface of the crush plate 30. The 15 lock tube 266 comprises a longitudinal slot 267 at its front portion extending along its length, the lock tube slot 267 being aligned with the crush plate aperture front section 277. The lock tube 266 is shaped and dimensioned such that the enlarged distal formation 272 is received therein in the movement of the crush plate 30, and the slot 267 prevents the removal of the distal formation 272 therethrough. 20

The housing tube 264 extends from an aperture 282 in the upper wall 46 and is of a larger diameter to receive the lock tube 266 in the upper positions of the crush plate 30. 25 In the uppermost position of the crush plate 30, the crush plate aperture 274 and lock tube 266 are clear above the lock bar 262. This allows the upper door 49 to be opened. During use, when the crush plate 30 moves down, the lock bar 262 is received in the crush plate aperture 274 and the lock tube 266, and the distal formation 272 is prevented from being removed therefrom. 30

The door locking assembly 260 thus prevents access to the crush chamber when the baler is in operation. This is to prevent injury to the operator or other parties. The assembly allows for access to the crush chamber to load or unload the bale only when the baler is inactive and cannot be activated accidentally or on purpose. The 35 upper door can only be opened when the crush plate 30 is in its uppermost position.

Claims (20)

1. Claims The claims defining the invention are as follows:

   1. A machine for compacting and baling items, the machine comprising: a housing defining a compacting chamber for receiving items to be compacted and baled, the housing having side walls, the side walls having respective side slots; a compacting means for compacting items in the compacting chamber, the compacting means has a base plate and an opposing movable crush plate, the base plate and the crush plate comprise a respective base plate slot and crush plate slot for a baling tie; a perimeter slot formed around the compacting chamber for the baling tie; and wherein the crush plate comprises guide extensions received in the side slots, and the side slots are aligned with the base plate slot and crush plate slot to form the perimeter slot.
2. 2. The machine of claim 1, further comprising a compressed load lock means for limiting the re-expansion of the compressed load.
3. 3. The machine of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising an actuator for the compacting means.
4. 4. The machine of claim 1, wherein the compacting chamber comprises a rear wall and at least one pivotable front door.
5. 5. The machine of claim 1, wherein the base plate slot extends from one side wall to the other side wall of the housing, such that the side slots of the side walls are aligned and continuous with the base plate slot.
6. 6. The machine of claim 5, wherein the side slots extend from a position past the base plate.
7. 7. The machine of claim 1, wherein the crush plate slot extends from one side wall to the other side wall of the housing and is aligned with the side slots of the side walls, and the crush plate slot is shaped to retain a baling tie therealong during movement of the crush plate, and for the baling tie to be removable from the crush plate slot.
8. 8. The machine of claim 2, wherein the load lock means comprises at least one lock formation biased to extend into the compacting chamber to engage the compressed items in use.
9. 9. The machine of claim 8, wherein the load lock means comprises at least one pivotable load lock disposed along the side wall, the load lock comprising a lock formation surface or edge, the side walls having side apertures dimensioned for the lock formation to extend through into the compacting chamber.
10. 10. The machine of claim 9, wherein the load lock means comprises at least one pair of load locks respectively disposed on opposing side walls of the housing.
11. 11. The machine of claim 9, wherein each load lock comprises an upper pivot point, a mass body extending downwardly from the pivot point, and a shaped lock formation extending from a side of the mass body, the lock formations are biased into an initial position at which they extend into the compacting chamber by the mass body.
12. 12. The machine of claim 11, wherein the lock formation is shaped to have a curved lower edge having its central point at the pivot point.
13. 13. The machine of claim 7, wherein the crush plate comprises side cut-outs dimensioned and disposed to align with the lock formations such that the lock formations pass through the cut-outs during movement of the crush plate.
14. 14. The machine of claim 1, wherein the compacting chamber further comprises an ejector means for the compacted items, the ejector means having a moveable section of the housing actuatable by a lever to allow the moveable section to extend into the compacting means. .
15. 15. The machine of claim 1, further comprising respective movable covers for the side slots.
16. 16. A method of compacting and baling items using the machine of claims 1 to 15, the method comprising: loading items to be compacted into the compacting chamber; actuating the compacting means to compact the items; and baling the compacted items with a baling tie extending along the perimeter slot.
17. 17. The method of claim 16, comprising the step of baling the compacted items whilst the compacting means is compacting the items.
18. 18. The machine of claim 1, wherein the perimeter slot is oriented longitudinally along a direction of movement of the compacting means and the perimeter slot extends through the compacting means.
19. 19. The machine of claim 4, further comprising a door locking assembly which prevents opening of the front door during movement of the compacting means.
20. 20. The machine of claim 19 wherein the door locking assembly comprises a lock bar mounted to the front door and a locking tube mounted to the compacting means, wherein the lock bar has a distal formation and the locking tube is adapted to receive the lock bar during movement thereof and prevents removal of the distal formation therefrom.