AU637253B2

AU637253B2 - Improved wool press assembly

Info

Publication number: AU637253B2
Application number: AU82616/91A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Brian Edward May
Original assignee: May Laraine Helen
Current assignee: May Laraine Helen
Priority date: 1990-08-21
Filing date: 1991-08-21
Publication date: 1993-05-20
Anticipated expiration: 2011-08-21
Also published as: AU8261691A

Description

637253

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicants: Actual Inventor: BRIAN EDWARD MAY and LARAINE HELEN MAY BRIAN EDWARD MAY S S e

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Address for Service: CULLEN CO., Patent Trade Mark Attorneys, 240 Queen Street, Brisbane, Qld. 4000, Australia.

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Invention Title: IMPROVED WOOL PRESS ASSEMBLY Details of Associated Provisional Applications: No. PK1851 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us:- 2 THIS INVENTION relates to wool presses and provides an improved mode of operation and construction of wool press assembly. In one form, the invention provides a construction of wool press assembly which is convenient to operate and which may be constructed to be sufficiently self-contained to be mobile.

According to one aspect, the invention provides a wood press assembly comprising a base, a frame munted on the base and supporting a reciprocably novable ram, a platen connected to the ram, the platen having slots formed in opposed edges, an open top box member mounted on the base comprising a hingedly mounted front wall, opposed side walls and a rear wall, a pair of opposed wool retaining members each comprising a transverse row of horizontally reciprocable pins adapted to project from said side walls into said box member after wool in the box member has been compressed by said platen, said pins are mounted for linear horizontal movement relative to the side walls and the slots in the platen enable the platen to be retracted while the pins project into the box 2Q member whereby the compressed wool will be retained below the retaining members after retraction of said platen.

Suitably the platen is operated by a pair of hydraulic rams rather than a single ram. Preferably, each wool retaining member is a transverse row of horizontal pins adapted to project through apertures in its associated side wall. The pins are suitably attached at their rear ends to a cross bar, which cross bar may be connected to a hydraulic ram for insertion into and retraction from the associated side wall.

The front wall of the box member is suitably hingedly connected at one edge to the iront edge of the adjacent side wall whereby the front wall is pivotally movable

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el ee*** e about a vertical axis. The other side wall may be hingedly connected at its rear edge to the adjacent edge of the rear wall for limited pivotal movement about a rear vertical axis.

With this arrangement a packed wool bale may be conveniently removed from the press assembly. If desired, the upper portion of the rear wall may also be hinged to a side wall pivot about a vertical axis to permit easier loading of the press.

~The wool retaining members may be operated by a 10t0: hydraulic system coupled to the main hydraulic circuit controlling the operation of the ram or rams carrying the platen. In a suitable arrangement the hydraulic ram operating S each wool retaining member is controlled by a spool valve which may be mechanically coupled to a roller moving in a vertically arranged guide whereby the wool retaining members S are moved into the box member as the ram and platen move downwardly into the box member and retracted as the ram and platen return to a raised position.

The hydraulic system of the press assembly is preferably operated elr :rically by an electronic control system. A suitable system is operated from the electric mains which enables the assembly to be fully transportable. A useful arrangement includes an over-ride control whereby the hydraulic system may be transferred to manual control. Such an arrangement enables the assembly to be operated where a fault arises in the electronic control system or where an emergency arises.

Where it is desired to weigh the loaded bales, the box member may be mounted on the base by weighing load bars.

The weight of loaded bales may be indicated by a digital display. Stops are suitably included to prevent overload of the weighing load bars.

In order to enable the invention to be more clearly understood, the invention is now described with reference to the attached drawings of which Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a wool press assembly according to the invention; Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a wool press according to an embodiment of the invention;

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Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view of control elements of the press useful in understanding operation of the press; and Figures 4 and 5 are views of control circuitry of S: the press.

As shown in Figure 1, the assembly illustrated includes a base 1 mounted on castors 2. The base is provided with a frame 3 supported on a pair of vertically arranged hydraulic rams 4, 4a carrying a platen 5 for compressing wool loaded into open top box member 6 supported on base 1. As shown in Figure 2 the box member 6 may include an upper portion 6A described in detail later.

Box member 6 is provided with a front wall 7 hingedly connected to side wall 8 to pivot about a vertical axis at adjacent edges. Opposite side wall 9 maybe hingedly connected to the rear wall 10 for limited pivotal movement about the hinge axis to enable a loaded bale to be more eaE:ly removed from the press. If desired, the upper portion of rear wall 10 may be hingedly connected to a side wall to pivot about a vertical axis.

Side walls 8, 9 are provided with opposed horizontal rows of apertures 10, 10a. These apertures are arranged slightly above the bale height when compressed by the platen in its lowermost position. A horizontal pin assembly 11 (of which only one is illustrated) is mounted on the press assembly for horizontal movement into and out of the box member. Each pin assembly is operated by a hydraulic ram 12.

The two pin assemblies operate as well retaining members and initially are withdrawn from the box member. When the platen is in its final wool compressing position the pin assemblies are moved into the box member by their actuating ram assemblies to restrain the compressed wool from upward 0 expansion when the platen is withdrawn. The pins may be located immediately below the lower surface of the platen when in its lowermost position. Alternatively, the lower surface of the platen may include grooves which accommodate the pins when they are moved into the box member.

Figure 2 shows a preferred embodiment of a wool press in accordance with the invention. The press 20 has a frame 21 and two diagonally opposed hydraulic cylinder assemblies 22, 23. A platen 24 is mounted to the frame.

Opposed edges of the platen have slots The press has a base 26 provided with a load cell for determining the weight of wool loaded into the press. A box member 6 has a front wall 27 pivotally connected to side 6 wall 28. Opposed side walls 28, 29 have apertures 30 through which retaining members or pins may project and are part of the box member 6. These pins are located within housings 31.

The box member 6 has an upper portion with opposed side walls 37 and at least one sliding panel 34. An opposed sliding panel may also be present.

The frame 21 has a finger 32 spring biased by spring 33 into the position shown. Sliding panel 34 is contacted by finger 32 as the platen moves from its lower position to the position shown in this figure to raise the panel 34. When the panel 34 is raised, the press can be loaded with wool. The .e 6 press cannot be operated until the panel 34 is lowered. The press may include opposed panels 34 so that it may be loaded with wool from either side.

Castors 35 enable the press to be moved. Handle 36 9@9* assists such movement.

Figure 3 is useful in understanding'the operation of the press and shows diagrammatically the relationship between the retaining members or pins, the platen and the various proximity switches and limit switches.

9 The retaining members 40 consist of opposed groups of four pins 41 arranged to be driven reciprocably by hydraulic cylinder assemblies 42. The platen is not shown in this figure but moves vertically relative to pins 41.

The left hand group of pins have associated with them a "pins in" proximity sensor 43 and a "pins out" sensor 44 while the right handgroup only has a "pins out" sensor A "pins" out limit switch 46 is nresent for use in the manual 7 mode of operation. Proximity sensor 47 detects that the platen is up and proximity sensor 48 detects that the platen is at the bottom of its travel. Proximity sensor 49 detects the mid position of the platen. Limit switch 49A is used in the manual mode to detect the mid position of the platen.

Limit switch 49B detects that sliding panel 34 (see Figure 2) is in its lower or closed position.

Figures 4 and 5 show a control circuit for the wool oi~. press of the invention. Figure 4 relates to the input and I0'0: proximity detector wiring while Figure 5 shows a 240V wiring a.

diagram. The programmable logic controller 50 is central to S" the operation of the circuit.

a a S* A circuit breaker CB is in series with thermal overload Fl. Stop button 51 is in series with start button 52. Hold in contact H of relay KIM is in parallel with the start button 52. Lamps OUT, IN, UP, DOWN provide indications of the various positions of the platen and the retaining members.

The AUTO and MANUAL switches enable the operation of the press to progress through its stages either automatically or be manually stepped in operation.

The controller 50 provides control outputs for operating solenoid valves controlling hydraulic cylinder assemblies for platen and retaining member movement Various control buttons associated with the controller enable operation of the press. Limit switches LS1, LS2 are safety witches. When both are closed coil Cl is energized and this enables PINS IN and PLATEN DOWN and the 8 platen will move to its mid position. Then the RAM AT CENTRE limit switch opens. If the retaining members or pins are out the platen then continues with its downward movement.

As shown in Figure 4 a plurality of proximity switches provide control inputs to the controller. These are PLATEN UP, PLATEN MID, PLATEN DOWN, PINS IN and two PINS OUT s-itches.

The operation of the press in the automatic mode is as follows. With the press in the Figure 2 position, the door 27 is open and the panel 34 and platen are in the uppermost position. The press will not operate until limit switches detect that door 27 is closed and panel 34 is down. Once door 27 is shut and before panel 34 is lowered, wool is loaded into the press to a desired level. Panel 34 is then shut.

IE With the auto switch closed, the start button is depressed. The pins should be in their out position. The platen then moves to its mid position which is detected by proximity sensor 49. The pins are driven to their out position (if not already in that position) then the platen moves down to its lower position which is detected by proximity sensor 48. Pins are then driven to their in position and the platen then moves to its upper position as detected by proximity sensor 47. As the platen is moving up it lifts panel 34. More wool may then be placed into the press and the cycle continues until the load cell detects the desired weight of wool in the press. The platen moves to its upper position and panel 34 is opened. The wool is then tied up with bail hooks and the pin moved to the out position.

Door 27 is opened and the woo 1 removed.

In the manual mode, the manual switch is shut. Door 27 is closed and wool loaded into the press. Panel 34 is lowered. The platen down button is pressed and the platen moves to its mid position. The pins are then moved out or if already out, the platen can then be driven all the way down.

The platen can then be driven up and panel 34 is opened as the platen moves to its upper position. More wool can be added and the manual cycle continued until the desired quantity of wool is within the press. The platen is driven to its uppermost position, the wool ties up,, the pins removed and the door 27 opened to enable the wool to be removed.

0 While the invention has been described in detail in relation to a specific embodiment, the invention is not limited to that embodiment and includes all constructions of wool press assembly falling within the disclosure in this specification.

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Claims

1. A press assembly for wool comprising a base, a frame mounted on the base and supporting a reciprocably movable ram, a platen connected to the ram, the platen having slots formed in opposed edges, an open top box member mounted on the base comprising a hingedly mounted front wall, opposed side walls and a rear wall, a pair of opposed wool retaining members each comprising a transverse row of horizontally reciprocable pins adapted to project from said side walls into said box member after wool in the box member has been compressed by said platen, said pins are mounted for linear horizontal movement relative to the side walls and the slots in the platen enable the platen to be retracted while the pins project into the box member whereby the compressed wool will retained below the retaining members after retraucion of said platen.

2. The press assembly of Claim 1 wherein said platen is reciprocated by a pair of hydraulic rams arranged at spaced diagonal locations on the assembly.

3. The press assembly of Claim 2 wherein said pins may project through apertures in said opposed side walls.

4. The press assembly of Claim 3 wherein said pins extend from a cross bar coupled to a hydraulic ram.

5. The press assembly of any one of Claims 1 to 4 including an upper box member having at least one sliding panel manually movable into a lowered position and movable position.

6. The press assembly of Claim 5 wherein said frame has a finger engagable with the sliding panel for raising the 11 panel, said finger being biased into a rest position.

7. The press assembly of any one of Claims 1 to 6 including a control circuit for effecting movement of the platen and the retaining members.

8. The press assembly of Claim 7 wherein said control circuit includes a PINS IN proximity sensor, a PINS OUT proximity sensor and PINS OUT limit switch associated with the retaining means adjacent one said side wall.

9. The press assembly of Claim-8 wherein said control circuit includes a PINS OUT proximity sensor associated with the retaining means associated with the other said side walls.

The press assembly of any one of Claims 7, 8 or 9 wherein said control circuit includes proximity sensors for detecting raised, lowered and mid positions of the platen and mid position limit switch.

11. A press assembly substantially as hereir described S with reference to the drawings. DATED this 19 day of February, 1993. BRIAN EDWARD MAY and LARAINE HELEN MAY 0 By their Patent Attorneys CULLEN CO. *o

12 ABSTRACT A wool press assembly having a frame supporting a pair of vertically arranged rams 4a) is shown. The frame having a platen mounted to it. An open top box member has opposed side walls a rear wall and a hinged front wall Opposed retaining members (11) project through the walls 9) to retain compressed wool within :he assembly after the platen has withdrawn. .9:4 t 4 4 S. *4 0 9 ab 4 4.