AU706003B3

AU706003B3 - Hydraulic horizontal loading wool press

Info

Publication number: AU706003B3
Application number: AU73211/98A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Stuart Murray Alexander Day
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-06-25
Filing date: 1998-06-25
Publication date: 1999-06-03
Anticipated expiration: 2004-06-25

Description

P/00/012 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION PETTY PATENT Invention Title: Hydraulic Horizontal Loading Wool Press The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: FHPMELC698176026.8

SWO

FzzLD or mwnVENo The invention comprises a wool press for the pressing of wool and fibre, SBAcJKQaouNI Wool, presses are employed to compress wool into wool. bales or Packs. Traditionally A wool Press comprises a upright open box with an associated platen. A wool pack is inserted into the box t o line the box and is then filled with wool. The platen. is pushed .Into the upright box to compress the wool into the Pack to the required weight before the pack is closed holding the wool under compression.

Hiorizontal wool presses have been proposed. New Zealand patent specification 118531. describes. one form of hydraulically operated, horizontal wool press. One disadvantage.of this form of wool press. is that it is very long and bulky. 'Also, because one part of the press requires to be wheeled away from the other part after Pressing of 'the wool, to enable closing of the pack, this wool -press requires a large floor area for use.

DISCOSUE OF UqVMNTION Thepre en invention comprises an improved -or at least alternative form of wool press.

2: -In br'oad terms. thue invention comprises. a wool press comprising..

a wol ck ox aving open end for. receivinag a -wool pack: in the wool pack box, I RA4> CD/99091025.3 2 a platen box adjacent the wool pack box in position such that when the wool pack box is in a normal position it will engage an open end of the platen box, the wool pack box and the platen box mounted to a common frame, a platen movable through the platen box to the open end of the wool pack box to compress wool placed into the platen box into a wool pack in the wool pack box, platen moving means to reciprocally move the platen within the platen box, means mounting the wool pack box for pivotal movement after initial separation of the wool pack box and platen box to a position wherein the open end of the wool pack box is sufficiently separated from the platen box to enable closing of a wool pack in the wool pack box and subsequent removal, and return movement, the means mounting the wool pack box for pivotal movement comprising pivot frames fixedly mounted to the common frame one on either side of the wool press, said pivot frames each comprising a first slot and a second curved slot extending generally perpendicular to said first slot, and members extending transversely from the wool pack box on either side and engaging through said slots in each of the pivot frames.

Description of Drawings A preferred form of wool press of the invention is described with reference to the drawings accompanying the specification, by way of example and without intending to be limiting. In the drawings: 50246 Figure 1 shows one preferred form wool press from one side in its normal position, during pressing of wool into a wool pack, Figure 2 shows the preferred form wool press from the same side as in Figure 1, after the two boxes forming the wool press have been unlatched to allow the wool pack box to move away from the platen box, Figure 3 shows the wool press from the same side as in Figures 1 and 2, after the wool pack box has been pivoted away from the platen box for closing and removal of the wool pack, Figure 4 is a view of the preferred form wool press from above in the direction of arrow A in Figure 1, Figure 5 is a view of the platen mounting end of the wool press, in the direction of arrow B in Figure 1, Figure 6 is a view of the underside of the wool pack box after pivoting to the position of Figure 3 in the direction of arrow C in Figure 3, showing the arrangement of wool retaining fingers on the underside, Figure 7 shows another preferred form wool press from one side in its normal position, during pressing of wool into a wool pack, Figure 8 shows the wool press of Figure 7 after the two boxes have been unlatched and pivoted away from the platen box, and A Figure 9 shows the wool press after the wool pack box has been fully pivoted away from the platen box for closing and removal of the wool pack.

-3- DETAILZD ZSCRWPTION OF PREF.PXD EBMDI=X~T Referring to the drawings, the preferred form press comprises a common base frame or bed 3 which may be generally rectangular in plan view, formed of box section steel for example, although any suitable form of base frame could be employed.

Mounted to the base frame is a box 2, which will be referred to as the platen box.

The platen box 2 is fixed relative to the base frame 3, and comprises a base 4 and sides 5. The platen box 2 mounts a platen 6 from the outer end 7 of the box 2 as shown (see Figures 4 and 5 in partic.uar). The platen 6 is moveable within the platen box 2 in the direction of arrow D in Figure 4. The platen box 2 has an open top, whereby wool ay be placed into the platen box 2 in front of the platen 6.

Alternatively wool could be placed into the platen box through doors in the sides but the arrangement shown in. the drawings is preferred.

1S A wool pack box 1 comprises a base 8, four side walls 9, and an open end opposite the base 8, and is of about the same cross-sectional dimension as the platen box 2.

In its normal position as shown in Figure 1, the wool pack box 1 is positioned such that it engages over the open end of the platen box 2 as shown. A wool pack has previously been placed into the interior of the wool pack box 1 (when in the position in Figure 3) and the wool press operator causes the platen 6 to move within the platen box 2 towards the wool pack box I to compress wool loaded into the platen box into the wool pack in the wool pack box 1.

*The wool pack box 1 is pivotally mounted to the base frame 3. Any suitable arrangement of pivotal mounting could be used but in the preferred form a *triangular subframe 10 extends from the base 8 of the wool pack box 1 on either side. A parallelogram shaped subframe 11 is provided on either side of the base frame 3 and is pivotally mounted to the base frame 3 at connections 12 on either side. Through the subframe 10 on either side, the wool pack box 1 is carried by the subframe I1I by attaching at its apex to the top of the pivoting subframe 11 through -4- 50246 pivot connections 13 one on either side of the wool pack box. The parallelogram subframe (this subframe could also be of any other suitable configuration) can pivot relative to the base frame 3 in the direction of arrow E in Figure 1, between positions shown in Figures 1 and 2. The wool pack box can pivot about the connections 13 on either side in the direction of arrow F in Figure 1. The arrangement enables movement of the wool pack box I about the connecting pivot points 13 between the positions shown in Figures I and 3. At the same time during this pivoting movement, the subframe 11 also pivots about connections 12 between the positions shown in Figures 1 and 3.

To move the platen 6, in the preferred form two hydraulic cylinders 14 are provided one on either side of the wool press. At one end the hydraulic cylinders 14 are attached to the wool pack box 1 as indicated at 14a. At their other ends the shafts 14b of the hydraulic cylinders 14 are attached to the sides of the platen 6 through a slot 15 in the platen box 2 on either side (see Figure so that the hydraulic cylinders can be operated to draw the platen 6 through the platen box 2 towards the wool pack box 1 to compress wool into a wool pack.

S Once the wool pack box 1 has been unlatched from the platen box 2 as will be described, the hydraulic cylinders 14 are also operated to pivot the wool pack box 1 to its upright position, shown in Figure 3.

In use of the wool press, when the wool pack box 1 is initially in the upright position shown in Figure 3 an empty wool pack is placed into the wool pack box 1. The wool pack box 1 is then caused to pivot by the hydraulic cylinders 14 to the position shown in Figure 1 to engage over the open end of the platen box 1. The wool pack box 1 and platen box 2 are latched together. With the platen 6 in its rearwardmost position (as in Figure wool is placed into the platen box 2 through its open top, into the space between the platen and the wool pack (see Figure The hydraulic cylinders 14 are then caused to operate to draw the platen through the platen box 2 to Push the wool into the wool pack in the box 1. This is carried out successively typically two or three times, to compress the desired weight of wool into the pack within the box The boxes 1 and 2 are then unlatched from each other to the position shown in Figure 2 as will be descr-ibed, and the wool pack box 1 containing the full wool pack is then caused by the hydraulic cylinders 14 to pivot to the position shown in Figure 3, whereupon the pack is closed and then removed.

A

fresh empty wool pack can then be put into the wool pack box I for filling in the same way. An arrangement of fingers is used to hold the wool compressed within the pack when the platen has moved away, as will be described.

The handle 16 is used to latch and unlatch the platen and wool pack boxes 1 and 2 from each other. The handle 16 is mounted to the top of posts 17 upstanding on either side of the base frame 3. Members 18 extend from the subfraine 11 on either side through apertures in The posts 17 and are engaged by a locking tooth on the bottom of each end of the handle 16. When the handle 16 is in the position shown in Figure 1, the boxes 1 and 2 are locked together. When the handle is pulled in the direction of arrow Q in Fig. 1, the teeth at the bottom of each side of the handle 16 disengage from the members 18 on either side of the wool press, enabling the wool pack box 1 to be released from the platen box 2 to move away to open the press.

Again, any other suitable arrangement for latching the wool pack box and platen box together during operation of the platen could be employed, such as a system of clips or the like for example.

Figure 6 shows an arrangement of fingers on the bottom of the wool pack box 1 to penetrate across the open top of the interior of the wool pack box I to hold wool compressed into a wool pack within the box I after the platen 3 has moved away, visible as in Figure 6 when the wool pack box 1 is pivoted to the position shown in Figure 3. The fingers 19 are connected to a common shaft 20 which is journaied for rotation against the bottom of the box 1. The fingers 19 are right angle shaped fingers and penetrate through apertures 21 into the interior of the box I across the -6- 50246 open top thereof. The fingers are operated by a hydraulic cylinder 22 which when actuated causes the fingers to be inserted into the box 1 across the open top thereof through a connecting arm 23. Fingers 24 are similarly provided on either side of the box 1 as also shown. The fingers 24 on either side are carried by a shaft similarly mounted for rotation against the side of the box 1, and are also actuated by the same hydraulic cylinder 22 through connecting arms 26. The operation of the fingers is synchronised with the operation of the platen so that the fingers enter across the top of the wool pack as the platen moves away and vice versa. Any other suitable arrangement of wool retaining fingers could be employed.

The form of wool press of the invention shown in Figures 7 to 9 is similar to that of Figures 1 to 6 except in the way that the wool pack box 1 is pivotally mounted. A sub-frame comprising a beam 32 across the base 8 of the wool pack box and frame members 30 on either side carries the wool pack box 1. A pivot frame 34 is mounted on each side of the base 3 on either side of the wool pack box 1. Each pivot frame 34 comprises slot 38 and dog leg slot 42 as shown. Members 30 on either side carry a roller 36, which moves in slot 38 in frame 34. The wool pack box 1 is also supported by a further sub-frame member extending beneath the wool pack box 1 carrying on each side a roller 40, which moves in slot 42 in the frame 34 on each side.

The arrangement enables movement of the wool pack box 1 between the positions shown in Figures 7 to 9. Operation of the wool press is similar to that of Figures 1 to 6. With the press in the position shown in Figure 7 the wool press operator causes the platen 6 to move within the platen box 2 towards the wool pack box 1 to compress wool loaded into the platen box into the wool pack in the wool pack box 1 until the wool pack is full, as described previously. Once the desired weight of wool has been compressed into the pack within the box 1, the wool pack box 1 and platen box 2 are then unlatched from each other and the wool pack box is pivoted through the position shown in Figure 8 to the position shown in Figure 9. The S0246 movement of the rollers 36 and 40 in the slots 38 and 42 on either side during pivoting of the wool pack box is as shown in the drawings.

After closing of the wool pack and removal of the wool pack from the wool pack box and insertion of a new wool pack, the wool pack box 1 may be pivoted back to the position shown in the Figure 7 and the wool pack box and platen box latched together. Movement of the wool pack box is via the hydraulic cylinder 14 as before.

In Figures 7 to 9 the same reference numerals as in Figures 1 to 6 indicate the same or similar components.

The foregoing describes the invention including a preferred form as shown in the drawings. The preferred form shown in the drawings and described is describe-a by way of example and other arrangements of wool press employing the principles of the invention are possible, with two open boxes, the one for containing the wool pack pivotally mounted in relation to the other platen box into which wool is loaded and with platen actuating means extending on either side of (or beneath) the boxes.

Alterations and modifications as will be obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be incorporated within the scope hereof, as defined in the following claims.

It will also be understood that the term "comprises" (or its grammatical variants) as used in this specification is equivalent to the term "includes" and should not be taken as excluding the presence of other elements or features.

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