CA1269885A - Processing crop material - Google Patents
Processing crop materialInfo
- Publication number
- CA1269885A CA1269885A CA000499979A CA499979A CA1269885A CA 1269885 A CA1269885 A CA 1269885A CA 000499979 A CA000499979 A CA 000499979A CA 499979 A CA499979 A CA 499979A CA 1269885 A CA1269885 A CA 1269885A
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- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- pockets
- members
- rotary
- length
- compressed
- Prior art date
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Abstract
ABSTRACT
"Processing Crop Material"
In compacting straw and other fibrous material into blocks or briquettes the material is precompressed into a length L of compressed material before feeding to compacting means for compacting the length into the blocks or briquettes, The compacting means includes a pair of rotary members 10, 11 rotatable about relatively inclined axes 12, 13.
A row of pockets 19, 20 extends around each rotary member and the pockets define spaces in which the material is received. The rotary members converge during rotation so that the material is compacted in the spaces.
"Processing Crop Material"
In compacting straw and other fibrous material into blocks or briquettes the material is precompressed into a length L of compressed material before feeding to compacting means for compacting the length into the blocks or briquettes, The compacting means includes a pair of rotary members 10, 11 rotatable about relatively inclined axes 12, 13.
A row of pockets 19, 20 extends around each rotary member and the pockets define spaces in which the material is received. The rotary members converge during rotation so that the material is compacted in the spaces.
Description
ROCESSI~G_CROP MATERIAL
This invention relates to the processing of material and in particular to a method and apparatus for compacting mate~ial 9 such as straw and other loose fibrous material, into discrete blocks or ~riquettes.
The invention has application to the disposal of crop residues such as stra~ resultillg from the harvesting of grain. It has been proposed to bale such residues into bloc~s or bales the density of which can be high or lo~, for use as feed, bedding or ~uel . However conventional baling equipme~t is only able to provide bales of a density such that a high volume o~
material is required for each unit of heat if the bales are to be used as fuel. If the crop residue could be economically compressed to a density approaching that of say wood a much greater use could be made of the residue as a fuel.
Hitherto appa~atus has been proposed for producing high density quantities of stra~ but such apparatus suffers from ~arious disad~-antages. It is ver}~ bulky and has a lo~ rate of throughput. The rate of power consumption is high relative to the throughput -~nd the stra~ must be chopped into short lengths before compression ~a~es place. Such prior apparatus ~enerally in~olves the use of a reciprocating ram
This invention relates to the processing of material and in particular to a method and apparatus for compacting mate~ial 9 such as straw and other loose fibrous material, into discrete blocks or ~riquettes.
The invention has application to the disposal of crop residues such as stra~ resultillg from the harvesting of grain. It has been proposed to bale such residues into bloc~s or bales the density of which can be high or lo~, for use as feed, bedding or ~uel . However conventional baling equipme~t is only able to provide bales of a density such that a high volume o~
material is required for each unit of heat if the bales are to be used as fuel. If the crop residue could be economically compressed to a density approaching that of say wood a much greater use could be made of the residue as a fuel.
Hitherto appa~atus has been proposed for producing high density quantities of stra~ but such apparatus suffers from ~arious disad~-antages. It is ver}~ bulky and has a lo~ rate of throughput. The rate of power consumption is high relative to the throughput -~nd the stra~ must be chopped into short lengths before compression ~a~es place. Such prior apparatus ~enerally in~olves the use of a reciprocating ram
2; mo~able a]ong an open-ended cylinder to compress the ctraw and extrude it.
It has also been proposed to form compressed blocks of hay from loose hay fed between the meshin~ teeth of a pair of ~heels but such apparatus is unable to form bloc~s of sufficiently high density for economic use.
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An object of the present invention is to provide a ~ethod and apparatus for compacting or compressing material to produce high density material in which -the po~er re~uirements are relatively low.
According to one aspect of the invention a method of compacting fibrous material includes the steps of precompressing the material to form a compressed length of the material, feeding the compressed length to compacti~g apparatus including a pair of rot~ry members which define between them pockets in which the compressed length is received, compacting the material in the pockets by reducing the si2es of the pockets progressively as the rotary members are rotated until the pockets reach a region of maximum compression of the material, separa*ing the compacted material into discrete blocks or briquettes and discharging the blocks or briquettes from the pockets.
According to another aspect of the invention apparatus for compacting fibrous material comprises precompression means for compressing loose fibrous material to form a length of compressed material, compacting means for compacting the length of material and forming the material into compacted discrete blocXs or briquettes, the compaction means including a pair of rotary members r~tatable about axes inclined relative to one anoTher, drive means for the rot~ry members9 a row of poc~ets in which the material is to be received and compacted, the pockets extending in a ro~ around each of the rotar~ members, the pockets on one rotary member defining with the other rotary member spaces in which the material is received and9 during rotation of the rotary members, the memberc converging and the spaces progressively reducing in size until said spaces reach ,~
`~
a mini~um ~ize at which ma~imum convergence occurs and maximum compaction of the material takes place, the compaction means further comprising feed ~eana ~or feeding the compressed length of material to the pockets and discharge means for discharging compacted discrete blocks or briquettes of material from the pockets.
Preferabl~ the poc~ets of each rotary member are spaced ~rom each other alon~ a circular ro~ and the rotary members are arranged so that the pockets o~ one member register ~ith spaces between pockets in the row of pockets Or the other rotary member, and a continuous row of poc~ets is defined b)7 the rotar7- members, Con~enientl~ the rotar~- members in the region in which their maximum convergence arises are closely ~djacent one ~nother. Said region of maximum con~ergence preferably lies in a plane coincident ~ith the intersection of the axes of rotation.
~leans ma be provided ~ngaging the rotar~ members to resist the tendency of the members to move apart, ~t least in the position of ma~imum compres~ion Or the material.
~he discharge means ma~ include a plunger defining a portion ~f the base of each pocket, the plunger being mo~-able to~ards the open end of the pocket to e ject the discrete blocks or briquettes upon the associated pocket passing the regio~ o~ maximum converge~c~ 9 during rotation of the rota~- members.
The apparatus of the invention is capable of producing a continuous flow o~ compressed blocks or bri4uettes ~ -~L269~8~i .. ~, of hi~hly compressed material from ~aid pockets with relatively low rate of power consumption.
Preferably the precompression means includes apparatus for forming loose fibrous material into a twisted rope of compress~d material. ~or example the precompress~d material, if in the form of stra~, may be compressed by the precompression means to give a 30:1 t~ 10.1 reduction in ~olurne from a feed of uncompressed straw. The compaction apparatus ~ay then pro~ide a ~urther volume reduction of the order of 3:1 to 5:1 to gi~-e an overall reduction in volume of the order of 40:1 to 100:1, subject to the initial bulk density of the material.
~urther features of the invention will appear from the following description o~ an embodiment of *he invention given by way of example only and with reference to the drawingc, in which:-Fig. 1 is a schematic plan ~iew of apparatus rorcompressing crop material into briquettes showing the lower of two rotary members, precompression means, and a feed arrangement, Fig. 2 is a cros~-section on the line 2-2 in Fi~. 1, showing the two rotary rn~mbers of the compaction means, Fig. 3 is a cross-section along a circular row of 25 pockels of the apparatus of Figs. 1 and 2 o~er one segment 3-3 of the rotal~ members, and Fig. 4 is a cross-section corresponding to that of Fig. 3 o~er another segm,ent 4-4 of the rotary members.
:- 5 --Referring to the dr~wings compaction apparatus includes two rotary members 10 and 11 each rotatable about an axis 12 a~d 13 respectively, the ~xes lying in a com~on plane and being inclined at an acute angle relative to one another. In the illustrated arrangement the angle between the axes 12 and 13 is about 10 but this angle can ~ary according to the diameter of the members, the nature of the crop material, the degree of compression required and other factors. For example the angle may lie in the range of between 5 2~ .
The members 10 and 11 are arranged to be rotated in the same direction b,~ drive means ~not shown). Such drive means may be coupled to a shaft 14 ~nd/or 15 on 1~ ~hich the members 10 and 11 are mounted.
In the illustrated arrangement the members 10 and 11 each carry meshing be~el gearing 16 and 17 ~ereby one member is driven by the other at an identical speed.
~o~-ards the radiall~ outer edge of each of the rotary members 10 and 11 is arran~ed a row of pockets 19 and 20. The pockets 19 and 20 of each row are spaced ~rom one another along the row a distance to pro~ide a spacing 21 between the pockets approximatel~ e~ual to the length of each pocket as measured along the circular ro~ of poc~et6.
The pockets 19 of the member 10 are arranged in relation to the pockets 20 of the member 11 such that the pockets 19 lie o~-er the spaces 21 between the pockets 20, and the pockets 20 lie o~er the spaces 21 bet~een the pocket~ 19. Thus the pockets 19 are at the same spacings and of the same lengths as the .~
.
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. ---`` :
pockets 20 an~ the pockets 19 and 20 are located along a row at the same distance from the respective axes 12 and 13 of the members 10 and 11.
Each of the pockets is of part annular form and the pockets approximate to a rectangle, as seen in ~ig. 1, or a square in cross-section; and the pockets taper towards their base.
Due to the inclination of the members 10 and 11 and the proximity of $he me~bers~ the pockets, as they progress along circular paths during rotation of the members, are moved to~ards and away from each ~ther.
At one side of the members 10 and 11 the pockets 19 and 20 are at a maximum spacing from each other.
At the opposite sîde of the members the pockets are a close proxi~ity and at a minimum spacing ~rom each other. In the latter region, i.e. tG the righ~ hand side as seen in ~igs. 1 and 2 and as sho~ in ~ig. 4 7 the surfaces bounding the inner and outer edge~ of the pockets 19 and 20 may- be brought closely adjacent to but not in contact ~ith each other, It will also be seen from Fig. 2 that the pockets 19 and 20 at their positions Or minimum spacings lie s~etrically relative to 8 plane X coincident with the point of intersection P of the axes 12 and 13 and the bases of the pockets are parallel to said plane X.
The pockets 19 and 20 converge to~ards one another as they approach their positions of minimum spacing and, as they converge, material located between the pockets 19 and 20 is co~pressed between a~d into the pockets until, at the minimum spacing position, substantiallY
~,;
.
~26~
all the material is located in the pockets in a compressed condition.
Material to be fed to the compaction apparatus is-in the form of a precompressed length or lengths L of fibrous crop material such as straw in the nature of a t~isted rope of material. The rope is fo~med from loose straw or other material in a form such as may be discharged from a combine harvester but it should not be necessary or desirable that the loose straw should be chopped into short lengths. The preco~pressed length L of material may ~e produced by any con~enient means to achieve precompression of the material from the loose form to give a ~olume reduction of the order of 30:1 to 10:1 before feeding to the compaction apparatus.
In Fig. 1 prec~mpression apparatus is shown schematically at 32 in which the loose material is extruded from a cone 31 after being introduced to~ards the wider end of the cone. A screw member 34 is located ~ithin the cone to define an annular space 33 bet~een the scre~ member 34 and the cone 31 through which 6pace the material is passed. It will be seen that the annular space 33 reduces in volume in the do~mstream direction to cause the material 2; passing therethrough to be compressed. Dri~e means (not shown) c~uses relative rotation between the cone 31 and the screw member 34 ~hich under the action of the scre~ fol~ed on the member 34 causes the material to issue in a continuous length in compressed form from the apical end of the cone ~1.
The length of material L is enga~ed bet~een a pair of dri~en rollers 35 as it issues from the cone 31 to help draw the material from the end of the oone and to inhibit rotation of the length L about its c , .
~_ .
`~ ~2~9~38~;
.
longitudinal axis during its pass~ge through the rollers 35. Thus the action of the rollers 35 i~
to feed the compressed length of material towar~s the ~ompaction apparatus but in ~o doing the rollers perform other useful functions. Thus the rollers 35 in drawing the length of material from the cone assist in the passage of the material throu~h the apparatus 32D
In additicn, by p~e~enting rotation of the length L
of material as it passes between the rollers 35 the winding or twisting action of the apparatus 32 o~
the length L is enhanced up to the point where the length is gripped by the rollers.
A similar effect ma) be achieved upon omi-tting the rollers 35 and relying on the gripping of the length L by the rotary members 10 and 11 as it is zompressed in the pockets 19 and 20. As the ~ength L is gripped in this way it is dra~ out of the cone and assists in causing twisting about its axis, as described, up to the point where the length is gripped.
Material ~rom the rollers 35 or direct from the cone 31 is introduced bet~een the members 10 and 11 bet~een curved guide elements 22 and 23 extending from the region of maximum spacing of the pockets and along th0 path of the pockets toward.s the region of minimum spacing of the pockets.
~he length L of maTerial fed to the members 10 and 11 ma)~ be a continuous length or discontinuous successi~e lengths.
The arrangement of the pockets 19 and 20 and the degree of compression imparted by ~he rotary members 9 ~-hich may be o~ the order Or 5:1, ensures that the 2~8~S
g individual blocks or bri~uettes B of material formed in the pockets are automatically severed from o~e another upon release from the pockets along the junction bet~een respective pockets 19 and 20 of the members 10 and 11, It has been found that the surfaces 21 on the members between the pockets may be spaced at said ~unctions, as seen in Fig. 4, a dista~ce d ~ithout preventing the automatic se~ering action between briquettes B to occur. However, if desired/
means may be provided for cutting through the material between adjacent briquettes B i~ this pro~es to be necessary.
After the pockets pass through the region of minimum spacing between the pockets (Fig. 4) and diverge, the material in the pockets will expand to project out of the pockets. As this occurs the briquettes B
are engaged by discharge guides 25 and 26 or other means, released from the pockets, and diverted from the rotary members 10 and 11 so that the pockets can.
~0 receive a further charge of material from the feed means 2Z and 23. In addition each poc~et 19 and 20 may ha~e a mo~able ~lunger 37 in its base, the plunger being engaged by a cam (not sho~n) to mo~e the pllmger into the pocket and push the bri~uette out arter it ha~ been fo~led, for example as the pocket passes ber~een the guide means 25 and 26, The plungers 37 may be returned to the bases of the pockets by engagement ~ith a fresh charge of material to be compacted, To counteract the loads on the rotary members tending to force the members apart3 particularly in the region of minimum spacing between the members, the members 10 and 11 may be engaged by rollers 28 and 29 mounted on a frame 30.
,-. ,~; .
lZ69885 ..
The dimensions of the ~otary members, the pockets and the speed of rotation of the members is dependent on various factors but to achie~e a throughput of briquette production in the region of ten tonnes per hour the briquettes may be approximately 50 mm wide 70 mm long and 50 mm deep and the rotary members may have 28 pockets rotating at about 75 r.p.m. It has been found that ~ith such an arrangement the briquettes may each ~eigh about 80 grams.
!. . ,, ~
It has also been proposed to form compressed blocks of hay from loose hay fed between the meshin~ teeth of a pair of ~heels but such apparatus is unable to form bloc~s of sufficiently high density for economic use.
~L;26~
An object of the present invention is to provide a ~ethod and apparatus for compacting or compressing material to produce high density material in which -the po~er re~uirements are relatively low.
According to one aspect of the invention a method of compacting fibrous material includes the steps of precompressing the material to form a compressed length of the material, feeding the compressed length to compacti~g apparatus including a pair of rot~ry members which define between them pockets in which the compressed length is received, compacting the material in the pockets by reducing the si2es of the pockets progressively as the rotary members are rotated until the pockets reach a region of maximum compression of the material, separa*ing the compacted material into discrete blocks or briquettes and discharging the blocks or briquettes from the pockets.
According to another aspect of the invention apparatus for compacting fibrous material comprises precompression means for compressing loose fibrous material to form a length of compressed material, compacting means for compacting the length of material and forming the material into compacted discrete blocXs or briquettes, the compaction means including a pair of rotary members r~tatable about axes inclined relative to one anoTher, drive means for the rot~ry members9 a row of poc~ets in which the material is to be received and compacted, the pockets extending in a ro~ around each of the rotar~ members, the pockets on one rotary member defining with the other rotary member spaces in which the material is received and9 during rotation of the rotary members, the memberc converging and the spaces progressively reducing in size until said spaces reach ,~
`~
a mini~um ~ize at which ma~imum convergence occurs and maximum compaction of the material takes place, the compaction means further comprising feed ~eana ~or feeding the compressed length of material to the pockets and discharge means for discharging compacted discrete blocks or briquettes of material from the pockets.
Preferabl~ the poc~ets of each rotary member are spaced ~rom each other alon~ a circular ro~ and the rotary members are arranged so that the pockets o~ one member register ~ith spaces between pockets in the row of pockets Or the other rotary member, and a continuous row of poc~ets is defined b)7 the rotar7- members, Con~enientl~ the rotar~- members in the region in which their maximum convergence arises are closely ~djacent one ~nother. Said region of maximum con~ergence preferably lies in a plane coincident ~ith the intersection of the axes of rotation.
~leans ma be provided ~ngaging the rotar~ members to resist the tendency of the members to move apart, ~t least in the position of ma~imum compres~ion Or the material.
~he discharge means ma~ include a plunger defining a portion ~f the base of each pocket, the plunger being mo~-able to~ards the open end of the pocket to e ject the discrete blocks or briquettes upon the associated pocket passing the regio~ o~ maximum converge~c~ 9 during rotation of the rota~- members.
The apparatus of the invention is capable of producing a continuous flow o~ compressed blocks or bri4uettes ~ -~L269~8~i .. ~, of hi~hly compressed material from ~aid pockets with relatively low rate of power consumption.
Preferably the precompression means includes apparatus for forming loose fibrous material into a twisted rope of compress~d material. ~or example the precompress~d material, if in the form of stra~, may be compressed by the precompression means to give a 30:1 t~ 10.1 reduction in ~olurne from a feed of uncompressed straw. The compaction apparatus ~ay then pro~ide a ~urther volume reduction of the order of 3:1 to 5:1 to gi~-e an overall reduction in volume of the order of 40:1 to 100:1, subject to the initial bulk density of the material.
~urther features of the invention will appear from the following description o~ an embodiment of *he invention given by way of example only and with reference to the drawingc, in which:-Fig. 1 is a schematic plan ~iew of apparatus rorcompressing crop material into briquettes showing the lower of two rotary members, precompression means, and a feed arrangement, Fig. 2 is a cros~-section on the line 2-2 in Fi~. 1, showing the two rotary rn~mbers of the compaction means, Fig. 3 is a cross-section along a circular row of 25 pockels of the apparatus of Figs. 1 and 2 o~er one segment 3-3 of the rotal~ members, and Fig. 4 is a cross-section corresponding to that of Fig. 3 o~er another segm,ent 4-4 of the rotary members.
:- 5 --Referring to the dr~wings compaction apparatus includes two rotary members 10 and 11 each rotatable about an axis 12 a~d 13 respectively, the ~xes lying in a com~on plane and being inclined at an acute angle relative to one another. In the illustrated arrangement the angle between the axes 12 and 13 is about 10 but this angle can ~ary according to the diameter of the members, the nature of the crop material, the degree of compression required and other factors. For example the angle may lie in the range of between 5 2~ .
The members 10 and 11 are arranged to be rotated in the same direction b,~ drive means ~not shown). Such drive means may be coupled to a shaft 14 ~nd/or 15 on 1~ ~hich the members 10 and 11 are mounted.
In the illustrated arrangement the members 10 and 11 each carry meshing be~el gearing 16 and 17 ~ereby one member is driven by the other at an identical speed.
~o~-ards the radiall~ outer edge of each of the rotary members 10 and 11 is arran~ed a row of pockets 19 and 20. The pockets 19 and 20 of each row are spaced ~rom one another along the row a distance to pro~ide a spacing 21 between the pockets approximatel~ e~ual to the length of each pocket as measured along the circular ro~ of poc~et6.
The pockets 19 of the member 10 are arranged in relation to the pockets 20 of the member 11 such that the pockets 19 lie o~-er the spaces 21 between the pockets 20, and the pockets 20 lie o~er the spaces 21 bet~een the pocket~ 19. Thus the pockets 19 are at the same spacings and of the same lengths as the .~
.
~26~
. ---`` :
pockets 20 an~ the pockets 19 and 20 are located along a row at the same distance from the respective axes 12 and 13 of the members 10 and 11.
Each of the pockets is of part annular form and the pockets approximate to a rectangle, as seen in ~ig. 1, or a square in cross-section; and the pockets taper towards their base.
Due to the inclination of the members 10 and 11 and the proximity of $he me~bers~ the pockets, as they progress along circular paths during rotation of the members, are moved to~ards and away from each ~ther.
At one side of the members 10 and 11 the pockets 19 and 20 are at a maximum spacing from each other.
At the opposite sîde of the members the pockets are a close proxi~ity and at a minimum spacing ~rom each other. In the latter region, i.e. tG the righ~ hand side as seen in ~igs. 1 and 2 and as sho~ in ~ig. 4 7 the surfaces bounding the inner and outer edge~ of the pockets 19 and 20 may- be brought closely adjacent to but not in contact ~ith each other, It will also be seen from Fig. 2 that the pockets 19 and 20 at their positions Or minimum spacings lie s~etrically relative to 8 plane X coincident with the point of intersection P of the axes 12 and 13 and the bases of the pockets are parallel to said plane X.
The pockets 19 and 20 converge to~ards one another as they approach their positions of minimum spacing and, as they converge, material located between the pockets 19 and 20 is co~pressed between a~d into the pockets until, at the minimum spacing position, substantiallY
~,;
.
~26~
all the material is located in the pockets in a compressed condition.
Material to be fed to the compaction apparatus is-in the form of a precompressed length or lengths L of fibrous crop material such as straw in the nature of a t~isted rope of material. The rope is fo~med from loose straw or other material in a form such as may be discharged from a combine harvester but it should not be necessary or desirable that the loose straw should be chopped into short lengths. The preco~pressed length L of material may ~e produced by any con~enient means to achieve precompression of the material from the loose form to give a ~olume reduction of the order of 30:1 to 10:1 before feeding to the compaction apparatus.
In Fig. 1 prec~mpression apparatus is shown schematically at 32 in which the loose material is extruded from a cone 31 after being introduced to~ards the wider end of the cone. A screw member 34 is located ~ithin the cone to define an annular space 33 bet~een the scre~ member 34 and the cone 31 through which 6pace the material is passed. It will be seen that the annular space 33 reduces in volume in the do~mstream direction to cause the material 2; passing therethrough to be compressed. Dri~e means (not shown) c~uses relative rotation between the cone 31 and the screw member 34 ~hich under the action of the scre~ fol~ed on the member 34 causes the material to issue in a continuous length in compressed form from the apical end of the cone ~1.
The length of material L is enga~ed bet~een a pair of dri~en rollers 35 as it issues from the cone 31 to help draw the material from the end of the oone and to inhibit rotation of the length L about its c , .
~_ .
`~ ~2~9~38~;
.
longitudinal axis during its pass~ge through the rollers 35. Thus the action of the rollers 35 i~
to feed the compressed length of material towar~s the ~ompaction apparatus but in ~o doing the rollers perform other useful functions. Thus the rollers 35 in drawing the length of material from the cone assist in the passage of the material throu~h the apparatus 32D
In additicn, by p~e~enting rotation of the length L
of material as it passes between the rollers 35 the winding or twisting action of the apparatus 32 o~
the length L is enhanced up to the point where the length is gripped by the rollers.
A similar effect ma) be achieved upon omi-tting the rollers 35 and relying on the gripping of the length L by the rotary members 10 and 11 as it is zompressed in the pockets 19 and 20. As the ~ength L is gripped in this way it is dra~ out of the cone and assists in causing twisting about its axis, as described, up to the point where the length is gripped.
Material ~rom the rollers 35 or direct from the cone 31 is introduced bet~een the members 10 and 11 bet~een curved guide elements 22 and 23 extending from the region of maximum spacing of the pockets and along th0 path of the pockets toward.s the region of minimum spacing of the pockets.
~he length L of maTerial fed to the members 10 and 11 ma)~ be a continuous length or discontinuous successi~e lengths.
The arrangement of the pockets 19 and 20 and the degree of compression imparted by ~he rotary members 9 ~-hich may be o~ the order Or 5:1, ensures that the 2~8~S
g individual blocks or bri~uettes B of material formed in the pockets are automatically severed from o~e another upon release from the pockets along the junction bet~een respective pockets 19 and 20 of the members 10 and 11, It has been found that the surfaces 21 on the members between the pockets may be spaced at said ~unctions, as seen in Fig. 4, a dista~ce d ~ithout preventing the automatic se~ering action between briquettes B to occur. However, if desired/
means may be provided for cutting through the material between adjacent briquettes B i~ this pro~es to be necessary.
After the pockets pass through the region of minimum spacing between the pockets (Fig. 4) and diverge, the material in the pockets will expand to project out of the pockets. As this occurs the briquettes B
are engaged by discharge guides 25 and 26 or other means, released from the pockets, and diverted from the rotary members 10 and 11 so that the pockets can.
~0 receive a further charge of material from the feed means 2Z and 23. In addition each poc~et 19 and 20 may ha~e a mo~able ~lunger 37 in its base, the plunger being engaged by a cam (not sho~n) to mo~e the pllmger into the pocket and push the bri~uette out arter it ha~ been fo~led, for example as the pocket passes ber~een the guide means 25 and 26, The plungers 37 may be returned to the bases of the pockets by engagement ~ith a fresh charge of material to be compacted, To counteract the loads on the rotary members tending to force the members apart3 particularly in the region of minimum spacing between the members, the members 10 and 11 may be engaged by rollers 28 and 29 mounted on a frame 30.
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lZ69885 ..
The dimensions of the ~otary members, the pockets and the speed of rotation of the members is dependent on various factors but to achie~e a throughput of briquette production in the region of ten tonnes per hour the briquettes may be approximately 50 mm wide 70 mm long and 50 mm deep and the rotary members may have 28 pockets rotating at about 75 r.p.m. It has been found that ~ith such an arrangement the briquettes may each ~eigh about 80 grams.
!. . ,, ~
Claims (8)
1. Apparatus for compacting fibrous material comprises precompression means for compressing loose fibrous material to form a length of compressed material, compacting means for compacting the length of material and forming the material into compacted discrete blocks or briquettes, the compaction means including a pair of rotary disk members rotatable in the same direction about axes inclined relative to one another, drive means for the rotary members, a row of pockets in the disk members in which the material is to be received and compacted, the pockets extending continuously around the rotary members and the pockets being defined by a row of spaced apart pockets around one of the rotary members and a similar row of spaced apart pockets around the other rotary member, the pockets on one rotary member registering with spaces between the pockets of the other rotary member, the disk members defining between them a wedge-like space in which the length of material is received and, during rotation of the rotary members, the material being progressively compressed in said space and into the pockets as the material approaches a region of maximum convergence of the disk members at which maximum compaction of the material takes place, the compaction means further comprising feed means for feeding the compressed length of material to the space, and discharge means for discharging compacted discrete blocks or briquettes of material from the pockets.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the rotary members in the region in which their maximum convergence arises are closely adjacent one another.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the discharge means includes a plunger defining a portion of the base of each pocket, the plunger being movable towards the open end of the pocket to eject the discrete blocks or briquettes upon the associated pocket passing the region of maximum convergence, during rotation of the rotary member.
4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the plungers are moved outwardly of the pockets by cam means located adjacent the path of rotation of the rotary members.
5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the pockets are each of generally rectangular cross-section tapering inwardly towards the base.
6. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the precompression means includes apparatus for forming loose fibrous material into a twisted rope of compressed material.
7. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the feed means includes roller means engageable with the rope of material issuing from the precompression means and arranged to feed the rope towards the compaction means.
8. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the precompression means is arranged to compress the material to give a reduction of volume in the range of 30:1 to 10:1 and the compaction means is arranged to give a reduction in the range of 3:1 to 5:1.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000499979A CA1269885A (en) | 1986-01-21 | 1986-01-21 | Processing crop material |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000499979A CA1269885A (en) | 1986-01-21 | 1986-01-21 | Processing crop material |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1269885A true CA1269885A (en) | 1990-06-05 |
Family
ID=4132312
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000499979A Expired - Fee Related CA1269885A (en) | 1986-01-21 | 1986-01-21 | Processing crop material |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1269885A (en) |
-
1986
- 1986-01-21 CA CA000499979A patent/CA1269885A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
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