CA2414109A1 - Apparatus and method for automatically baling loose compressible material - Google Patents
Apparatus and method for automatically baling loose compressible material Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2414109A1 CA2414109A1 CA 2414109 CA2414109A CA2414109A1 CA 2414109 A1 CA2414109 A1 CA 2414109A1 CA 2414109 CA2414109 CA 2414109 CA 2414109 A CA2414109 A CA 2414109A CA 2414109 A1 CA2414109 A1 CA 2414109A1
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- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- tube
- compression tube
- bottom end
- compression
- bale
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B63/00—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on articles or materials to be packaged
- B65B63/02—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on articles or materials to be packaged for compressing or compacting articles or materials prior to wrapping or insertion in containers or receptacles
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01F—PROCESSING OF HARVESTED PRODUCE; HAY OR STRAW PRESSES; DEVICES FOR STORING AGRICULTURAL OR HORTICULTURAL PRODUCE
- A01F15/00—Baling presses for straw, hay or the like
- A01F15/04—Plunger presses
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01F—PROCESSING OF HARVESTED PRODUCE; HAY OR STRAW PRESSES; DEVICES FOR STORING AGRICULTURAL OR HORTICULTURAL PRODUCE
- A01F15/00—Baling presses for straw, hay or the like
- A01F15/07—Rotobalers, i.e. machines for forming cylindrical bales by winding and pressing
- A01F15/071—Wrapping devices
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B9/00—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, e.g. liquids or semiliquids, in flat, folded, or tubular webs of flexible sheet material; Subdividing filled flexible tubes to form packages
- B65B9/10—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in preformed tubular webs, or in webs formed into tubes around filling nozzles, e.g. extruded tubular webs
- B65B9/20—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in preformed tubular webs, or in webs formed into tubes around filling nozzles, e.g. extruded tubular webs the webs being formed into tubes in situ around the filling nozzles
- B65B9/213—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in preformed tubular webs, or in webs formed into tubes around filling nozzles, e.g. extruded tubular webs the webs being formed into tubes in situ around the filling nozzles the web having intermittent motion
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01F—PROCESSING OF HARVESTED PRODUCE; HAY OR STRAW PRESSES; DEVICES FOR STORING AGRICULTURAL OR HORTICULTURAL PRODUCE
- A01F15/00—Baling presses for straw, hay or the like
- A01F15/07—Rotobalers, i.e. machines for forming cylindrical bales by winding and pressing
- A01F15/071—Wrapping devices
- A01F2015/0735—Combined machines that include a press bale and a wrapping device in a further step, e.g. turning table, not in the same closed pressing chamber
Description
APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY BALING LOOSE COMPRESSIBLE
MATERIAL
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is concerned generallywith an apparatus and method for compressing and packaging loose fibrous material. More particularly, it relates to the automatic baling of compressible products. The invention is an apparatus and method particularly well suited for automatically baling sphagnum peat moss, by compressing and packaging the product at a final volume of 60% to 40% of its original loose volume.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1o While various baler designs have been disclosed in recent years, no one can address all the problems that still exist when baling various compressible products, particularly organic fibrous products such as sphagnum peat moss.
Methods and machines that will allow vertical compression of loose fibrous material into flexible bags are well known and described in U.S. patent nos. 4,055,203 and 4,121,399.
These employ a compression tube as well as a rigid container that holds a flexible bag.
These systems are noisy due to the repetitive opening and closing of the rigid containers and produce lots of dust.
Compressing product into the bag also leads to a certain proportion of damaged bags.
Other methods and apparatus use a horizontal tube and manage to eliminate the secondary rigid container as described previously by entirely compressing the product into the compression tube, 2 o thereby limiting noise and production of dust. However, these were designed for products such as cellulose that stay put after compression, but horizontal ejection of products such as peat moss bales is not acceptable since it causes the compressed product adjoining the open end of the bag to crumble and fall out of the bag. The bale thus loses its shape and the collapsing face contaminates the sealing area. Exemples of these methods that produce bags either with ready-2 5 made bags or by making them along the horizontal axis are given in U.S.
patents nos. 4,108,063 and 5,226,269.
The vertical form, fill and seal principle used on this invention relate somehow to packaging equipment that have been commonly used for many years but these existing systems deal with free filowing products and the machines do not have the capacity to produce compressed bales such as presented here. One application described in U.S. patent no. 4,391,081 presents a method that slightly compresses the top of a bag but does not apply to baling needs.
The baling apparatus of the present invention is distinct from and overcomes several drawbacks of the prior art devices, as will be discussed in detail below.
StlMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for compressing and baling in a 1 o continuous manner a compressible loose material. The apparatus comprises a frame and an upright compression tube mounted to the frame. The compression tube has an open top end for receiving the compressible loose material and an open bottom end. Feeding means are provided for feeding a certain amount of compressible loose material into the open top of the compressible tube. The apparatus further comprises a supporting surface to support the loose material in the compression tube. The supporting surface is movable vertically between a high position where it extends at the level of the bottom end of the compression tube and a low position. pushing means are provided for pushing the loose material in the compression tube downwardly against the supporting surface while the supporting surface is in the high position, thereby obtaining a compressed material. The pushing means is also for pushing the compressed material out from 2 o the bottom end of the compression tube while the support is moved to its low position.
The apparatus further comprises supply means mounted to the frame for supplying in continuous a flat thermoplastic plastic film and forming/sealing means for forming and sealing the flat plastic film into a continuous tube around the compression tube.
Further, sealing means are also provided adjacent to the bottom end of the compression tube for 2 5 sealing a section of the tube of plastic film extending beyond the bottom end of the compression tube, and thereby closing a top end of a formed bale of compressed material and a bottom end of a following bale of compressed material to be formed;
The apparatus further comprises cutting means for cutting the sealed section, and thus separating the formed bale from the following bale to be formed.
MATERIAL
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is concerned generallywith an apparatus and method for compressing and packaging loose fibrous material. More particularly, it relates to the automatic baling of compressible products. The invention is an apparatus and method particularly well suited for automatically baling sphagnum peat moss, by compressing and packaging the product at a final volume of 60% to 40% of its original loose volume.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1o While various baler designs have been disclosed in recent years, no one can address all the problems that still exist when baling various compressible products, particularly organic fibrous products such as sphagnum peat moss.
Methods and machines that will allow vertical compression of loose fibrous material into flexible bags are well known and described in U.S. patent nos. 4,055,203 and 4,121,399.
These employ a compression tube as well as a rigid container that holds a flexible bag.
These systems are noisy due to the repetitive opening and closing of the rigid containers and produce lots of dust.
Compressing product into the bag also leads to a certain proportion of damaged bags.
Other methods and apparatus use a horizontal tube and manage to eliminate the secondary rigid container as described previously by entirely compressing the product into the compression tube, 2 o thereby limiting noise and production of dust. However, these were designed for products such as cellulose that stay put after compression, but horizontal ejection of products such as peat moss bales is not acceptable since it causes the compressed product adjoining the open end of the bag to crumble and fall out of the bag. The bale thus loses its shape and the collapsing face contaminates the sealing area. Exemples of these methods that produce bags either with ready-2 5 made bags or by making them along the horizontal axis are given in U.S.
patents nos. 4,108,063 and 5,226,269.
The vertical form, fill and seal principle used on this invention relate somehow to packaging equipment that have been commonly used for many years but these existing systems deal with free filowing products and the machines do not have the capacity to produce compressed bales such as presented here. One application described in U.S. patent no. 4,391,081 presents a method that slightly compresses the top of a bag but does not apply to baling needs.
The baling apparatus of the present invention is distinct from and overcomes several drawbacks of the prior art devices, as will be discussed in detail below.
StlMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for compressing and baling in a 1 o continuous manner a compressible loose material. The apparatus comprises a frame and an upright compression tube mounted to the frame. The compression tube has an open top end for receiving the compressible loose material and an open bottom end. Feeding means are provided for feeding a certain amount of compressible loose material into the open top of the compressible tube. The apparatus further comprises a supporting surface to support the loose material in the compression tube. The supporting surface is movable vertically between a high position where it extends at the level of the bottom end of the compression tube and a low position. pushing means are provided for pushing the loose material in the compression tube downwardly against the supporting surface while the supporting surface is in the high position, thereby obtaining a compressed material. The pushing means is also for pushing the compressed material out from 2 o the bottom end of the compression tube while the support is moved to its low position.
The apparatus further comprises supply means mounted to the frame for supplying in continuous a flat thermoplastic plastic film and forming/sealing means for forming and sealing the flat plastic film into a continuous tube around the compression tube.
Further, sealing means are also provided adjacent to the bottom end of the compression tube for 2 5 sealing a section of the tube of plastic film extending beyond the bottom end of the compression tube, and thereby closing a top end of a formed bale of compressed material and a bottom end of a following bale of compressed material to be formed;
The apparatus further comprises cutting means for cutting the sealed section, and thus separating the formed bale from the following bale to be formed.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of compressing and baling in a continuous manner a compressible loose material, the method comprising the steps of - providing an upright compression tube having an open top end and an open bottom end;
-supplying in continuous a thermoplastic plastic film and forming and sealing said plastic film into a continuous tube around the compression tube;
-drawing the tube of plastic film sleeving the compression tube downwards until a section of the tube of plastic film extends beyond the bottom end of the compression tube;
-sealing the section of the plastic tube for obtaining a bottorr~ end of a bale of compressed material to be formed and cutting said section in two edges;
-feeding a certain amount of compressible loose material into the open top of the compressible tube;
-supporting the loose material in the compression tube by means of a supporting surface movable vertically between a high position where it extends at the level of the bottom end of the compression tube and a !ow position;
-pushing the loose material in the compression tube downwardly against the supporting surface to obtain a compressed material;
-pushing the compressed material out from the bottom end of the compression tube while moving the support surface to its low position, thereby causing the tube of plastic film to be drawned downwards until a further section of the tube extends beyond the bottom end of the compression tube ;
-sealing the further section of the tube of plastic film, and thereby closing a top end of a formed bale of compressed material and a bottom end of a following bale of compressed material to be formed; and -cutting the sealed section, and thus separating the formed bale from the following to be formed 2 5 bale.
As can be appreciated, the fibrous material is compressed in a vertical Tube to form a bale, then ejected, thus drawing a continuous supply of flat film that allovvs a bag to being formed around the tube. A variable position platform moves vertically under the tube to control compression of 3 0 the material, the ejection of the bale by the compression ram and the position of the bale for sealing and cutting the bag off the continuous film supply.
The invention thus proposes both an apparatus and a method for automatically baling and bagging loose compressible fibrous material. !n operation, a thErmoplastic film sheet is fed from a supply roll through a film accumulating roller system and then to a tubular forming section, which wraps the thermoplastic film around the compression tube. The edges of the thermoplastic film sheet overlap on the front surface of the compression tube and these are then sealed together to create a continuous, thermoplastic film tube, which can be pulled along the compression tube.
Initially, the lower end of the plastic tube is sealed and cut over the compression tube outlet to form the bottom of the bag. A support table then moves up against the bottom of the bag, and the boftom opening of the compression tube. A compression plate then pushes fibrous material, previously fed into the compression tube, onto the bottom of the bag. While the compression plate is compressing the fibrous material against the bag bottom and the support table, air and dust trapped within the fibrous product are being expelled through an air duct located on the top of the compression tube.
When maximum compression is reached, the supporttable gradually moves downward, allowing the compression plate to expel the compressed fibrous product bale out of the compression tube while drawing the continuously formed thermoplastic film tube around it and keeping the bale under a compression force. When the bale is completely expelled, the compression plate retracts, thus creating a vacuum, and the support table momenilarily moves upward to aliow the upper thermoplastic film surfaces to move onto each other. The portion of the continuous tube that exceeds the top of the new-formed bale is then simultaneously sealed and cut, thus creating the bottom of the next bag to be filled. The support table then moves down far enough for the 2 o resulting packaged bale to be evacuated laterally to some conveying device. At the same time, the overlapping surfaces of the thermoplastic film are being welded and the compression tube is being filled with a metered quantity of compressible fibrous material in order to start a new bale production cycle.
This new approach offers numerous advantages over previous methods:
It reduces the cost of packaging material by:
Reducing the use of material, since no over length is required anymore to compensate for product expansion between the time that the bale is compressed and that it is then brought to a sealing station.
Making its own bags thus eliminating the costs of manufacturing by a third party.
Eliminating the needs for corner seals required by bags in which the product is compressed.
Reducing the number of rejects by eliminating damaged bags.
-supplying in continuous a thermoplastic plastic film and forming and sealing said plastic film into a continuous tube around the compression tube;
-drawing the tube of plastic film sleeving the compression tube downwards until a section of the tube of plastic film extends beyond the bottom end of the compression tube;
-sealing the section of the plastic tube for obtaining a bottorr~ end of a bale of compressed material to be formed and cutting said section in two edges;
-feeding a certain amount of compressible loose material into the open top of the compressible tube;
-supporting the loose material in the compression tube by means of a supporting surface movable vertically between a high position where it extends at the level of the bottom end of the compression tube and a !ow position;
-pushing the loose material in the compression tube downwardly against the supporting surface to obtain a compressed material;
-pushing the compressed material out from the bottom end of the compression tube while moving the support surface to its low position, thereby causing the tube of plastic film to be drawned downwards until a further section of the tube extends beyond the bottom end of the compression tube ;
-sealing the further section of the tube of plastic film, and thereby closing a top end of a formed bale of compressed material and a bottom end of a following bale of compressed material to be formed; and -cutting the sealed section, and thus separating the formed bale from the following to be formed 2 5 bale.
As can be appreciated, the fibrous material is compressed in a vertical Tube to form a bale, then ejected, thus drawing a continuous supply of flat film that allovvs a bag to being formed around the tube. A variable position platform moves vertically under the tube to control compression of 3 0 the material, the ejection of the bale by the compression ram and the position of the bale for sealing and cutting the bag off the continuous film supply.
The invention thus proposes both an apparatus and a method for automatically baling and bagging loose compressible fibrous material. !n operation, a thErmoplastic film sheet is fed from a supply roll through a film accumulating roller system and then to a tubular forming section, which wraps the thermoplastic film around the compression tube. The edges of the thermoplastic film sheet overlap on the front surface of the compression tube and these are then sealed together to create a continuous, thermoplastic film tube, which can be pulled along the compression tube.
Initially, the lower end of the plastic tube is sealed and cut over the compression tube outlet to form the bottom of the bag. A support table then moves up against the bottom of the bag, and the boftom opening of the compression tube. A compression plate then pushes fibrous material, previously fed into the compression tube, onto the bottom of the bag. While the compression plate is compressing the fibrous material against the bag bottom and the support table, air and dust trapped within the fibrous product are being expelled through an air duct located on the top of the compression tube.
When maximum compression is reached, the supporttable gradually moves downward, allowing the compression plate to expel the compressed fibrous product bale out of the compression tube while drawing the continuously formed thermoplastic film tube around it and keeping the bale under a compression force. When the bale is completely expelled, the compression plate retracts, thus creating a vacuum, and the support table momenilarily moves upward to aliow the upper thermoplastic film surfaces to move onto each other. The portion of the continuous tube that exceeds the top of the new-formed bale is then simultaneously sealed and cut, thus creating the bottom of the next bag to be filled. The support table then moves down far enough for the 2 o resulting packaged bale to be evacuated laterally to some conveying device. At the same time, the overlapping surfaces of the thermoplastic film are being welded and the compression tube is being filled with a metered quantity of compressible fibrous material in order to start a new bale production cycle.
This new approach offers numerous advantages over previous methods:
It reduces the cost of packaging material by:
Reducing the use of material, since no over length is required anymore to compensate for product expansion between the time that the bale is compressed and that it is then brought to a sealing station.
Making its own bags thus eliminating the costs of manufacturing by a third party.
Eliminating the needs for corner seals required by bags in which the product is compressed.
Reducing the number of rejects by eliminating damaged bags.
5 It guarantees a better packaged product quality by eliminating the need for the over compression that destroys synthetic and natural fibers that is required by other systems to compensate for compressed product spring back uvhile the open bale is brought to a sealing station.
It offers a smaller footprint than multi-station vertical units or all horizontal units, thus freeing valuable floor space.
1 o It allows for a much easier format change since it only needs one compression tube change as opposed to 4 compression tubes on carousel-type units currently used.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRA'NlINGS
These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the detailed description and upon referring to the drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the compressible material baling apparatus;
FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is detail side view of the compression tube and the thermoplastic film handling devices along the side of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the bag handling devices;
FIG. 6 is a series of detail side elevational views of the bale forming and bagging sequences.
It offers a smaller footprint than multi-station vertical units or all horizontal units, thus freeing valuable floor space.
1 o It allows for a much easier format change since it only needs one compression tube change as opposed to 4 compression tubes on carousel-type units currently used.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRA'NlINGS
These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the detailed description and upon referring to the drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the compressible material baling apparatus;
FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is detail side view of the compression tube and the thermoplastic film handling devices along the side of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the bag handling devices;
FIG. 6 is a series of detail side elevational views of the bale forming and bagging sequences.
While the invention will be described in conjunction with an example embodiment, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to such embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included as defined by the appended claims.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
As described previously, the present invention pertains to a compressible material baling machine that integrates the functions of bag making and compressed product bale forming.
Fig. 1 shows the whole machine with its main modules. The basic frame (17) supports the replaceable compression tube, the thermoplastic flat film roll drive assembly (3), the thermoplastic film buffer and alignment module (16), the bale support table and bale kicking devices (8), the bag seating, cutting and handle making module (4), the longitudinal film overlap welding system (9), the compressible product metering and feeding system (1 ), the compression ram (7), pneumatic and hydraulic, controls (19) and finally, the bag ejection conveyor (10) Fig. 2 shows the airborne dust removal system duct connection (6) and the tubular film forming collar that allows to wrap the flat film roll stock around the compression tube to form a continuous film tube (5), the bale support table (8) assembly and the column that guides its vertical movement (22). Hydraulic oil reservoir (24) and pump (25) are also shown.
Fig. 3 shows the thermoplastic flat film roll (2) and main thermoplastic film handling components:
guiding rolls (13), film roll support and driving rollers (11 }, film splicing device (12), film buffer (14), forming collar (5), longitudinal seam welder (9).
The compression plate (15) attached to the superior vertical hydraulic ram (7) inside the compression tube and the inferior vertical hydraulic ram (23) that moves the bale support table is also shown.
Fig. 4 shows a combination of Figures 1 and 3.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
As described previously, the present invention pertains to a compressible material baling machine that integrates the functions of bag making and compressed product bale forming.
Fig. 1 shows the whole machine with its main modules. The basic frame (17) supports the replaceable compression tube, the thermoplastic flat film roll drive assembly (3), the thermoplastic film buffer and alignment module (16), the bale support table and bale kicking devices (8), the bag seating, cutting and handle making module (4), the longitudinal film overlap welding system (9), the compressible product metering and feeding system (1 ), the compression ram (7), pneumatic and hydraulic, controls (19) and finally, the bag ejection conveyor (10) Fig. 2 shows the airborne dust removal system duct connection (6) and the tubular film forming collar that allows to wrap the flat film roll stock around the compression tube to form a continuous film tube (5), the bale support table (8) assembly and the column that guides its vertical movement (22). Hydraulic oil reservoir (24) and pump (25) are also shown.
Fig. 3 shows the thermoplastic flat film roll (2) and main thermoplastic film handling components:
guiding rolls (13), film roll support and driving rollers (11 }, film splicing device (12), film buffer (14), forming collar (5), longitudinal seam welder (9).
The compression plate (15) attached to the superior vertical hydraulic ram (7) inside the compression tube and the inferior vertical hydraulic ram (23) that moves the bale support table is also shown.
Fig. 4 shows a combination of Figures 1 and 3.
Fig. 5 shows the main electrical control components locker (20) and the hydraulic oil reservoir (24), the bag sealing, cutting and handle perforating assembly (4), thermoplastic film guiding rolls (13}, bale support table (8) and associated guiding column (22).
Fig. 6A shows the compression tube 811ed with loose product (25), the compression plate (15}
and the bale support table in their, upper position.
Fig. 6B shows the compression plate (15) after being driven downward to compress the loose product (25) against the bag bottom (28) held tightly between the compression tube (18) and the bale support table (8) which is stiff in its upper position.
Fig. 6C shows the compressed product (29) being ejected out of the compression tube (18} by 1 o the compression plate (15) white the bale support table (8) moves downward at the same rate to prevent the compressed product (29) from returning to its original loose state (25).
Fig. 6D shows the compression plate (15} moving up back up to its starting position and the bale support table (8) moving up slightly to relieve the tension present in the thermoplastic film and allow opposing bag surfaces (30 and 31 ) to be drawn against each other by the vacuum created ~ 5 in the upper portion of the bag by the moving compression plate (15). The sealing and cutting jaws of the the bag seating, cutting and handle making module (4) close to seal the top of the bale as well as the bottom of a new bag, and cut the film after a very short delay to allow the opposing bag surfaces (30 and 31 ) to move against each other and for a gusseted fold to be formed on each side, thus preventing the compressed product from expanding and eliminating 2 o the need to over compress the material in order to compensate for the expansion that would occur between retraction of the compression plate and the sealing of the bag.
Fig. 6E shows the bottom of a new bag for the next compression cycle and the top of the compressed and sealed bale (26} being kicked away in order to make it fall onto the outlet conveyor, white the compression plate (15) continues to move back to its starting position.
Fig. 6F shows the end of a cycle and the start of a new one as the compression plate and the bale support table (8) are back in their starting positions.
S
The preferred embodiments of the invention show: on Fig. 4: the flat film roll (2) supported on two rollers (11 }, one of them being driven by an electric motor {21 ) to control film feed. This principle allows the roll to lie low, close to the floor thus making it easy to be loaded onto the feeder from a lift truck and minimizing safety hazards related to dropping a roll of several hundred pounds from any height.
The thermoplastic flat film is fed through a splicing device (12), a film buffer device {14} and a series of rollers ( 13) (Fig. 3) to guarantee proper tension, feeding and alignment of the film. The flat film is formed into a continuous tube by running it over a forming collar (5) that then allows the film to wrap around the compression tube {18), with the two outer edges now overlapping on the center portion of the tube.
The overlapping edges offer surfaces that are welded together by the welding device (9) that preferably uses heated sealing bands but also can use a hot air jet to minimize the height of the device or an ultrasonic wheel welder of a combination of hot air and a pressure roller.
The surfaces of the bottom end of the film tube are welded together in a gusseted edges fashion, at the bottom outlet end of the vertical compression tube to form the bottom of a bag (Fig. 6E), item (29).
As loose compressible product is fed into the top portion of the compression tube by a feeding and metering device (1 ), a bale support table (8} is moved against the bottom of the compression tube {18).
2o While hydraulic ram (7) exerts pressure on a compression plate (15) to compress the loose compressible product, hydraulic ram (23} exerts pressure on the bale support table (8) to allow compression of the bale within the compression chamber ((18).
When the desired compression rate is reached (Fig. 6C), the compressed product (29) is ejected out of the compression tube {18} by the compression plate (15) while the bale support table (8) moves downward at the same rate while keeping pressure on the compressed product (29) to prevent it from returning to its original loose state {25).
This movement also pulls flat film out of the film buffer (14) down along the compression tube (18) surface:
The new tubular film section is formed by welding the overlapping surfaces by either:
- heating the film surfaces with hot air while film is being drawn over a hump and past the welding device (9) where pressure toilers above and below the hot air jet keep a tension in the film that forces the overlapping surfaces to fuse to each other;
or:
- applying a sealing bar consisting of heated metal strips with a pressure that forces the overlapping surfaces to fuse to each other;
or:
- drawing the overlapping surfaces under an ultrasound-generating roller that welds the overlapping surfaces together.
At this stage, the bale can be ejected further down to create a longer bag top or bottom in which a cutout for a handle can be made for bale carrying convenience.
Furthermore, a rectoseable bag feature (either mating extrusions or any other type that is to be applied on the horizontal axis, that is parallel to the bag opening) can be built onto the bag prior to sealing.
Once the compressed product (29) has been ejected far enough, fur the sealed bate to be made, the compression plate (15) moves up back up to its starting position and the bate support table 2 0 (8) moves up slightly to relieve the tension present in the thermoplastic film. This allows all four opposing top bag surfaces to be drawn against each other while a gusseted fold is formed on each side of the bag. This is helped by the vacuum created in the upper portion by the moving compression plate (15).
Very quickly, the sealing and cutting jaws of the bag sealing, cutting and handle making module (4) close to seal the top of the bale as well as the bottom of a new bag, and cut the film to separate them.
The sealing and cutting head assembly is made of two horizontal heated metal strips between 5 which there is a cutting means: the heated metal strips weld bag surfaces together while the cutting mans cuts through these surfaces with a knife. It is worth mentioning that in another embodiment, the cutting could advantageously be made by melting through the thermoplastic film.
This quick action prevents the compressed product from expanding and eliminates the need to 10 over compress the material in order to compensate for the expansion that would occur between retraction of the compression plate and the sealing of the bag.
The bag support table (8) moves back down to its lowest position and the new bale thus produced is kicked away from the bag support table (8). The bag support table then moves up against the bottom of the newly formed bag to offer support in the next compression phase.
A new batch of loose compressible product is being fed into the compression chamber (18) as soon as the compression plate, in its upward displacement, has passed the product inlet.
The film roll (2} is indexed by actuation of the support rollers until the film buffer {14) is replenished.
Advantageously, an apparatus according to the invention is capable of producing various fomlats 2 0 of bales by changing the replaceable compression tube, the bag former and the compression plate. Another advantage is that this apparatus is very secure to the user.
In the following description, similar features in the drawings have been given similar reference numerals and in order to weight down the figures, some elements are not referred to in some figures if they were already identified in a precedent figure.
Fig. 6A shows the compression tube 811ed with loose product (25), the compression plate (15}
and the bale support table in their, upper position.
Fig. 6B shows the compression plate (15) after being driven downward to compress the loose product (25) against the bag bottom (28) held tightly between the compression tube (18) and the bale support table (8) which is stiff in its upper position.
Fig. 6C shows the compressed product (29) being ejected out of the compression tube (18} by 1 o the compression plate (15) white the bale support table (8) moves downward at the same rate to prevent the compressed product (29) from returning to its original loose state (25).
Fig. 6D shows the compression plate (15} moving up back up to its starting position and the bale support table (8) moving up slightly to relieve the tension present in the thermoplastic film and allow opposing bag surfaces (30 and 31 ) to be drawn against each other by the vacuum created ~ 5 in the upper portion of the bag by the moving compression plate (15). The sealing and cutting jaws of the the bag seating, cutting and handle making module (4) close to seal the top of the bale as well as the bottom of a new bag, and cut the film after a very short delay to allow the opposing bag surfaces (30 and 31 ) to move against each other and for a gusseted fold to be formed on each side, thus preventing the compressed product from expanding and eliminating 2 o the need to over compress the material in order to compensate for the expansion that would occur between retraction of the compression plate and the sealing of the bag.
Fig. 6E shows the bottom of a new bag for the next compression cycle and the top of the compressed and sealed bale (26} being kicked away in order to make it fall onto the outlet conveyor, white the compression plate (15) continues to move back to its starting position.
Fig. 6F shows the end of a cycle and the start of a new one as the compression plate and the bale support table (8) are back in their starting positions.
S
The preferred embodiments of the invention show: on Fig. 4: the flat film roll (2) supported on two rollers (11 }, one of them being driven by an electric motor {21 ) to control film feed. This principle allows the roll to lie low, close to the floor thus making it easy to be loaded onto the feeder from a lift truck and minimizing safety hazards related to dropping a roll of several hundred pounds from any height.
The thermoplastic flat film is fed through a splicing device (12), a film buffer device {14} and a series of rollers ( 13) (Fig. 3) to guarantee proper tension, feeding and alignment of the film. The flat film is formed into a continuous tube by running it over a forming collar (5) that then allows the film to wrap around the compression tube {18), with the two outer edges now overlapping on the center portion of the tube.
The overlapping edges offer surfaces that are welded together by the welding device (9) that preferably uses heated sealing bands but also can use a hot air jet to minimize the height of the device or an ultrasonic wheel welder of a combination of hot air and a pressure roller.
The surfaces of the bottom end of the film tube are welded together in a gusseted edges fashion, at the bottom outlet end of the vertical compression tube to form the bottom of a bag (Fig. 6E), item (29).
As loose compressible product is fed into the top portion of the compression tube by a feeding and metering device (1 ), a bale support table (8} is moved against the bottom of the compression tube {18).
2o While hydraulic ram (7) exerts pressure on a compression plate (15) to compress the loose compressible product, hydraulic ram (23} exerts pressure on the bale support table (8) to allow compression of the bale within the compression chamber ((18).
When the desired compression rate is reached (Fig. 6C), the compressed product (29) is ejected out of the compression tube {18} by the compression plate (15) while the bale support table (8) moves downward at the same rate while keeping pressure on the compressed product (29) to prevent it from returning to its original loose state {25).
This movement also pulls flat film out of the film buffer (14) down along the compression tube (18) surface:
The new tubular film section is formed by welding the overlapping surfaces by either:
- heating the film surfaces with hot air while film is being drawn over a hump and past the welding device (9) where pressure toilers above and below the hot air jet keep a tension in the film that forces the overlapping surfaces to fuse to each other;
or:
- applying a sealing bar consisting of heated metal strips with a pressure that forces the overlapping surfaces to fuse to each other;
or:
- drawing the overlapping surfaces under an ultrasound-generating roller that welds the overlapping surfaces together.
At this stage, the bale can be ejected further down to create a longer bag top or bottom in which a cutout for a handle can be made for bale carrying convenience.
Furthermore, a rectoseable bag feature (either mating extrusions or any other type that is to be applied on the horizontal axis, that is parallel to the bag opening) can be built onto the bag prior to sealing.
Once the compressed product (29) has been ejected far enough, fur the sealed bate to be made, the compression plate (15) moves up back up to its starting position and the bate support table 2 0 (8) moves up slightly to relieve the tension present in the thermoplastic film. This allows all four opposing top bag surfaces to be drawn against each other while a gusseted fold is formed on each side of the bag. This is helped by the vacuum created in the upper portion by the moving compression plate (15).
Very quickly, the sealing and cutting jaws of the bag sealing, cutting and handle making module (4) close to seal the top of the bale as well as the bottom of a new bag, and cut the film to separate them.
The sealing and cutting head assembly is made of two horizontal heated metal strips between 5 which there is a cutting means: the heated metal strips weld bag surfaces together while the cutting mans cuts through these surfaces with a knife. It is worth mentioning that in another embodiment, the cutting could advantageously be made by melting through the thermoplastic film.
This quick action prevents the compressed product from expanding and eliminates the need to 10 over compress the material in order to compensate for the expansion that would occur between retraction of the compression plate and the sealing of the bag.
The bag support table (8) moves back down to its lowest position and the new bale thus produced is kicked away from the bag support table (8). The bag support table then moves up against the bottom of the newly formed bag to offer support in the next compression phase.
A new batch of loose compressible product is being fed into the compression chamber (18) as soon as the compression plate, in its upward displacement, has passed the product inlet.
The film roll (2} is indexed by actuation of the support rollers until the film buffer {14) is replenished.
Advantageously, an apparatus according to the invention is capable of producing various fomlats 2 0 of bales by changing the replaceable compression tube, the bag former and the compression plate. Another advantage is that this apparatus is very secure to the user.
In the following description, similar features in the drawings have been given similar reference numerals and in order to weight down the figures, some elements are not referred to in some figures if they were already identified in a precedent figure.
Claims (2)
1. An apparatus for compressing and baling in a continuous manner a compressible loose material, comprising:
- a frame;
- an upright compression tube mounted to the frame, the compression tube having an open top end for receiving the compressible loose material and an open bottom end;
- feeding means for feeding a certain amount of compressible loose material into the open top of the compressible tube;
-a supporting surface to support the loose material in the compression tube, the supporting surface being movable vertically between a high position where it extends at the level of the bottom end of the compression tube and a low position;
-pushing means for pushing the loose material in the compression tube downwardly against the supporting surface while the supporting surface is in the high position, thereby obtaining a compressed material, the pushing means being also for pushing the compressed material out from the bottom end of the compression tube while the support is moved to its low position ;
-supply means mounted to the frame for supplying in continuous a thermoplastic plastic film;
-forming/sealing means for forming and sealing said plastic film into a continuous tube around said compression tube;
-sealing means adjacent to the bottom end of the compression tube for sealing a section of said tube of plastic film extending beyond the bottom end of the compression tube, and thereby closing a top end of a formed bale of compressed material and a bottom end of a following bale of compressed material to be formed;
-cutting means for cutting said sealed section, and thus separating said formed bale from said following to be formed bale.
- a frame;
- an upright compression tube mounted to the frame, the compression tube having an open top end for receiving the compressible loose material and an open bottom end;
- feeding means for feeding a certain amount of compressible loose material into the open top of the compressible tube;
-a supporting surface to support the loose material in the compression tube, the supporting surface being movable vertically between a high position where it extends at the level of the bottom end of the compression tube and a low position;
-pushing means for pushing the loose material in the compression tube downwardly against the supporting surface while the supporting surface is in the high position, thereby obtaining a compressed material, the pushing means being also for pushing the compressed material out from the bottom end of the compression tube while the support is moved to its low position ;
-supply means mounted to the frame for supplying in continuous a thermoplastic plastic film;
-forming/sealing means for forming and sealing said plastic film into a continuous tube around said compression tube;
-sealing means adjacent to the bottom end of the compression tube for sealing a section of said tube of plastic film extending beyond the bottom end of the compression tube, and thereby closing a top end of a formed bale of compressed material and a bottom end of a following bale of compressed material to be formed;
-cutting means for cutting said sealed section, and thus separating said formed bale from said following to be formed bale.
2. A method of compressing and baling in a continuous manner a compressible loose material, comprising the steps of - providing an upright compression tube having an open top end and an open bottom end;
-supplying in continuous a thermoplastic plastic film and forming said plastic film into a continuous tube around said compression tube;
-drawing said tube of plastic film sleeving the compression tube downwards until a section of said tube of plastic film extends beyond the bottom end of the compression tube;
-sealing said section of the plastic tube for obtaining a bottom end of a bale of compressed material to be formed and cutting said section in two edges;
-feeding a certain amount of compressible loose material into the open top of the compressible tube;
-supporting the loose material in the compression tube by means of a supporting surface movable vertically between a high position where it extends at the level of the bottom end of the compression tube and a low position;
-pushing said certain amount of loose material in the compression tube downwardly against the supporting surface to obtain a compressed material;
-pushing said compressed material out from the bottom end of the compression tube while moving said support surface to its low position, thereby causing said tube of plastic film to be drawned downwards until a further section of said tube extends beyond the bottom end of the compression tube ;
-seating said further section, and thereby closing a top end of a formed bale of compressed material and a bottom end of a following bale of compressed material to be formed;
-cutting said sealed section, and thus separating said formed bale from said following to be formed bale.
-supplying in continuous a thermoplastic plastic film and forming said plastic film into a continuous tube around said compression tube;
-drawing said tube of plastic film sleeving the compression tube downwards until a section of said tube of plastic film extends beyond the bottom end of the compression tube;
-sealing said section of the plastic tube for obtaining a bottom end of a bale of compressed material to be formed and cutting said section in two edges;
-feeding a certain amount of compressible loose material into the open top of the compressible tube;
-supporting the loose material in the compression tube by means of a supporting surface movable vertically between a high position where it extends at the level of the bottom end of the compression tube and a low position;
-pushing said certain amount of loose material in the compression tube downwardly against the supporting surface to obtain a compressed material;
-pushing said compressed material out from the bottom end of the compression tube while moving said support surface to its low position, thereby causing said tube of plastic film to be drawned downwards until a further section of said tube extends beyond the bottom end of the compression tube ;
-seating said further section, and thereby closing a top end of a formed bale of compressed material and a bottom end of a following bale of compressed material to be formed;
-cutting said sealed section, and thus separating said formed bale from said following to be formed bale.
Priority Applications (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2414109 CA2414109A1 (en) | 2002-12-12 | 2002-12-12 | Apparatus and method for automatically baling loose compressible material |
| CA 2453035 CA2453035A1 (en) | 2002-12-12 | 2003-12-11 | Apparatus and method for making, in a continuous manner, a series of film wrap bales of compressible loose material |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2414109 CA2414109A1 (en) | 2002-12-12 | 2002-12-12 | Apparatus and method for automatically baling loose compressible material |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2414109A1 true CA2414109A1 (en) | 2004-06-12 |
Family
ID=32477037
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2414109 Abandoned CA2414109A1 (en) | 2002-12-12 | 2002-12-12 | Apparatus and method for automatically baling loose compressible material |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2414109A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP3012091A1 (en) * | 2014-10-24 | 2016-04-27 | Altopack S.P.A. | Group for compressing bags in formation for long pasta or similar products |
-
2002
- 2002-12-12 CA CA 2414109 patent/CA2414109A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP3012091A1 (en) * | 2014-10-24 | 2016-04-27 | Altopack S.P.A. | Group for compressing bags in formation for long pasta or similar products |
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