CA2453035A1 - Apparatus and method for making, in a continuous manner, a series of film wrap bales of compressible loose material - Google Patents
Apparatus and method for making, in a continuous manner, a series of film wrap bales of compressible loose material Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2453035A1 CA2453035A1 CA 2453035 CA2453035A CA2453035A1 CA 2453035 A1 CA2453035 A1 CA 2453035A1 CA 2453035 CA2453035 CA 2453035 CA 2453035 A CA2453035 A CA 2453035A CA 2453035 A1 CA2453035 A1 CA 2453035A1
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- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- compression tube
- retaining member
- tube
- film wrap
- compression
- 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.)
- Abandoned
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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
- 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
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- 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
Abstract
A baling apparatus for making, in a continuous manner, a series of film wrap bales of a compressible loose material. The apparatus comprises a frame, a compression tube, a retaining member, a compressor to compress the loose material in the compression tube against the retaining member, thereby obtaining the material in a compressed form, supplying means for supplying a film wrap from a roll of film wrap, forming means for forming the film wrap into a sheath tube around the compression tube, sealing means for forming the sealed top end of a just formed bale of said series and the bottom end of a next to be formed bale of the series, and a cutter to cut the sealed end portion of the sheathing tube, and thus separating the just formed bale from said next to be formed bale.
Description
APPARATUS AND METI-IOD FOR MAKING, IN A. CONTINUOUS MANNER, A
SERIES OF FILM WRAP BALES OF COMPRESSIBLE LOOSE MATERIAL
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to general apparatus and method for compression and baling of compressible loose material, such as organic fibrous material.. More particularly, it xelates to an apparatus and a method for making, in a continuous manner, a series of film wrap bales of compressible loose material.
to BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
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 apparatus that will allow vertical compression of loose fibrous material into flexible bags are well known and described in US Patents nos. 4,055,203 (CRAWF'ORD et al.) and 4,121,399 (VERVILLE). These apparatus use a compression tube as well as a rigid 2 o container that holds a flexible bag. They are noisy due to the repetitive opening and closing of the rigid containers and produce a lot 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 2 5 rigid container as described previously by entirely compressing the product into the compression tube, thereby limiting noise and production of dust. However, these apparatus 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 3 o loses its shape and the collapsing face contaminates the sealing area.
Examples of methods that produce bags either with ready-made bags or by making them along the horizontal axis are given in US Patents nos. 4,108,063 (RANDOLPH) and 5,226,269 (STOLTENBERG).
The fill and seal principles used in the present invention relate somehow to packaging equipment that have been cornrnonly used for many years but these existing systems deal with free flowing products and the machines do not have the capacity to produce compressed bales such as presented here. US Patent no. 4,391,081 (KOVACS) presents a method that slightly compresses the top of a bag but does not apply to baling needs.
Also known in the art is US Patent application 2002/0062744 (TELSCHER) and US
Patents 1 o nos. 3,916,778 (VAN DOORN et al.); 4,162,603 (STR~MBERG); 4,372,1 O1 (FLEISSNER);
SERIES OF FILM WRAP BALES OF COMPRESSIBLE LOOSE MATERIAL
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to general apparatus and method for compression and baling of compressible loose material, such as organic fibrous material.. More particularly, it xelates to an apparatus and a method for making, in a continuous manner, a series of film wrap bales of compressible loose material.
to BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
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 apparatus that will allow vertical compression of loose fibrous material into flexible bags are well known and described in US Patents nos. 4,055,203 (CRAWF'ORD et al.) and 4,121,399 (VERVILLE). These apparatus use a compression tube as well as a rigid 2 o container that holds a flexible bag. They are noisy due to the repetitive opening and closing of the rigid containers and produce a lot 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 2 5 rigid container as described previously by entirely compressing the product into the compression tube, thereby limiting noise and production of dust. However, these apparatus 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 3 o loses its shape and the collapsing face contaminates the sealing area.
Examples of methods that produce bags either with ready-made bags or by making them along the horizontal axis are given in US Patents nos. 4,108,063 (RANDOLPH) and 5,226,269 (STOLTENBERG).
The fill and seal principles used in the present invention relate somehow to packaging equipment that have been cornrnonly used for many years but these existing systems deal with free flowing products and the machines do not have the capacity to produce compressed bales such as presented here. US Patent no. 4,391,081 (KOVACS) presents a method that slightly compresses the top of a bag but does not apply to baling needs.
Also known in the art is US Patent application 2002/0062744 (TELSCHER) and US
Patents 1 o nos. 3,916,778 (VAN DOORN et al.); 4,162,603 (STR~MBERG); 4,372,1 O1 (FLEISSNER);
4,408,438 (REWITZER); 4,526,094 (REWITZER); 4,548,131(WILLIAMS);
4,805,528(Rogers et ccl.); 5,074,101 (REWITZER); 5,493,963 {CURLES et al.);
4,805,528(Rogers et ccl.); 5,074,101 (REWITZER); 5,493,963 {CURLES et al.);
5,687,643 (PELTS et al.); 5,694,742 (ELLIOTT et trl.); 5,775,058 (HIRSCHEK); 5,890,426 (GUMKOWSKI); 5,943,846 (POLLOCK); 6,112,501 (POLLOCK); and Re. 31,944 (STRUMBERG) which provides examples of apparatus for baling compressible loose materials.
Thus, there is still indeed a need to simplify the steps of compressing and baling of compressible loose materials.
SITM1VIAR'~' (3F THE INVENT IOhI
An obj ect of the pr esent invention is to provide a baling apparatus and method that satisfy the above-mentioned needs.
An object ofthe present invention is to provide a baling apparatus for making, in a continuous manner, a series of film wrap bales of a compressible loose material . The bales have a sealed top end and a sealed bottom end. The apparatus comprises:
- a frame;
~ o - a COnlplesS1011 tube mounted to the frame and extending along a longitudinal axis, the compression tube havW g a first end opposite to an open second end, an inlet to receive the compressible loose material and an outlet to discharge the material in a compressed form out from the compression tube, the open second end defining the outlet;
- a retaining member movable along the longitudinal axis between a first position where the retaining member closes the outlet of the comps ession tube to retain loose material therein and a second position where the retaining member is positioned away from the outlet to discharge the material in a compressed form out from the compression tube;
- an actuator to actuate the movement of the retaining member between the first and second position;
- a compressor to compress the loose material in the compression tube against the retaining member while the retaining member is in the fzrst position, thereby obtaining the material in a compressed form, the compressor being also for pushing the material in a compressed form out from the outlet of the compression tube while the retaining member is moved to the second position;
- supplying means for supplying a film wrap from a roll of fzlz~. wrap;
- forming means for forming the film wrap into a sheath tube around the compression hibe such that the sheath tube has an end poz~tion extending beyond the second end of the compression tube;
- sealing means adjacent to the second end of the compression tube for sealing the end portion of the sheathing tube when the retaining member is positioned away from the second end of 2 0 the compression tube, thereby simultaneously forming the sealed top end of a just formed bale of the series and the bottom end of a next to be formed bale of the series;
aPld - a cutter adjacent to the sealing means to cut the sealed end portion of the sheathing tube, and thus separating the just formed bale fiom the next to be formed bale.
2 5 In accordance with a preferred aspect, the baling apparatus further comprises feeding means for feeding the loose compressible material into the inlet. The feeding means preferably comprises a feeding hopper having an inlet for receiving the compressible loose material and an outlet, and a feeding conveyor positioned to receive the compressible loose material from the outlet of the feeding hopper and convey the same to the inlet of the compression tube.
In accordance with another preferred aspect, the forming means preferably comprises a forming collar mounted to the compression tube to guide the film wrap into forming the sheath tube. The forming collar have two point-shaped extensions that fold back on the compression tube and that point towards the second end thereof fox forming an overlap of a two lateral edges of the film wrap. Preferably, the forming means comprises a welding device mounted to the frame between the collar and the second end of the compression tube to weld the overlap.
In accordance with a still preferred aspect, the supplying means preferably comprises a driven main roller around which the film wrap is wound, at least two driving rollers on which the 1 o main roller is rotatably mounted for driving the main roller into rotation, at least one guiding roll positioned over the main roller to guide the film wrap from the main roller to the forming means, and a controller to control the angular velocity of one; of the driving rollers to control a feeding of the film wrap to the forming means. Preferably, one of the guiding rollers is a film wrap buffer device having a dancing roller that is translatable in a vertical direction between an uppex position and a lower position to control a film wrap tension.
Preferably, the compressor is a ram extending through the first end of the compression tube.
In accordance with a still preferred aspect, the baling apparatus further comprises sensing 2 o means in communication with the actuator, for sensing the position of the retaining member and sending position signals to the actuator.
Preferably, the sensing means comprises a rule mounted to the retaining member and extending along the longitudinal axis, the rule having a plLUrality of perforations at regular 2 5 intervals along a length thereof, and a sensor mounted to the frame to count a number of the perforations upon displacement of the retaining member and converting the number into position signals, the sensor sending the position signals.
In accor dance with another preferred aspect, the baling apparatus further comprises unloading 3 0 means for tmloading the just formed bale from the retaining member when the retaining member is in the second position. Preferably, the unloading means comprises a controllable bale pushing device to tip a just formed bale out of the retaining member, thereby freeing the same of the just formed bale, and a controlling means for controlling the action of the bale pushing device with respect to the position of the retaining member.
5 Also preferably, the unloading means comprises a discharge conveyor to convey the just formed bale away from the retauiing member. The discharge conveyor have an inlet end positioned to receive the formed bale tipped out by the bale pushing device, Preferably, the baling appar atus further comprises air nozzles adjacent to the second end of the compression tube to form gusset folds at the sealed top and bottom ends of the bales.
Preferably, the compression tube comprises an air duct to expel from the compression tube airborne dust created from the compression of the compressible loose material.
Preferably, the supplying means further comprises stop members mounted on each sides of the main i°oller to prevent lateral displacement of the same.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of making, in a continuous manner, a series of film wrap bales of a compressible loose material. The bales have a sealed 2 o top end and a seal bottom end. The method comprises the steps of:
a) providing a compression tube extending along a longitudinal axis, the compression tube having a first end opposite to an. open second end, an inlet to receive the compressible loose material and an outlet to let the material in a compressed form out from the compression tube, the open second end defining the outlet;
2 5 b) supplying a film wrap from a main roller of film wrap;
c) forming the film wrap into a sheath tube around the compression tube such that the sheath tube has an end portion extending beyond the second end of the compression tube;
d) sealing the end portion of the sheathing tube thereby closing the outlet of the compression tube and forming the bottom sealed end of a next to be formed bale of the series;
3 0 e) positioning a retaining member at the second end of the compression tube;
~ feeding the inlet of the compression tube with a certain amount of the loose conaprc~ssible E
material;
g) compressing the loose material in the compression tube against the retaining member thereby obtaining the material in a compressed form;
h) pushing the material in a compressed form out from the outlet of the compression tube while moving the retaining member along the longitudinal axis away from the second end thereby farming the next to be formed bale into a film wrap just formed bale and leaving a further end portion of the sheath tube extending beyond the second end of the compression tube;
i) sealing the further end portion of the sheath tube to provide simultaneously the sealed top Z 0 end of the film wrap just formed bale and the bottom end of a further next to be formed bale of the series;
j) cutting the further end portion of the sheath tube, and thus separating the just formed bale from the further next to be formed bale;
lc) unloading the just formed bale from the retaining member; and 1) repeating steps e) to k) to make further bales of the series.
Preferably, the method further comprises, between steps h} of pushing and i) of sealing, the step of moving back the retaining member towards the second end of the compression tube to relieve tension present in the film wrap.
Preferably, the step f) of feeding comprises the step of conveying the compressible loose material to the inlet of the compression tube.
Preferably, the step of unloading comprises the step of pushing the just formed bale on a 2 5 discharge conveyor and carrying the same away from the retaining member.
Preferably, the method further comprises, between the steps h} of pushing and i} of sealing, the step of forming gusset folds at the top end of a just formed bale and at the bottom. end of the next to be formed bale.
Preferably, the step of forming gussets folds comprises the step of blowing compressed air towards the end portion of the sheath tube.
Preferably, the method further comprises the step of evacuating airborne dust created from the compression of the compressible loose material.
BRIEF DESCRIPTI~N OF THE DFCr~WINGs 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;
Figure 1 is a perspective view from the left side of a baling apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a front view of the baling apparatus shown in figure 1.
Figure 3 is a side view of some elements of the baling apparatus shown in Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a side view of the baling apparatus shown in f gvtre l .
Figure 5 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the baling apparatus shown in figure 1, from the right side thereof.
Figures 6a to 6f are side views o-f.the baling apparatus of figure 1 with some elements removed for better clarity, showing the sequence of steps for azztomatically baling a compressible loose material.
Figure 7 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the position reference system of the baling apparatus of fig~.ue l, used to determine the position of a retaining member.
3 0 Figure 8 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the baling apparatus of figure 1, showing how the film wrap is formed as a sheath tube arouzld the compression tube.
Fig~.ire 9 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the baling apparatus of figure I, showing the inlet of the compression tube, without the feeding device.
Figure 10 is an enlarged perspective view of some elements of the supplying device of the baling apparatus shown in f gore 1, from a back side thereof.
Figure I 1 is a perspective view of the baling apparatus of figure I with some elements removed for better clarity, showing the bale pushing device pushing the j ust formed hale from the retaining member.
Figure 12 is a partial right side view of some elements of the baling apparatus of figure 1, showing the end portion of the sheath tube being sealed by the sealing, cutting and handle malting device.
Figure 13 is a perspective view of the sealing, cutting and handle making device of the baling apparatus of figure 1.
While the invention will be described in conjunction with examples of embodiment it will be 2 0 understood that it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to such embodiments. 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 PREFERRED ENIB~DIlVIENT
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.
3 o Referring to figures 1 to 6 and 9, a baling apparatus according to the invention is suitable for malting, in a continuous manner, a series of film wrap bales of a compressible loose material 2, such as sphagnum peat moss. The baling apparatus 1 comprises a frame 4 to which is mounted a compression tube 6. The compression tube 6, which extends along a longitudinal axis 8, has a first open end 10 opposite to a second open end 12. It also has an inlet 1~4 (better shown in figure 9) to receive the compressible loose material 2 (as shown in figure 6a,) and an outlet I6. The outlet I6 is defined by the open second end 12 and is used to discharge the material in a compressed form I 8 (as shown in figures 6b-f) out from the compression tube 6.
In the illustrated case, the compression tube 6 extends veukically, the first and second open ends 10, 12 are thus respectively a top end and a bottom end of the compression tube 6.
Although it is not shown, the compression tube ~ could also extend horizontally or along any 1 o other suitable axis. The compression tube 6 may have a recta.r~gular cross-section or any other shapes, e.g. a cylindrical shape. The compression tube 6 can also have an air duct 20 to expel from the compression tube 6 airborne dust created from the compression of the compressible loose material 2.
A feeding hopper 22 and a feeding conveyor 24 are preferably used to convey the compressible loose material 2 to the inlet I4 of the compression tube 6 as best shown in figures I and 4. The feeding hopper 22 has an iuet 26 for receiving the compressible loose material 2 and an outlet 28 located above the feeding conveyor 24. Together, the conveyor 24 and the hopper 22 are forming a feeding device 30. Other feeding devices or variations of the 2 o one illustrated in the figures can be used instead. For example, it could be convenient to provide a guard wall 32 on each side of the conveyor 24 to prevent the compressible loose material 2 from falling off the conveyor 24 before reaching the inlet 14 of the compression tube 6. A roof (not shown) could also be placed over the conveyor 24 as to form a closed tunnel between the outlet 28 of the hopper 22 and the inlet 14- of the compression tube 6, thus 2 5 insuring that all the compressible loose material 2 is carried to the inlet I4. The desired amount of compressible Loose material 2 needed to make onc° bale is preferably measured by the hopper 22.
Better shown in figures I, 2, S and 6a-f, the baling apparatus also has a retaining merrlber 34 3 o for retaining the compressible loose material 2 within the compression tube 6 during the compression of the compressible Loose material 2. The retaining member 34 is movable along the longitudinal axis 8, which is the same axis as for the compression tube 6.
Preferably, the retaining member 34 is a plate-shaped support that offers a uniform flat surface for better compression result. In the illustrated case, a column 36 guides the displacement of the retaining member 34 between a first position 38, as in figure 6a, where the retaining member 5 34 closes the outlet 16 of the compression tube 6 to retain loose material 2 therein and a second position 40, as in figure 6c, where the retaining member 34 is positioned away from the outlet 16 to discharge the material in a compressed form I 8 out from the compression tube 6.
10 The vez-tical movement of the column 36 is actuated by an actuator 42. The actuator 42 is thus controlling the movement of the retaining member 34 between the first and second positions 3 8, 40. A hydraulic oil reservoir 43 and a pump 45 are used with the actuator 42. Such actuator 42, which is already known by persons skilled in the art of mechanic, does rzot need fuz-ther description.
Refers ing to figure 7, in order to monitor the movement of the retaining member 34, the baling apparatus is preferably equipped with a position reference system. This system comprises a sensor 44 mounted to the frame 4, as well as a perforated rule 46 mounted to the retaining member 34 and extending along the longitudinal axis $. The rule 46 has a plurality of 2 o perforations 48 located at regular intervals along ifs length. ~Tpon movement of the retaining member 34, the sensor 44 counts a number. of the perforations 48 and converts that number into position signals. The sensor 44 sends these position signals to the actuator 42.
Turning back again to figures 1 to 6, a compressor 50 is used to compress the compa~essible 2 5 loose material 2 in the compression tube 6 against the retaining meznber 34 while the retaining member 34 closes the outlet I 6 of the compression tube 6, thereby obtaining the material in a compressed form 18, as in f gyre 6b. Preferably, the compressor 50 as a hydraulic ram having a compression plate 52 at one end to exert pressure on the compressible loose material 2 and compress the same against the retaining member 34. The ram extends through the first open 3 0 end I 0 of the compression tube 6. Once the compression is done, the compressor 50 is used for pushing the material in a compressed form I 8 out from the outlet I6 of the compression tube 6 while the retaining member 34 is moved to its second. position 40, away from the outlet 16 of the compression tube 6, as shown in figure 6b. It is worth mentioning, that the compressor 50 may take another form without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, a system using compressed air could be suitable.
Better shown in figure 8, a forming device 54 for forming a film wrap 56 having two lateral edges 58 into a sheath tube 60 around the compression tube 6 is provided.
Preferably, the forming device 54 comprises a rorming collar 64 mounted to the compression tube 6 to guide the filin wrap 56 into forming the sheath tube 60. The forming collar 64 has two point-shaped extensions 66 that fold back on the compression tube 6 and that point towards the second end I2 thereof for forming an overlap 68 of the two lateral edges 58 of the film wrap 56.
The forming device 54 further comprises a welding device 70 mounted to the frame 4 between the forming collar 64 and the second open end 12 of the compression tube 6 to weld the overlap 68. The overlapping edges 58 of the film wrap 56 offer surfaces that are welded together by the welding device 70. The sheath tube 60 of film wrap 56 is formed by welding the overlap 68 with hot air while the film wrap 56 is being drawn over a hump and past the welding device 70 where pressure roller s above and below the hot air j et keep a tension in the film that forces the overlapping edges 58 to fuse to each other.
Alternatively, it is also possible 2 0 to apply a sealing bar consisting of heated metal strips with a pressure that forces the overlapping edges 58 to fuse to each other. Drawing the overlapping edges 58 under an ultrasound-generating roller that welds them together is another one ofthe many solutions that may be suitable.
2 5 Referring more particularly to figures 3 and 10, the baling apparatus I
also has a supplying device 72 for supplying the film wrap 56 that is used to form the bales. The film wrap 56 is preferably a thermoplastic film commonly used for baling fibrous material and it is supplied by means of a combination of rollers. For example, in the present case, the film wrap 56 is conveniently wound around a driven main roller 74 which is rotatably mounted on two driving 3 o rollers 76. Stop members 78 are motmted on each sides of the main roller 74 to prevent lateral displacement of the same. one driving roller 76 drives the main roller 74 into rotation. A
controller 80, e.g. an electric motor, controls the angular velocity of one ofthe driving rollers 76 to control the tangential velocity of the feeding of the film wrap 56 in order to make a series of bales. The angular velocity of the driving roller 76 varies in time to insure that the tangential velocity of the film ~~rap 56 is constant. It is thus possible to install the main roller 74 near a ground surface, for convenient access and easy loading onto the baling apparatus 1 from a lift truck, and thereby minimizing safety hazards related to dropping a main roller of several hundred pounds from ary height. The film wrap 56 is fed through a splicing device 82, a film buffer device 84 and a series of guiding rollers 86 positioned over the main roller 74 to guide the film wrap 56 from the main roller 74 to compression tube 6 where the sheath tube 60 of film wrap 56 is formed. The film buffer device 84 has a dancing roller 85 translatable in a vertical direction between an upper position 88 and a lower position 90 to control the film wrap 56 tension and to act as a film wrap buffer. The film buffer device 84, along with the series of guiding rollers 86, guarantee proper tension, feeding and alignment of the film wrap 56 around the compression tube 6.
Better shown in figures 12 and 13, the baling apparatus 1 also has a sealing device adjacent to the outlet 16 of the compression tube 6 for sealing an end portion 62 of the sheath tube 60, which extends beyond the bottom end 12 of the tube 6, as it figure 6d. The purpose; of the sealing device is to seal a top end 94 of a just formed bale 96 of the series and the bottom end 2 0 98 of a next to be formed bale 100 of the series. Preferably, air nozzles 102 are provided adjacent to the second end 12 of the compression tube 6 so as to form the gusset folds at the sealed top and bottom ends 94, 98 of the bales 96, 100.
A cutter adjacent to the sealing device 92 cuts the sealed end portion 62 of the sheath tube 60 2 5 to separate the just formed bale 96 from the next to be formed bale 100.
The sealing device and the cutter are preferably embodied by a handle malting device 106 made of two horizontal heated metal strips between which there is the cutter.
The heatecL metal strips weld the film wrap 56 surfaces together while the cutter cuts through these surfaces with 3 0 a knife. It is worth mentioning that in anothei° embodiment, the cutting could advantageously be made by melting through the thermoplastic film wrap 56.
Better shown in figure 1 I, preferably, an unloading device 108 is provided for unloading the just formed bale 96 from the retaining member 34 when the retaining member 34 is in the second position 40, as in figure 6e. The unloading device 108 can conveniently have a controllable bale pushing device 110 to tip the just forrr~ed bale 96 out of the retaining member 34, thereby freeing the same of the just formed bale 96. The just formed bale 96 can also be manually transferred from the retaining member 34 to the discharge conveyor 114.
As illustrated in figures I to 5, a discharge conveyor 1 I4 can be provided to convey the just 1 o formed bale 96 away from the retaining member 34. The discharge conveyor 114 has an inlet 1 I6 end positioned to receive the formed bale 96 tipped out by the bale pushing device I 10.
Preferably, a controlling device I 18 controls all the baling apparatus so that all the previously described devices, system, anca components interacts together to make, in a continuous manner, a series of film wrap bales. Electric components needed to control the baling apparatus are kept in a locker 120. The controlling device confirols the bale pushing device 110 with respect to the position of th.e retaining member 34, the compression of the material, the movement of the retaining member 34, the supplying of the film wrap 56, etc.
2 0 In the present embodiment, to make the first bale of compressible loose material 2 of the series, the film wrap 56 is manually supplied from the main roller 74, via the guiding rollers 86 and the forming collar 64, where the sheath tube 60 is formed along the compression tube 6, until the end portion 62 of the sheath tube 60 extends beyond the second end 12 of the compression tube 6. Before sealing the end portion 62 of the sheath tube 60, the regaining 2 5 member 34 is positioned away from the outlet 16 so that the sealed bottom end 98 of the first bale closes the outlet 16. Once the sealed bottom end 98 of the first bale is formed, the retainng member 34 is moved baclc to its first position 38 where it closes the outlet 16. The sealed bottom end 98 is thus held tightly between the compression tube 6 and the retaining member 34.
Instead of being manually positioned to form the first bale of the series, the film wrap 56 could also be supplied to the forming collar 64 and to the end of the compression tube 6 automatically by other means.
Now turning to figures 6a to 6f, the various step implied to make, in a continuous manner, a series of film wrap 56 bales of a compressible loose material 2 using the baling apparatus described hereinabove are illustrated.
Figure 6a shows the initial setup for making a f rst bale of compressed material. The compression tube 6 is filled with the compressible loose material 2. The compressor 50 is located near the first end 10 of t:he compression tube 6. During feeding of the compressible loose material 2 within the compression tube 6 by the inlet 14, the retaining member 34 is located at its first position 38, to close the outlet 16 and to retain some of the compressible loose material 2 in the compression tube 6. Again, the sealed bottom end 98 of the first bale to be formed is held tightly between the compression tube 6 and the retaining member 34.
Figure 6b shows the compression of the compressible loose material 2. The compressor 50 has been dz~iven downward to compress the loose material 2 against the retaining member 34.
As shown in figzzre 6c, when a desired compression rate is reached, for example a final 2 o volume of 60% to 40% of the original loose material 2 volume, the compressed material 18 is ejected OLIt of the compression tube 6 by the compressor 50 while the retaining member 34 moves downward at the same rate, thus keeping pressure on the compressed material 18 to prevent it from returning to its original loose state. While the compressor 50 pushes the material in a compressed fozm 18, the film wrap 56 is pulled out of the dancing roller 84 2 5 acting as a film buffer and down along the compression tube 6 surface into the sheath tube 60.
The main roller 74 is indexed by actuation of the driving rollers 76 until the buffer of the film buffer device 84 is replenished.
figure 6d shows the compressor 30 moving back up to a resting position near the first open 3 0 end 10 of the compression tube 6, and the z-etaining member 34 moving up slightly to relieve the tension present in the thermoplastic film wrap 56. Relieving the tension present izx the thermoplastic film wrap 56 allows opposing surfaces of the sheath tube 60 to be drawn against each other by the vacuum created below the compressed :material 18 by the return of the compressor 50 to its resting position, near the first open end 10 of the compression tube 6. The sealing device 92 and the cutter 104 of the bale sealing, cutting and handle making device 106 5 seals the top end 94 of the just formed bale 96 as well as the bottom end 98 of a next: bale to be formed 100. The cutter 104 cuts the flm wrap 56 after a very short delay to allow the opposing sheath tube 60 surfaces to move against each other and for a gusseted fold to be formed on each side of the sheath tube 60. This quick action prevents the compressed material I8 from expanding and eliminating the need to over compress the material in order to z o compensate for the expansion that would occur between r°etraction of the compressor 50 and the sealing of the bale.
It could also be advantageous to create a longer sealed top end 94 or sealed bottom end 98 in which a cutout for a handle (not shown) can be made for bale carrying convenience by the 15 sealing, cutting and handle malting device 106.
Although it is not shown in the figures, a recloseable bale feature, for example mating extrusions or any other type that is to be applied on the horizontal axis, that is parallel to the bale opening, can be built onto the hale prior to sealing.
Figure 6e shows the sealed bottonn end 98 of the next bale to be formed 100 and the sealed top end 94 of the just formed bale 96. The just formed bale 96 is pushed in order to make it fall onto the discharge conveyor l I4 (not shown in the figures 6a-f), while the compressor 50 continues to move back to its resting position.
Figure 6f shows the end of a making of one bale and the start of making a new one as the compressor 50 and the retaining member 34 are respectively back to their resting and frst positions.
3 o A new batch of loose compressible material 2 is being fed into the compression tube 6 a=_. soon as the compressor 34 reaches its resting position.
Advantageously, the baling apparatus could be used for producing various formats of bales by replacing the compression tube 6, the forming device 54 and the compressor 34.
Advantageously, the baling apparatus and method of the present invention offer numerous advantages over the apparatus and methods of the prior art by reducing the cost of the wrapping material by reducing the use of wrapping material, since no over length is required to compensate for product expansion between the time that i:he bale is compressed and that it is then brought to a sealing station. Furthermore, making its own bale eliminates the costs of l0 manufacturing by a third party. The need to have corner seals for the bales in which the product is compressed is eliminated. The number of damaged hales is decreases considerably.
The baling apparatus and method of the present invention guarantee a better packaged product quality by eliminating the need for the over compression that destroys synthetic and natural fibres that is required by other systems to compensate for compressed product spring back while the open bale is brought to a sealing station.
The baling apparatus and method. of the present invention offer a smaller footprint than multi-station vertical Lmits or all horizontal units, thus fleeing valuable floor space.
The baling apparatus and method of the present invention allow for a much easier bale fomnat change since only one compression W be 6 needs to be replaced, as opposed to four (4) compression tubes on carousel-type units used in the art.
2 5 Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise embodiment and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein without departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention.
Thus, there is still indeed a need to simplify the steps of compressing and baling of compressible loose materials.
SITM1VIAR'~' (3F THE INVENT IOhI
An obj ect of the pr esent invention is to provide a baling apparatus and method that satisfy the above-mentioned needs.
An object ofthe present invention is to provide a baling apparatus for making, in a continuous manner, a series of film wrap bales of a compressible loose material . The bales have a sealed top end and a sealed bottom end. The apparatus comprises:
- a frame;
~ o - a COnlplesS1011 tube mounted to the frame and extending along a longitudinal axis, the compression tube havW g a first end opposite to an open second end, an inlet to receive the compressible loose material and an outlet to discharge the material in a compressed form out from the compression tube, the open second end defining the outlet;
- a retaining member movable along the longitudinal axis between a first position where the retaining member closes the outlet of the comps ession tube to retain loose material therein and a second position where the retaining member is positioned away from the outlet to discharge the material in a compressed form out from the compression tube;
- an actuator to actuate the movement of the retaining member between the first and second position;
- a compressor to compress the loose material in the compression tube against the retaining member while the retaining member is in the fzrst position, thereby obtaining the material in a compressed form, the compressor being also for pushing the material in a compressed form out from the outlet of the compression tube while the retaining member is moved to the second position;
- supplying means for supplying a film wrap from a roll of fzlz~. wrap;
- forming means for forming the film wrap into a sheath tube around the compression hibe such that the sheath tube has an end poz~tion extending beyond the second end of the compression tube;
- sealing means adjacent to the second end of the compression tube for sealing the end portion of the sheathing tube when the retaining member is positioned away from the second end of 2 0 the compression tube, thereby simultaneously forming the sealed top end of a just formed bale of the series and the bottom end of a next to be formed bale of the series;
aPld - a cutter adjacent to the sealing means to cut the sealed end portion of the sheathing tube, and thus separating the just formed bale fiom the next to be formed bale.
2 5 In accordance with a preferred aspect, the baling apparatus further comprises feeding means for feeding the loose compressible material into the inlet. The feeding means preferably comprises a feeding hopper having an inlet for receiving the compressible loose material and an outlet, and a feeding conveyor positioned to receive the compressible loose material from the outlet of the feeding hopper and convey the same to the inlet of the compression tube.
In accordance with another preferred aspect, the forming means preferably comprises a forming collar mounted to the compression tube to guide the film wrap into forming the sheath tube. The forming collar have two point-shaped extensions that fold back on the compression tube and that point towards the second end thereof fox forming an overlap of a two lateral edges of the film wrap. Preferably, the forming means comprises a welding device mounted to the frame between the collar and the second end of the compression tube to weld the overlap.
In accordance with a still preferred aspect, the supplying means preferably comprises a driven main roller around which the film wrap is wound, at least two driving rollers on which the 1 o main roller is rotatably mounted for driving the main roller into rotation, at least one guiding roll positioned over the main roller to guide the film wrap from the main roller to the forming means, and a controller to control the angular velocity of one; of the driving rollers to control a feeding of the film wrap to the forming means. Preferably, one of the guiding rollers is a film wrap buffer device having a dancing roller that is translatable in a vertical direction between an uppex position and a lower position to control a film wrap tension.
Preferably, the compressor is a ram extending through the first end of the compression tube.
In accordance with a still preferred aspect, the baling apparatus further comprises sensing 2 o means in communication with the actuator, for sensing the position of the retaining member and sending position signals to the actuator.
Preferably, the sensing means comprises a rule mounted to the retaining member and extending along the longitudinal axis, the rule having a plLUrality of perforations at regular 2 5 intervals along a length thereof, and a sensor mounted to the frame to count a number of the perforations upon displacement of the retaining member and converting the number into position signals, the sensor sending the position signals.
In accor dance with another preferred aspect, the baling apparatus further comprises unloading 3 0 means for tmloading the just formed bale from the retaining member when the retaining member is in the second position. Preferably, the unloading means comprises a controllable bale pushing device to tip a just formed bale out of the retaining member, thereby freeing the same of the just formed bale, and a controlling means for controlling the action of the bale pushing device with respect to the position of the retaining member.
5 Also preferably, the unloading means comprises a discharge conveyor to convey the just formed bale away from the retauiing member. The discharge conveyor have an inlet end positioned to receive the formed bale tipped out by the bale pushing device, Preferably, the baling appar atus further comprises air nozzles adjacent to the second end of the compression tube to form gusset folds at the sealed top and bottom ends of the bales.
Preferably, the compression tube comprises an air duct to expel from the compression tube airborne dust created from the compression of the compressible loose material.
Preferably, the supplying means further comprises stop members mounted on each sides of the main i°oller to prevent lateral displacement of the same.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of making, in a continuous manner, a series of film wrap bales of a compressible loose material. The bales have a sealed 2 o top end and a seal bottom end. The method comprises the steps of:
a) providing a compression tube extending along a longitudinal axis, the compression tube having a first end opposite to an. open second end, an inlet to receive the compressible loose material and an outlet to let the material in a compressed form out from the compression tube, the open second end defining the outlet;
2 5 b) supplying a film wrap from a main roller of film wrap;
c) forming the film wrap into a sheath tube around the compression tube such that the sheath tube has an end portion extending beyond the second end of the compression tube;
d) sealing the end portion of the sheathing tube thereby closing the outlet of the compression tube and forming the bottom sealed end of a next to be formed bale of the series;
3 0 e) positioning a retaining member at the second end of the compression tube;
~ feeding the inlet of the compression tube with a certain amount of the loose conaprc~ssible E
material;
g) compressing the loose material in the compression tube against the retaining member thereby obtaining the material in a compressed form;
h) pushing the material in a compressed form out from the outlet of the compression tube while moving the retaining member along the longitudinal axis away from the second end thereby farming the next to be formed bale into a film wrap just formed bale and leaving a further end portion of the sheath tube extending beyond the second end of the compression tube;
i) sealing the further end portion of the sheath tube to provide simultaneously the sealed top Z 0 end of the film wrap just formed bale and the bottom end of a further next to be formed bale of the series;
j) cutting the further end portion of the sheath tube, and thus separating the just formed bale from the further next to be formed bale;
lc) unloading the just formed bale from the retaining member; and 1) repeating steps e) to k) to make further bales of the series.
Preferably, the method further comprises, between steps h} of pushing and i) of sealing, the step of moving back the retaining member towards the second end of the compression tube to relieve tension present in the film wrap.
Preferably, the step f) of feeding comprises the step of conveying the compressible loose material to the inlet of the compression tube.
Preferably, the step of unloading comprises the step of pushing the just formed bale on a 2 5 discharge conveyor and carrying the same away from the retaining member.
Preferably, the method further comprises, between the steps h} of pushing and i} of sealing, the step of forming gusset folds at the top end of a just formed bale and at the bottom. end of the next to be formed bale.
Preferably, the step of forming gussets folds comprises the step of blowing compressed air towards the end portion of the sheath tube.
Preferably, the method further comprises the step of evacuating airborne dust created from the compression of the compressible loose material.
BRIEF DESCRIPTI~N OF THE DFCr~WINGs 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;
Figure 1 is a perspective view from the left side of a baling apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a front view of the baling apparatus shown in figure 1.
Figure 3 is a side view of some elements of the baling apparatus shown in Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a side view of the baling apparatus shown in f gvtre l .
Figure 5 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the baling apparatus shown in figure 1, from the right side thereof.
Figures 6a to 6f are side views o-f.the baling apparatus of figure 1 with some elements removed for better clarity, showing the sequence of steps for azztomatically baling a compressible loose material.
Figure 7 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the position reference system of the baling apparatus of fig~.ue l, used to determine the position of a retaining member.
3 0 Figure 8 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the baling apparatus of figure 1, showing how the film wrap is formed as a sheath tube arouzld the compression tube.
Fig~.ire 9 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the baling apparatus of figure I, showing the inlet of the compression tube, without the feeding device.
Figure 10 is an enlarged perspective view of some elements of the supplying device of the baling apparatus shown in f gore 1, from a back side thereof.
Figure I 1 is a perspective view of the baling apparatus of figure I with some elements removed for better clarity, showing the bale pushing device pushing the j ust formed hale from the retaining member.
Figure 12 is a partial right side view of some elements of the baling apparatus of figure 1, showing the end portion of the sheath tube being sealed by the sealing, cutting and handle malting device.
Figure 13 is a perspective view of the sealing, cutting and handle making device of the baling apparatus of figure 1.
While the invention will be described in conjunction with examples of embodiment it will be 2 0 understood that it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to such embodiments. 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 PREFERRED ENIB~DIlVIENT
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.
3 o Referring to figures 1 to 6 and 9, a baling apparatus according to the invention is suitable for malting, in a continuous manner, a series of film wrap bales of a compressible loose material 2, such as sphagnum peat moss. The baling apparatus 1 comprises a frame 4 to which is mounted a compression tube 6. The compression tube 6, which extends along a longitudinal axis 8, has a first open end 10 opposite to a second open end 12. It also has an inlet 1~4 (better shown in figure 9) to receive the compressible loose material 2 (as shown in figure 6a,) and an outlet I6. The outlet I6 is defined by the open second end 12 and is used to discharge the material in a compressed form I 8 (as shown in figures 6b-f) out from the compression tube 6.
In the illustrated case, the compression tube 6 extends veukically, the first and second open ends 10, 12 are thus respectively a top end and a bottom end of the compression tube 6.
Although it is not shown, the compression tube ~ could also extend horizontally or along any 1 o other suitable axis. The compression tube 6 may have a recta.r~gular cross-section or any other shapes, e.g. a cylindrical shape. The compression tube 6 can also have an air duct 20 to expel from the compression tube 6 airborne dust created from the compression of the compressible loose material 2.
A feeding hopper 22 and a feeding conveyor 24 are preferably used to convey the compressible loose material 2 to the inlet I4 of the compression tube 6 as best shown in figures I and 4. The feeding hopper 22 has an iuet 26 for receiving the compressible loose material 2 and an outlet 28 located above the feeding conveyor 24. Together, the conveyor 24 and the hopper 22 are forming a feeding device 30. Other feeding devices or variations of the 2 o one illustrated in the figures can be used instead. For example, it could be convenient to provide a guard wall 32 on each side of the conveyor 24 to prevent the compressible loose material 2 from falling off the conveyor 24 before reaching the inlet 14 of the compression tube 6. A roof (not shown) could also be placed over the conveyor 24 as to form a closed tunnel between the outlet 28 of the hopper 22 and the inlet 14- of the compression tube 6, thus 2 5 insuring that all the compressible loose material 2 is carried to the inlet I4. The desired amount of compressible Loose material 2 needed to make onc° bale is preferably measured by the hopper 22.
Better shown in figures I, 2, S and 6a-f, the baling apparatus also has a retaining merrlber 34 3 o for retaining the compressible loose material 2 within the compression tube 6 during the compression of the compressible Loose material 2. The retaining member 34 is movable along the longitudinal axis 8, which is the same axis as for the compression tube 6.
Preferably, the retaining member 34 is a plate-shaped support that offers a uniform flat surface for better compression result. In the illustrated case, a column 36 guides the displacement of the retaining member 34 between a first position 38, as in figure 6a, where the retaining member 5 34 closes the outlet 16 of the compression tube 6 to retain loose material 2 therein and a second position 40, as in figure 6c, where the retaining member 34 is positioned away from the outlet 16 to discharge the material in a compressed form I 8 out from the compression tube 6.
10 The vez-tical movement of the column 36 is actuated by an actuator 42. The actuator 42 is thus controlling the movement of the retaining member 34 between the first and second positions 3 8, 40. A hydraulic oil reservoir 43 and a pump 45 are used with the actuator 42. Such actuator 42, which is already known by persons skilled in the art of mechanic, does rzot need fuz-ther description.
Refers ing to figure 7, in order to monitor the movement of the retaining member 34, the baling apparatus is preferably equipped with a position reference system. This system comprises a sensor 44 mounted to the frame 4, as well as a perforated rule 46 mounted to the retaining member 34 and extending along the longitudinal axis $. The rule 46 has a plurality of 2 o perforations 48 located at regular intervals along ifs length. ~Tpon movement of the retaining member 34, the sensor 44 counts a number. of the perforations 48 and converts that number into position signals. The sensor 44 sends these position signals to the actuator 42.
Turning back again to figures 1 to 6, a compressor 50 is used to compress the compa~essible 2 5 loose material 2 in the compression tube 6 against the retaining meznber 34 while the retaining member 34 closes the outlet I 6 of the compression tube 6, thereby obtaining the material in a compressed form 18, as in f gyre 6b. Preferably, the compressor 50 as a hydraulic ram having a compression plate 52 at one end to exert pressure on the compressible loose material 2 and compress the same against the retaining member 34. The ram extends through the first open 3 0 end I 0 of the compression tube 6. Once the compression is done, the compressor 50 is used for pushing the material in a compressed form I 8 out from the outlet I6 of the compression tube 6 while the retaining member 34 is moved to its second. position 40, away from the outlet 16 of the compression tube 6, as shown in figure 6b. It is worth mentioning, that the compressor 50 may take another form without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, a system using compressed air could be suitable.
Better shown in figure 8, a forming device 54 for forming a film wrap 56 having two lateral edges 58 into a sheath tube 60 around the compression tube 6 is provided.
Preferably, the forming device 54 comprises a rorming collar 64 mounted to the compression tube 6 to guide the filin wrap 56 into forming the sheath tube 60. The forming collar 64 has two point-shaped extensions 66 that fold back on the compression tube 6 and that point towards the second end I2 thereof for forming an overlap 68 of the two lateral edges 58 of the film wrap 56.
The forming device 54 further comprises a welding device 70 mounted to the frame 4 between the forming collar 64 and the second open end 12 of the compression tube 6 to weld the overlap 68. The overlapping edges 58 of the film wrap 56 offer surfaces that are welded together by the welding device 70. The sheath tube 60 of film wrap 56 is formed by welding the overlap 68 with hot air while the film wrap 56 is being drawn over a hump and past the welding device 70 where pressure roller s above and below the hot air j et keep a tension in the film that forces the overlapping edges 58 to fuse to each other.
Alternatively, it is also possible 2 0 to apply a sealing bar consisting of heated metal strips with a pressure that forces the overlapping edges 58 to fuse to each other. Drawing the overlapping edges 58 under an ultrasound-generating roller that welds them together is another one ofthe many solutions that may be suitable.
2 5 Referring more particularly to figures 3 and 10, the baling apparatus I
also has a supplying device 72 for supplying the film wrap 56 that is used to form the bales. The film wrap 56 is preferably a thermoplastic film commonly used for baling fibrous material and it is supplied by means of a combination of rollers. For example, in the present case, the film wrap 56 is conveniently wound around a driven main roller 74 which is rotatably mounted on two driving 3 o rollers 76. Stop members 78 are motmted on each sides of the main roller 74 to prevent lateral displacement of the same. one driving roller 76 drives the main roller 74 into rotation. A
controller 80, e.g. an electric motor, controls the angular velocity of one ofthe driving rollers 76 to control the tangential velocity of the feeding of the film wrap 56 in order to make a series of bales. The angular velocity of the driving roller 76 varies in time to insure that the tangential velocity of the film ~~rap 56 is constant. It is thus possible to install the main roller 74 near a ground surface, for convenient access and easy loading onto the baling apparatus 1 from a lift truck, and thereby minimizing safety hazards related to dropping a main roller of several hundred pounds from ary height. The film wrap 56 is fed through a splicing device 82, a film buffer device 84 and a series of guiding rollers 86 positioned over the main roller 74 to guide the film wrap 56 from the main roller 74 to compression tube 6 where the sheath tube 60 of film wrap 56 is formed. The film buffer device 84 has a dancing roller 85 translatable in a vertical direction between an upper position 88 and a lower position 90 to control the film wrap 56 tension and to act as a film wrap buffer. The film buffer device 84, along with the series of guiding rollers 86, guarantee proper tension, feeding and alignment of the film wrap 56 around the compression tube 6.
Better shown in figures 12 and 13, the baling apparatus 1 also has a sealing device adjacent to the outlet 16 of the compression tube 6 for sealing an end portion 62 of the sheath tube 60, which extends beyond the bottom end 12 of the tube 6, as it figure 6d. The purpose; of the sealing device is to seal a top end 94 of a just formed bale 96 of the series and the bottom end 2 0 98 of a next to be formed bale 100 of the series. Preferably, air nozzles 102 are provided adjacent to the second end 12 of the compression tube 6 so as to form the gusset folds at the sealed top and bottom ends 94, 98 of the bales 96, 100.
A cutter adjacent to the sealing device 92 cuts the sealed end portion 62 of the sheath tube 60 2 5 to separate the just formed bale 96 from the next to be formed bale 100.
The sealing device and the cutter are preferably embodied by a handle malting device 106 made of two horizontal heated metal strips between which there is the cutter.
The heatecL metal strips weld the film wrap 56 surfaces together while the cutter cuts through these surfaces with 3 0 a knife. It is worth mentioning that in anothei° embodiment, the cutting could advantageously be made by melting through the thermoplastic film wrap 56.
Better shown in figure 1 I, preferably, an unloading device 108 is provided for unloading the just formed bale 96 from the retaining member 34 when the retaining member 34 is in the second position 40, as in figure 6e. The unloading device 108 can conveniently have a controllable bale pushing device 110 to tip the just forrr~ed bale 96 out of the retaining member 34, thereby freeing the same of the just formed bale 96. The just formed bale 96 can also be manually transferred from the retaining member 34 to the discharge conveyor 114.
As illustrated in figures I to 5, a discharge conveyor 1 I4 can be provided to convey the just 1 o formed bale 96 away from the retaining member 34. The discharge conveyor 114 has an inlet 1 I6 end positioned to receive the formed bale 96 tipped out by the bale pushing device I 10.
Preferably, a controlling device I 18 controls all the baling apparatus so that all the previously described devices, system, anca components interacts together to make, in a continuous manner, a series of film wrap bales. Electric components needed to control the baling apparatus are kept in a locker 120. The controlling device confirols the bale pushing device 110 with respect to the position of th.e retaining member 34, the compression of the material, the movement of the retaining member 34, the supplying of the film wrap 56, etc.
2 0 In the present embodiment, to make the first bale of compressible loose material 2 of the series, the film wrap 56 is manually supplied from the main roller 74, via the guiding rollers 86 and the forming collar 64, where the sheath tube 60 is formed along the compression tube 6, until the end portion 62 of the sheath tube 60 extends beyond the second end 12 of the compression tube 6. Before sealing the end portion 62 of the sheath tube 60, the regaining 2 5 member 34 is positioned away from the outlet 16 so that the sealed bottom end 98 of the first bale closes the outlet 16. Once the sealed bottom end 98 of the first bale is formed, the retainng member 34 is moved baclc to its first position 38 where it closes the outlet 16. The sealed bottom end 98 is thus held tightly between the compression tube 6 and the retaining member 34.
Instead of being manually positioned to form the first bale of the series, the film wrap 56 could also be supplied to the forming collar 64 and to the end of the compression tube 6 automatically by other means.
Now turning to figures 6a to 6f, the various step implied to make, in a continuous manner, a series of film wrap 56 bales of a compressible loose material 2 using the baling apparatus described hereinabove are illustrated.
Figure 6a shows the initial setup for making a f rst bale of compressed material. The compression tube 6 is filled with the compressible loose material 2. The compressor 50 is located near the first end 10 of t:he compression tube 6. During feeding of the compressible loose material 2 within the compression tube 6 by the inlet 14, the retaining member 34 is located at its first position 38, to close the outlet 16 and to retain some of the compressible loose material 2 in the compression tube 6. Again, the sealed bottom end 98 of the first bale to be formed is held tightly between the compression tube 6 and the retaining member 34.
Figure 6b shows the compression of the compressible loose material 2. The compressor 50 has been dz~iven downward to compress the loose material 2 against the retaining member 34.
As shown in figzzre 6c, when a desired compression rate is reached, for example a final 2 o volume of 60% to 40% of the original loose material 2 volume, the compressed material 18 is ejected OLIt of the compression tube 6 by the compressor 50 while the retaining member 34 moves downward at the same rate, thus keeping pressure on the compressed material 18 to prevent it from returning to its original loose state. While the compressor 50 pushes the material in a compressed fozm 18, the film wrap 56 is pulled out of the dancing roller 84 2 5 acting as a film buffer and down along the compression tube 6 surface into the sheath tube 60.
The main roller 74 is indexed by actuation of the driving rollers 76 until the buffer of the film buffer device 84 is replenished.
figure 6d shows the compressor 30 moving back up to a resting position near the first open 3 0 end 10 of the compression tube 6, and the z-etaining member 34 moving up slightly to relieve the tension present in the thermoplastic film wrap 56. Relieving the tension present izx the thermoplastic film wrap 56 allows opposing surfaces of the sheath tube 60 to be drawn against each other by the vacuum created below the compressed :material 18 by the return of the compressor 50 to its resting position, near the first open end 10 of the compression tube 6. The sealing device 92 and the cutter 104 of the bale sealing, cutting and handle making device 106 5 seals the top end 94 of the just formed bale 96 as well as the bottom end 98 of a next: bale to be formed 100. The cutter 104 cuts the flm wrap 56 after a very short delay to allow the opposing sheath tube 60 surfaces to move against each other and for a gusseted fold to be formed on each side of the sheath tube 60. This quick action prevents the compressed material I8 from expanding and eliminating the need to over compress the material in order to z o compensate for the expansion that would occur between r°etraction of the compressor 50 and the sealing of the bale.
It could also be advantageous to create a longer sealed top end 94 or sealed bottom end 98 in which a cutout for a handle (not shown) can be made for bale carrying convenience by the 15 sealing, cutting and handle malting device 106.
Although it is not shown in the figures, a recloseable bale feature, for example mating extrusions or any other type that is to be applied on the horizontal axis, that is parallel to the bale opening, can be built onto the hale prior to sealing.
Figure 6e shows the sealed bottonn end 98 of the next bale to be formed 100 and the sealed top end 94 of the just formed bale 96. The just formed bale 96 is pushed in order to make it fall onto the discharge conveyor l I4 (not shown in the figures 6a-f), while the compressor 50 continues to move back to its resting position.
Figure 6f shows the end of a making of one bale and the start of making a new one as the compressor 50 and the retaining member 34 are respectively back to their resting and frst positions.
3 o A new batch of loose compressible material 2 is being fed into the compression tube 6 a=_. soon as the compressor 34 reaches its resting position.
Advantageously, the baling apparatus could be used for producing various formats of bales by replacing the compression tube 6, the forming device 54 and the compressor 34.
Advantageously, the baling apparatus and method of the present invention offer numerous advantages over the apparatus and methods of the prior art by reducing the cost of the wrapping material by reducing the use of wrapping material, since no over length is required to compensate for product expansion between the time that i:he bale is compressed and that it is then brought to a sealing station. Furthermore, making its own bale eliminates the costs of l0 manufacturing by a third party. The need to have corner seals for the bales in which the product is compressed is eliminated. The number of damaged hales is decreases considerably.
The baling apparatus and method of the present invention guarantee a better packaged product quality by eliminating the need for the over compression that destroys synthetic and natural fibres that is required by other systems to compensate for compressed product spring back while the open bale is brought to a sealing station.
The baling apparatus and method. of the present invention offer a smaller footprint than multi-station vertical Lmits or all horizontal units, thus fleeing valuable floor space.
The baling apparatus and method of the present invention allow for a much easier bale fomnat change since only one compression W be 6 needs to be replaced, as opposed to four (4) compression tubes on carousel-type units used in the art.
2 5 Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise embodiment and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein without departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention.
Claims (25)
1. A baling apparatus for making, in a continuous maimer, a series of film wrap bales of a compressible loose material, said bales having a sealed top end and a sealed bottom end, the apparatus comprising:
a frame;
a compression tube mounted to the frame and extending along a longitudinal axis, the compression tube having a first end opposite to an open second end, an inlet to receive the compressible loose material and an outlet to discharge said material in a compressed form out from the compression tube, said open second end defining said outlet;
a retaining member movable along said longitudinal axis between a first position where the retaining member closes the outlet of the compression tube to retain loose material therein and a second position where the retaining member is positioned away from the outlet to discharge said material in a compressed form out from the compression tube;
an actuator to actuate the movement of the retaining member between the first and second position;
a compressor to compress the loose material in the compression tube against the retaining member while the retaining member is in the first position, thereby obtaining said material in a compressed form, the compressor being also for pushing said material in a compressed form out from the outlet of the compression tube while the retaining member is moved to the second position;
supplying means for supplying a film wrap from a roll of film wrap;
forming means for forming said film wrap into a sheath tribe around the compression tube such that said sheath tube has an end portion extending beyond said second end of the compression tube;
sealing means adjacent to the second end of tile compression tube for sealing said end portion of the sheathing tube when the retaining member is positioned away from said second end of the compression tube, thereby simultaneously forming the sealed top end of a just formed bale of said series and the bottom end of a next to be formed bale of said series; and a cutter adjacent to the sealing means to cut said sealed end portion of the sheathing tube, and thus separating said just formed bale from said next to be formed bale.
a frame;
a compression tube mounted to the frame and extending along a longitudinal axis, the compression tube having a first end opposite to an open second end, an inlet to receive the compressible loose material and an outlet to discharge said material in a compressed form out from the compression tube, said open second end defining said outlet;
a retaining member movable along said longitudinal axis between a first position where the retaining member closes the outlet of the compression tube to retain loose material therein and a second position where the retaining member is positioned away from the outlet to discharge said material in a compressed form out from the compression tube;
an actuator to actuate the movement of the retaining member between the first and second position;
a compressor to compress the loose material in the compression tube against the retaining member while the retaining member is in the first position, thereby obtaining said material in a compressed form, the compressor being also for pushing said material in a compressed form out from the outlet of the compression tube while the retaining member is moved to the second position;
supplying means for supplying a film wrap from a roll of film wrap;
forming means for forming said film wrap into a sheath tribe around the compression tube such that said sheath tube has an end portion extending beyond said second end of the compression tube;
sealing means adjacent to the second end of tile compression tube for sealing said end portion of the sheathing tube when the retaining member is positioned away from said second end of the compression tube, thereby simultaneously forming the sealed top end of a just formed bale of said series and the bottom end of a next to be formed bale of said series; and a cutter adjacent to the sealing means to cut said sealed end portion of the sheathing tube, and thus separating said just formed bale from said next to be formed bale.
2. The baling apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising feeding means for feeding said loose compressible material into said inlet.
3. The baling apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the feeding means comprises:
a feeding hopper having an inlet for receiving said compressible loose material and an outlet;
and a feeding conveyor positioned to receive the compressible loose material from the outlet of the feeding hopper and convey the same to the inlet of the compression tube.
a feeding hopper having an inlet for receiving said compressible loose material and an outlet;
and a feeding conveyor positioned to receive the compressible loose material from the outlet of the feeding hopper and convey the same to the inlet of the compression tube.
4. The baling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the film wrap comprises two lateral edges and the forming means comprises a forming collar mounted to the compression tube to guide the film wrap into forming said sheath tube, the forming collar having two point-shaped extensions that fold back on the compression tube and that point towards the second end thereof for forming an overlap of said two lateral edges of the film wrap.
5. The baling apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the forming means comprises a welding device mounted to the frame between the collar and the second end of the compression tube to weld said overlap.
6. The baling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the supplying means comprises:
a driven main roller around which the film wrap is wound;
at least two driving rollers on which the main roller is rotatably mounted for driving said main roller into rotation;
at least one guiding roll positioned over said main roller to guide said film wrap from the main roller to the forming means; and a controller to control the angular velocity of one of said driving rollers to control a feeding of said film wrap to the forming means.
a driven main roller around which the film wrap is wound;
at least two driving rollers on which the main roller is rotatably mounted for driving said main roller into rotation;
at least one guiding roll positioned over said main roller to guide said film wrap from the main roller to the forming means; and a controller to control the angular velocity of one of said driving rollers to control a feeding of said film wrap to the forming means.
7. The baling apparatus according to claim 6, wherein one of said guiding roller is a film wrap buffer device having a dancing roller that is translatable in a vertical direction between an upper position and a lower position to control a film wrap tension.
8. The baling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the compressor is a ram extending through said first end of the compression tube.
9. The baling apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
- sensing means in communication with the actuator, for sensing the position of the retaining member and sending position signals to the actuator.
- sensing means in communication with the actuator, for sensing the position of the retaining member and sending position signals to the actuator.
10. The baling apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the sensing mews comprises:
- a rule mounted to the retaining member and extending along said longitudinal axis, the rule having a plurality of perforations at regular intervals along a length thereof; and - a sensor mounted to the frame to count a number of said perforations upon displacement of the retaining member and converting the number into position signals, the sensor sending said position signals.
- a rule mounted to the retaining member and extending along said longitudinal axis, the rule having a plurality of perforations at regular intervals along a length thereof; and - a sensor mounted to the frame to count a number of said perforations upon displacement of the retaining member and converting the number into position signals, the sensor sending said position signals.
11. The baling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said longitudinal axis is a vertical axis, the first and second ends of the compression tube being respectively a top end and a bottom end of the compression tube.
12. The baling apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said retaining member is a plate-shaped support.
13. The baling apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising unloading means for unloading said just formed bale from the retaining member when the retaining member is in said second position.
14. The baling apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the unloading means comprises:
-a controllable bale pushing device to tip a just formed bale out of the retaining member, thereby freeing the same of the just formed bale; and -a controlling means for controlling the action of the bale pushing device with respect to the position of the retaining member.
-a controllable bale pushing device to tip a just formed bale out of the retaining member, thereby freeing the same of the just formed bale; and -a controlling means for controlling the action of the bale pushing device with respect to the position of the retaining member.
15. The baling apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the unloading means comprises a discharge conveyor to convey said just formed bale away from the retaining member, said discharge conveyor having an inlet end positioned to receive the formed bale tipped out by the bale pushing device,
16. The baling apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising air nozzles adjacent to the second end of the compression tube to form gusset folds at said sealed top and bottom ends of the bales.
17. The baling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the compression tube comprises an air duct to expel from the compression tube airborne dust created from the compression of said compressible loose material.
18. The baling apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the supplying means further comprises stop members mounted on each sides of the main roller to prevent lateral displacement of the same.
19. A method of making, in a continuous manner, a series of film wrap bales of a compressible loose material, said bales having a sealed top end and a seal bottom end, the method comprising the steps of:
a) providing a compression tube extending along a longitudinal axis, the compression tube having a first end opposite to an open second end, an inlet to receive the compressible loose material and an outlet to let said material in a compressed form out from the compression tube, said open second end defining said outlet;
b) supplying a film wrap from a main roller of film wrap;
c) forming said film wrap into a sheath tube around the compression tube such that said sheath tube has an end portion extending beyond said second end of the compression tube;
d) sealing said end portion of the sheathing tube thereby closing said outlet of the compression tube and forming the bottom sealed end of a next to be formed bale of said series;
e) positioning a retaining member at the second end of the compression tube;
f) feeding said inlet of the compression tube with a certain amount of said loose compressible material;
g) compressing the loose material in the compression tube against the retaining member thereby obtaining said material in a compressed form;
h) pushing said material in a compressed form out from the outlet of the compression tube while moving said retaining member along the longitudinal axis away from the second end thereby forming said next to be formed bale into a film wrap just formed bale and leaving a further end portion of said sheath tube extending beyond said second end of the compression tube;
i) sealing said further end portion of the sheath tube to provide simultaneously the sealed top end of said film wrap just formed bale and the bottom end of a further next to be formed bale of said series;
j) cutting said further end portion of the sheath tube, and thus separating said just formed bale from said further next to be formed bale;
k) unloading said just formed bale from the retaining member; and l) repeating steps e) to k) to make further bales of said series.
a) providing a compression tube extending along a longitudinal axis, the compression tube having a first end opposite to an open second end, an inlet to receive the compressible loose material and an outlet to let said material in a compressed form out from the compression tube, said open second end defining said outlet;
b) supplying a film wrap from a main roller of film wrap;
c) forming said film wrap into a sheath tube around the compression tube such that said sheath tube has an end portion extending beyond said second end of the compression tube;
d) sealing said end portion of the sheathing tube thereby closing said outlet of the compression tube and forming the bottom sealed end of a next to be formed bale of said series;
e) positioning a retaining member at the second end of the compression tube;
f) feeding said inlet of the compression tube with a certain amount of said loose compressible material;
g) compressing the loose material in the compression tube against the retaining member thereby obtaining said material in a compressed form;
h) pushing said material in a compressed form out from the outlet of the compression tube while moving said retaining member along the longitudinal axis away from the second end thereby forming said next to be formed bale into a film wrap just formed bale and leaving a further end portion of said sheath tube extending beyond said second end of the compression tube;
i) sealing said further end portion of the sheath tube to provide simultaneously the sealed top end of said film wrap just formed bale and the bottom end of a further next to be formed bale of said series;
j) cutting said further end portion of the sheath tube, and thus separating said just formed bale from said further next to be formed bale;
k) unloading said just formed bale from the retaining member; and l) repeating steps e) to k) to make further bales of said series.
20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising between steps h) of pushing and i) of sealing, the step of moving back the retaining member towards the second end of the compression tube to relieve tension present in the film wrap.
21. The method according to claim 19, wherein the step f) of feeding comprises the
22 step of:
- conveying the compressible loose material to the inlet of the compression tube.
22. The method according to claim 19, wherein the step of unloading comprises the step of:
- pushing the just formed bale on a discharge conveyor and carrying the same away from the retaining member.
- conveying the compressible loose material to the inlet of the compression tube.
22. The method according to claim 19, wherein the step of unloading comprises the step of:
- pushing the just formed bale on a discharge conveyor and carrying the same away from the retaining member.
23. The method according to claim 19, further comprising between the steps h) of pushing and i) of sealing, the step of:
- forming gusset folds at said top end of a just formed bale and at said bottom end of said next to be formed bale.
- forming gusset folds at said top end of a just formed bale and at said bottom end of said next to be formed bale.
24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the step of forming gussets folds comprises the step of:
- blowing compressed air towards said end portion of the sheath tube.
- blowing compressed air towards said end portion of the sheath tube.
25. The method according to claim 19, further comprising the step of:
- evacuating airborne dust created from the compression of said compressible loose material.
- evacuating airborne dust created from the compression of said compressible loose material.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 (3)
| 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 |
| CA2,414,109 | 2002-12-12 | ||
| 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 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2453035A1 true CA2453035A1 (en) | 2004-06-12 |
Family
ID=32509210
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2453035 Abandoned 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 |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2453035A1 (en) |
Cited By (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NL1027803C2 (en) * | 2004-12-16 | 2006-06-19 | Pmb Uva Internat B V | Tubular packaging forming and filling machine, includes press plate device for pressing down against goods inside tube |
| EP1812300A1 (en) * | 2004-11-03 | 2007-08-01 | Premier Tech Technologies Limitée | Self-standing bag for bales of compressed loose material and a method of producing thereof |
| NL2000130C2 (en) * | 2006-07-06 | 2008-01-08 | Reshare B V | Press is for formation of baled textiles, particularly clothing, and has press plate together with devices for winding sheet, cord or similar around pressed textiles |
| US10106279B2 (en) | 2014-09-30 | 2018-10-23 | Tube-Line Manfacturing Ltd. | Film cutter for in-line hay bale wrapper |
| CN111846478A (en) * | 2020-07-16 | 2020-10-30 | 钟广 | Cutting and bagging device for spicy strips |
| CN112607146A (en) * | 2020-11-26 | 2021-04-06 | 赵栩慧 | Solid waste treatment device and treatment method thereof |
-
2003
- 2003-12-11 CA CA 2453035 patent/CA2453035A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP1812300A1 (en) * | 2004-11-03 | 2007-08-01 | Premier Tech Technologies Limitée | Self-standing bag for bales of compressed loose material and a method of producing thereof |
| EP1812300A4 (en) * | 2004-11-03 | 2013-03-13 | Premier Tech Technologies Limitee | Self-standing bag for bales of compressed loose material and a method of producing thereof |
| NL1027803C2 (en) * | 2004-12-16 | 2006-06-19 | Pmb Uva Internat B V | Tubular packaging forming and filling machine, includes press plate device for pressing down against goods inside tube |
| NL2000130C2 (en) * | 2006-07-06 | 2008-01-08 | Reshare B V | Press is for formation of baled textiles, particularly clothing, and has press plate together with devices for winding sheet, cord or similar around pressed textiles |
| US10106279B2 (en) | 2014-09-30 | 2018-10-23 | Tube-Line Manfacturing Ltd. | Film cutter for in-line hay bale wrapper |
| CN111846478A (en) * | 2020-07-16 | 2020-10-30 | 钟广 | Cutting and bagging device for spicy strips |
| CN112607146A (en) * | 2020-11-26 | 2021-04-06 | 赵栩慧 | Solid waste treatment device and treatment method thereof |
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| EEER | Examination request | ||
| FZDE | Dead |