DK2537668T3

DK2537668T3 - Baler

Info

Publication number: DK2537668T3
Application number: DK12173183.0T
Authority: DK
Inventors: Hermann Schwelling
Original assignee: Hermann Schwelling
Priority date: 2011-06-24
Filing date: 2012-06-22
Publication date: 2018-05-28
Also published as: PL2537668T3; EP2537668A2; EP2537668B1; DE102012105461A1; DE202012013758U1; EP2537668A3; DE102012105461B4; ES2671229T3

Description

The invention relates to a baler for compressing loose material, in particular cardboard, wherein a filling shaft is filled by so called rear loading or a lifting and tipping unit for a baler.

Two basic variants of balers are known in the art. In a first basic variant the baler, e.g. a channel baler according to EP 2 292 417 A2 is loaded from a side according to the preamble of claim 1, according to the other basic variant the baler is loaded from a rear.

The German company Kampwerth Umwelttechnik GmbH & Co. offers lifting-tilting devices in different variants which are configured for rear loading a press container.

In spite of various advantages of rear loading compared to loading from a side portion of the baler the engineering complexity and materials requirements of this basic variant are still relatively high and operating efficiency due to long walk ways for the operator are still rather low.

There is a long felt need in the market to increase a level of automation for loading balers, in particular balers with a horizontally operating press device which are also designated as horizontal balers. This means that loading shall be performed at least semi automatically possibly however fully automatically, thus with reduced operator requirement and reduced capital outlay and/or reduced consumption. CA 1 335 648 C discloses a residential garbage truck with an arrangement for temporarily arresting and automatically pivoting trash collection containers for emptying into the residential waste collection vehicle, however this arrangement is not easily useable at balers.

In addition to performance parameters of a baler the surface area required to set the baler up and operate the baler becomes increasingly important. US 5,551,336 A discloses a device for loading and compressing waste material which is configured to increase efficiency of a press. In this device it is provided in particular that a respective collection container that is filled with waste material is received by a pivot arrangement and emptied by a pivot movement into the filling shaft of the press.

The waste material thus falls in front of the piston of the press. A forward movement of the piston compresses the waste material. The piston of the press, this means its forward movement for compressing and its backward movement for releasing the fill in shaft simultaneously form the drive for the pivot arrangement.

This configuration of a press however has the effect that the pivot arrangement has to be arranged directly behind the piston and its movement range and the drive element for the piston have to be arranged in a lateral outer portion of the device, essentially adjacent to the pivot arrangement. The required surface area in the rear portion and in the side portion in the press is not reduced by this configuration relative to known balers, in particular channel balers but rather increased.

Thus it is the object of the invention to improve balers, advantageously with a horizontal configuration so that material requirements are further reduced compared to producing a baler with rear loading. Furthermore the operating cost and complexity and surface requirements shall be reduced in particular by an improved lifting/tilting unit for the baler. A baler recited supra that is advantageously configured for compressing cardboard and other packaging material, comprising: A baler for compressing loose material like cardboard and other packaging materials, the baler comprising: - a press cavity in which the loose material is at least partially compressed into bales, and optionally an adjoining press channel, - a filling shaft which is open in an upward direction, this means opposite to a direction of gravity and which leads into the press cavity in a downward direction, - a lifting -/ tipping unit, configured for moving a container that is filled with loose material out of a coupling position in which a coupling of the container with the lifting-/tipping unit is performed into an emptying position from which the material falls due to gravity into an opening of the filling shaft and through the filling shaft into the press cavity, and - a feed arrangement, configured for moving the bale in a predetermined feed direction out of the press cavity, wherein according to the invention - the lifting- / tipping unit is configured to move the container from the coupling position into the emptying position by pivoting about a pivot axis that extends perpendicular to the gravity direction as well as perpendicular to the feed direction , characterized in that - a support unit that is provided with an insertion support is provided for coupling and decoupling the container wherein coupling the container is performed by insertion into the support unit and decoupling is performed by pushing the baler out from the support unit.

In a first advantageous embodiment the insertion support includes two fork shaped parallel support elements that are arranged in parallel and opposite to each other and which are attached at a pivot element that is pivot ably supported about the picot axis. The container on the other hand side is provided with support elements that correspond to the geometry of the support elements at the insertion support so that the container is supported by the support elements during insertion and extraction and supported by the support elements during pivoting.

In order to facilitate an ergonomically advantageous operation of the baler the support elements are advantageously positioned so that the insertion opening for the container is arranged adjacent to the operating arrangement for the baler, wherein the operating arrangement also includes the operating elements for the lifting and pivoting unit. Inserting the container into the insertion opening of the insertion support is performed from one of the side portions of the baler and not like for known devices from the rear of the baler. Advantageously the pivot element and the pivot drive are arranged on a side of the baler which is oriented away from the insertion opening and the operating arrangement.

In another advantageously embodiment of the baler a mechanism for controlling a presence of the baler is provided in the insertion support. This checking mechanism includes distance measuring or checking devices which facilitate assessing a current distance between the container and a reference position in the pivot element. Advantageously a proximity sensor is provided and coupled with the operating arrangement so that triggering the pivot movement is only possible when the container is present and correctly positioned in the insertion support.

Another advantageously embodiment facilitates configuring the baler with a mechanism for arresting the container in the support unit, wherein the arresting is performed in preparation of the pivoting and in particular during the pivoting. Thus it is within the spirit and scope of the invention to provide electromagnetic coupling elements and to connect them with the operating arrangements so that starting the lifting/ tilting unit is only possible when the container is arrested.

Embodiments are within the spirit and scope of the invention, wherein - the support elements envelop the inserted container at 3 sides of its circumference together with a portion of the pivot element in that the support elements together with the pivot section form a fork shaped insertion support as described supra, so that the container is supported by the support elements during insertion and supported and retained by the pivot elements during pivoting, or - the support elements receive the inserted container at two opposite sides of its circumference while a pivot element section where the support elements are attached reaches under the container so that the container is supported by the support elements during insertion, the inserted container contacts the pivot element section and is supported by the pivot element section during pivoting and only supported by the support elements in the supports.

The baler is advantageously configured for applications in conjunction with containers provided as grid carts.

The new baler is characterized in particular in that the lifting/tipping unit is suitable for rear loading due to the orthogonal orientation of the pivot axis relative to the feed direction for the balers and relative to the direction of gravity and also configured so that loading the baler can be performed by a grid cart like the ones that are used in large wholesale stores.

The lifting/tipping unit is advantageously driven hydraulically. Particular features of this new lifting/tipping unit for a baler are: - movable support of the pivot element which is advantageously provided as a lifting bar and which is arranged at a side of the baler which is oriented away from the operator, and - the simple arresting of the container or grid card by arresting elements, in particular magnets in a fork shaped insertion shape support that is configured at the pivot element.

In order to switch off the baler or at least the lifting/tipping unit should a cart come off from the magnet the presence of the container is additionally monitored by a distance sensor or proximity switch during pivoting. Thus it is assured that the lifting/tipping unit can only be started and operated when the container is attached.

The baler according to the invention and the newly configured lifting/tipping unit are subsequently described based on an embodiment with reference to drawing figures without limiting the spirit and scope of the invention, wherein FIG. 1 illustrates the principle of the baler according to the invention which the fill in arrangement and a lifting/tipping unit for moving a container that is filled with loose material from a coupling position into an emptying position; FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the lifting/tipping unit of the baler according to the e invention illustrated as an individual assembly without container, however with the insertion support for the container embellished; FIGs. 3-6 illustrate the lifting/-tipping unit configured as an individual assembly like in FIG. 2, however with the container coupled in a constellation at a beginning of the pivoting and in various constellations during pivoting up to the position of the container over the fill in shaft; FIG. 7 illustrates the insertion support without an inserted container wherein the fork shape is visible that is formed by 2 support elements that are arranged in parallel opposite to each other and by a section of the pivot element; FIG. 8 illustrates the insertion support with a partially inserted container wherein a correct position of the container in the insertion support is not confirmed by a checking mechanism that is integrated into the insertion support in this embodiment and therefore the arresting of the container and the starting of the lifting/tipping unit are blocked; FIG. 9 illustrates the insertion support with completely inserted container wherein a correct position of the container in the insertion support is confirmed by the control mechanism in this embodiment so that the container is automatically arrested in the insertion support and starting the lifting-/tipping unit manually is possible or already initiated automatically.

The horizontal baler 1 that is illustrated in FIG. 1 in principle is configured to compress loose material, for example card board and other packaging material and comprises: - a press cavity (2) in which the loose material is at least partially compressed into bales, wherein the press cavity 2 leads into a press channel, - a filling shaft (3) which is open in an upward direction, this means opposite to a direction of gravity (S) and which leads into the press cavity (2) in a downward direction, - a lifting -/ tipping unit 4 (extending over a drawing area designated by dimensional arrows), configured for pivoting a container (5) that is filled with loose material out of a coupling position in which a coupling of the container (5) which rests with running rollers on a floor 15 with the lifting-/tipping unit (4) is performed into an emptying position from which the material falls due to gravity (S) into an opening of the filling shaft (3) and through the filling shaft (3) into the press cavity (2), and - a feed arrangement (not illustrated), configured for compressing the loose material and for moving the bale in a predetermined feed direction (V) out of the press cavity (2). FIG. 1a illustrates the baler 1 in a side view. FIG. 1b illustrates the baler 1 in a top view.

According to the invention the lifting -/tipping unit4 of the new baler 1 is configured for pivoting the container 5 about a pivot axis A perpendicular to gravity S as well as perpendicular to the feed direction. This is evident from FIG. 1 in that the direction of gravity S and the feed direction V are in the drawing plane in the side view, the pivot axis A however extends orthogonal to the drawing plane. In the top view the pivot axis A is oriented parallel to the drawing plane.

In order to couple or decouple the container 5 to or from the lifting -/tipping unit 4 an insert support 7 is provided that extends over the drawing portion that is indicated by dimensional arrows and is connected through a pivot element 8 with a hydraulic cylinder 6 (FIGs. 3-6) that forms the pivot drive. The insert support 7 includes 2 holder elements 9 that are arranged parallel and opposite to each other which are arranged at the pivot element 8. The holder elements 9 form a fork together with a section of the pivot element 8.

The container 5 is provided with support elements 10 which correspond to the geometry of the support elements 9 so that the container 5 is supported by the support elements 9 during insertion and extraction and supported and carried by the support element 9 during pivoting. The embodiment however can also be selected so that the support elements 9 are adapted to the geometry of the retaining elements 10.

When operating the arrangement the filled container 5 is manually inserted in the direction R1, thus from a side into the insert support 7 and after pivoting outward into the emptying position and pivoting backward into the coupling position removed from the insert support 7 by manual pushing in the direction R2 and thus decoupled from the baler 1.

The hydraulic cylinder 6 is connected with an operating device 11 through a control arrangement that is not illustrated in the drawing figure. The operating arrangement 11 advantageously includes also the operating element for the lifting-/tipping unit 4 in addition to the operating elements for the entire baler 1.

It is a particular advantage of the arrangement according to the invention that the opening for inserting the container 5 is positioned at the insert support 7 at a small distance from the operating arrangement 11. Thus only a small walking distance is required for operating the baler 1 including operating the lifting-/tipping unit 4 and coupling and decoupling the container 5. Thus the baler 1 is advantageously configured from an ergonomic point of view. The pivot element 8 and its drive, the hydraulic cylinder 6 are arranged on a side of the baler 1 that is oriented away from the insert support 7 and the operating arrangement 11 which is advantageous from an ergonomic point of view and in particular from a work safety point of view.

By the same token less walking space for the operator is required in the rear portion wherein also the space requirement for setting up and operating the baler is overall smaller than for the solution that are known in the art.

In the described embodiment the lifting-/tipping unit 4 is provided with a checking mechanism either configured as a distance measuring device which measures a distance between the container 5 and the pivot element 8 during insertion of the container 5 into the insertion support 7 with respect to reaching a correct distance dimension which is required for the pivoting or in the form of a checking device that assesses the distance from a quantitative point of view in the sense of mere presence of the container 5 in the position that is predetermined as a prerequisite for the pivoting.

Advantageously a proximity sensor 12 is provided in this respect and coupled with the operating arrangement 11 or the control for the hydraulic cylinder 6 so that starting the lifting-/tipping unit 4 is only possible when the container 5 is present in the insertion support 7.

This arrangement is also configured to control a mechanism for arresting the container 5 in the insert support 7. In the embodiment described herein an arresting mechanism of this type is made for example from electromagnetic coupling element s 13 which are coupled with the operating arrangement 11 or the control for the hydraulic cylinder 6 so that starting the lifting-/tipping unit 4 is only possible when the container 5 is in the insert support 7 and the arresting mechanism is turned on. FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of a lifting-/tipping unit 4 of the baler 1 according to the invention configured as a sub assembly. An illustration of a container 5 was omitted for reasons of clarity which illustrates the configuration of the insertion support 7 more clearly. In FIG. 2 as well as in the subsequent figures identical reference numerals according to the listing of reference numerals and designation are used for identical sub-assemblies so that no description of the respective sub-assemblies are required for each and every figure. FIG. 3 illustrates the lifting-/tipping unit 4 with the coupled container 5 wherein the container 5 is provided e.g. as a grid card and arranged in the coupling position. In a snap shot view during tipping of a coupled container 5 in various constellation and perspectives. FIGs 4 and 5 illustrate the lifting-/tipping unit 4 in snap shot views during pivoting of the coupled container 5 in various constellations and perspectives. FIG. 6 illustrates the constellation of the lifting-/tipping unit 4 when reaching the emptying position of the container 5 over the fill in shaft after pivoting. FIG. 7 illustrates the insertion support 7 without an inserted container 5 illustrating the fork shape. FIG. 8 illustrates the insertion support 7 with a partially inserted container 5. In this situation the actual position of the container 5 in the insertion support 7 has not been reached yet. The proximity sensor 12 therefor blocks the actuation of the arresting mechanism as well as the starting of the lifting-/tipping unit 4.

In FIG. 9 the container 5 is completely inserted into the inert support 7. In this constellation the proximity sensor 12 confirms presence of the container 5 in the insert support 7, thereafter the container 5 is arrested and readiness to start the lifting-/tipping unit is either signaled to the operator or also initiated automatically.

The invention is not limited to the illustrated and described embodiment but includes in particular also variants that can be formed by combining features or elements that are disclosed in a context with the invention. The applicant retains the right to claim essential features that were only described so far and in particular disclosed in the drawing figures. The patent claims that are filed with the application just include proposed language without prejudicating additional patent protection. Thus also an embodiment of the baler 1 of the lifting-/tipping unit 4 is within the spirit and scope of the invention where the support elements 9 are arranged opposite to each other and in parallel with the each other and receive the container 5 at 2 opposite sides of its circumference wherein the pivot element 8 is configured so that a partial section of the pivot element 9 reaches under the container 5 so that the container 5 is lifted by the under reaching pivot element portion during lifting and pivoting and carried during pivoting wherein the support elements 9 and the retaining elements 10 only perform a support and guide function.

Another embodiment is characterized in that the 2 support elements 9 of the insertion support 7 have different lengths. This further facilitates inserting a container 5.

Reference numerals and Designations 1 baler 2 press cavity 3 fill in shaft 4 lifting-/tipping unit 5 container 6 hydraulic cylinder 7 insert support 8 pivot element 9 support element 10 retaining element 11 operating arrangement 12 proximity sensor 13 electromagnetic coupling elements 14 running rollers 15 base surface

Claims

A baler for compressing loose material, such as cardboard and other packaging material, comprising: - a press chamber (2) in which the compression of the loose material for bales is at least partially effected, and optionally a subsequent pressing channel, - a filling shaft (3) that upwards, i.e. opposite to the direction of gravity (S), is open and downwards opens into the press chamber (2), - a lifting / tilting unit (4) designed to move a container (5) filled with loose material from a coupling position in which connection of the container (5) to the lifting / tilting unit (4) takes place, to an emptying position, from which the material, by virtue of gravity (S), falls into the opening of the filling shaft (3) and through this port in the press room (2), and - a feeding device designed to advance the bale in a predetermined feeding direction (V) out of the pressing chamber (2), wherein - the lifting / tilting unit (4) is designed to move the container (5) from the coupling position to the emptying position at rotation about a pivot axis (A) extending both perpendicular to the direction of gravity (S) and perpendicular to the direction of travel (V), characterized in that - there is provided for holding and disconnecting the container (5) with an insertion holder (7 ), which is configured in such a way that connection of the container (5) is provided by pushing in the holding unit in the direction (R1) from the side, ie. from one of the side regions and not from the back of the baler, and disconnection is provided by pushing in direction (R2) out of the holding unit.

A baler according to claim 1, wherein - the holding unit comprises two holding parts (9) which are parallel and arranged opposite to each other and which are fork-shaped on a pivot (8) mounted pivotally about the pivot axis (A), and - the container (5) is provided with holding elements (10) corresponding to the geometry of the holding parts (9) in such a way that the container (5) is guided by the holding parts (9) and during rotation, is held by the holding parts (9). ).

A baler according to claim 1 or 2, wherein - the push-in opening of the container (5) is positioned on the holding unit spatially adjacent to the operating device (11) of the baler (1), wherein this operating device (11) also comprises operating elements for the lifting / tilting unit ( 4), and - the turning part (8) is arranged on the side of the baler (1) which faces away from the push-in opening and the operating device (11).

A baler according to one of the preceding claims, which is provided with a mechanism for checking the presence of the container (5) in the push-in holder (7).

The baler of claim 4, wherein the control mechanism comprises distance measuring or testing means with respect to the space between the container (5) and a reference position on the pivot portion (8).

A baler according to claim 5, wherein an approximation sensor (12) is provided and is connected to the operating device (11) in such a way that commissioning of the lifting / tilting unit (4) is possible only in the presence and correct position. of the container (5) in the push-in holder (7).

A baler according to one of the preceding claims, which is provided with a mechanism for locking the container (5) in the push-in holder (7) in preparation for and during the rotation.

The baler of claim 7, wherein the locking mechanism comprises electromagnetic coupling elements (13).

A baler according to claim 8, wherein the electromagnetic coupling elements (13) are connected to the operating device (11) in such a way that commissioning of the lifting / tilting unit (4) is possible only in the presence of the container (5) in the push-in holder (7). ) and / or by locked container (5).

A baler according to one of the preceding claims, which is designed to use containers (5) which are designed as a lattice wagon.