EP0149774B1 - Method and device for the automatic mechanical bundling and binding of highly compressed bales of waste materials with one or more binding wires - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method according to the preamble of claim 1 and to an apparatus for performing the method according to the preamble of claim 3.

The tying or strapping of highly compressed bales from waste materials is already known from DE-PS 2 111 894 and DE-OS 2 245 190 in approximately the same way in such a way that the in parallel, several levels around the bale still in the press shaft wires laid around, brought into contact with the opposite binding wire from one side of the housing by means of grooves in the plunger sole by means of a single, rake-like feed member, then severed together by means of separate cutting devices and the free wire ends are mechanically twisted together.

Due to the rake-like wire guide part, the hydraulic cylinder required for moving the latter and the assignment of the separate cutting devices to the respective twisting stations, these known devices are not only structurally very complex and also prone to failure, but also the space required for the installation of a baler equipped in this way, becomes very large due to the always very wide feed rake for the binding wires and its drive cylinder.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a binding device which is structurally largely simplified compared to the known prior art and which is also considerably smaller in terms of its outer dimensions, in conjunction with a procedure which is also substantially improved in terms of the workflow.

The solution to this problem in terms of the method and the device can be found in the patent claims, shown largely schematically in the drawings and described in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown there.

• Fig. 1 die Vorderansicht auf eine erfindungsgemäße Ballenpresse,
• Fig. 2 eine Draufsicht mit fertig gepreßtem Ballen,
• Fig. 3 desgleichen mit durchgeführten Abbindedrähten,
• Fig. 4 desgleichen in der Trenn- und Abbindeposition,
• Fig. 5 eine alternative Führungskopfausbildung zu Fig. 2 und
• Fig. 6 den Schneidstempel aus Fig. 5 in Arbeitsposition.

The drawings show:

• 1 is a front view of a baler according to the invention,
• 2 is a plan view with the bale pressed,
• 3 likewise with lead wires carried through,
• 4 likewise in the separation and setting position,
• Fig. 5 shows an alternative guide head design to Fig. 2 and
• Fig. 6 shows the cutting punch from Fig. 5 in the working position.

From the representations in FIGS. 1 and 2, the basic structure of the new binding device according to the invention can first be seen. Here, especially for the transfer of the binding wires 4, from the side walls of the press shaft 1 into the area of the twisting spindles 12 or the twisting hooks 11, each binding plane E "E2, E3, individual and mechanically not coupled, hydraulically moved cylinder-piston units 6, 7 , 7a, 8 arranged on the press shaft 1, each of the piston rods at its free end protruding from the hydraulic cylinder 6 carrying a rod head 7a which is centered in its end position via guides 7b in the press piston 2. This individual arrangement of feed cylinders results in the state according to the prior art The previously known arithmetic units have a significantly smaller overall width B, in particular if, instead of normal cylinders, so-called telescopic cylinders with double to triple ratios are used.

In a further special embodiment of the present invention, the free end of each rod head also has, in addition to the known guide rollers FR for the binding wires 4, 5, a cutting punch 9 located centrally between the rollers FR, the tip Sp or Sp 'of which in the feed direction VR Piston rod 7 is set back to the leading edge FRV by a small amount a. In the same line of action VR, each binding plane E _{1 '} E2, E3 faces the respective cutting punch 9 with an anvil 10 which is resiliently resiliently mounted in the axial direction x and which in its end position (FIG. 4) moved to a block on a switching element (not shown) Machine control is present or depresses it.

This arrangement according to the invention thus represents a very considerable improvement over the previously known designs, since no separately arranged and separately controlled wire cutting device is now required, but rather the push-through device and the push-through pressure simultaneously result in the shearing device and the shearing pressure.

In this connection, it is also relevant to the invention that the anvil 10 is arranged between a pair of twist spindles 12 occupied by a geared brake motor 13 with twist hooks 11 and is dimensioned smaller in its inside width d than the inside opening width D of the arms 8a of the die 9 which laterally delimit the cutting punch Wire guide head. A functionally important dimension for this can be seen approximately when this anvil 10 is kept in diameter d approximately so much smaller than the opening width D of the wire guide arms 8a that the wires 4a, 5a and 4b, 5b can be clamped in between.

In order on the one hand to have better access to the twisting and separating elements in the event of any repair or maintenance work, or on the other hand to save space in the overall width B during transport and machine installation, the invention further provides that all wire feeders 6 to 8a and cutting or twisting stations 9 to 13 are each pivotably attached to the outer walls 1a of the press shaft 1 via a common frame 15 or 16 and that instead of individual gear brake motors 13 located to the side of the press shaft 1 per binding plane E ₁ , E _{2 '} E3 to reduce the lateral projection A, a single motor 13' common to all stations with mechanical drive coupling 14 to the twisting spindles 11, 12 of all binding planes E ₁ , E ₂ , E3 is provided, wherein this motor 13 'sits above the frame 16 and is directed towards the press shaft 1.

Due to the fact that the wire feed-through device 6, 7, 8 in connection with the feed-through pressure and the anvil 10, which is resiliently mounted over a certain distance under spring pressure of the tip Sp, also represent the shearing device with the required shearing pressure, the following basic working method results with the device according to the invention : The binding wire or wires 4, 5 are moved in each plane E _l , E2, E3 individually and by mechanically not positively connected feed units (cylinder 6, piston rod 7, wire guide head 8) in contact with a cutting or separating unit 9, 10. The hydraulic system that builds up at this separating device, the maximum required cutting pressure then simultaneously triggers the control impulse for the start of work of the twisting fingers 11, whereby the use of so-called geared brake motors 13 with a low tilting torque, on the one hand, always moves to the same starting position of the twisting fingers 11 on each working cycle, and on the other hand synchronism inaccuracies between the individual twisting stations I ', II', III 'are compensated. The binding wires 4, 5 or their regions 4b, 5b brought together by the rod head 7a on the finished bale side and the regions 4a, 5a lying behind the baling plunger in the working direction R are at least as long by clamping between the cutting punch 9 and anvil 10 or wire feed head 8 during the severing phase held in position until the free wire ends 4a, 5a and 4b, 5b have been effectively twisted. During the advancing process, the tip Sp set back with respect to the rollers FR ensures that no wire notch occurs at all before the anvil 10 has come into contact and at the same time the clamping has started.

This necessary clamping can alternatively also take place in that the cutting punch 9 is provided with a main tip Sp 'and two additional tips Sp 1 which are set back laterally and in the feed direction VR, the latter SP' being in the free and live wire ends 4a, 5a and 4b, 5b are wedged after separation by the main tip Sp '(Fig. 5 and 6). The following points are also important in the work or process sequence: The shear pressure 4a, 5a and 4b, 5b that has become free after shearing and is under tension is clamped until the tensile forces from the twisting process 4a, 5a and 4b , 5b pull out of the clamp. The twisting process in the multi-motor version 13 is initiated via a pressure switch for each level E _{1 '} E2, E3 when this pressure switch indicates the separation that has taken place; when using only one common motor 13 'for all setting levels E ₁ , E2, E3 ... only when a corresponding evaluation electronics within the machine control system, which signals shearing in each level, or indicates that the cutting pressure has been reached or the Machine control reports.

Ultimately, the invention described above for hydraulic drive is also applicable to other drive systems for wire feed, wire separation and twisting of the free ends.

List of reference numbers

• 1 press shaft
• 1a outer walls
• 2 plungers
• 2a ram rod
• 2b opening column
• 3 finished bales
• 4 binding wire
• 4a band area on the fully knotted bale
• 4b belt area for the new bale
• 5a band area on the fully knotted bale
• 5b belt area for the new bale
• 6 cylinders
• 7 piston rod
• 7a rod head
• 7b guides
• 8 wire guide head
• 8a arms
• 9 cutting punches
• 10 anvil
• 11 twisting fingers or twisting hooks
• 12 finger waves or drill spindles
• 13 geared brake motor
• 13 'single motor
• 14 mechanical coupling on twisted side
• 15 frames (feed side)
• 16 frames (twisted side)
• 17 wire pulleys
• a Distance, tip of cutting punch to guide roller
• A Overhang on the side of the press shaft
• E ₁ , E2 ... setting levels
• R working direction plunger
• VR feed direction from item 7
• Sp cutting die tip
• Sp 'cutting punch tip (Fig. 5 and 6)
• S _P1 additional tips
• FR leadership role
• FRV leading roller leading edge
• K clamping edge
• d anvil diameter
• D opening width of the wire guide arms 8a
• B width

Claims (7)

1. A process for the automatic mechanical en- wrapping and binding of highly-compressed bales (3) of waste materials with one or more binding wires (4, 5) at one or more levels (E,, E,, E₃) lying parallel to one another, whereby each level is first enwrapped by a wire passing crosswise over the passage in which the material to be compressed is moving to be compressed to form a bale (3) with wires (4, 5) being drawn intermittently on each side (15 and 16) of this passage from suitable storage means into the bale-compaction chamber, with one of the wires (4) then being moved across behind the compressed bale (3) to the opposite side (16) and then, after mechanical severance, having each resultant pair of free wire ends (4a, 5a and 4b, 5b) twisted together, characterized by, a combination of the following working operations following one another in succession or cyclically and at least to some extent overlapping one another:

a. Binding wire or wires (4, 5) being moved individually at each level (E,, E₂, E₃) by feed units (cylinder 6, piston rod 7, wire feed head 8) that are not mechanically connected one with another, to bring it or them into contact with a cutting or severance unit (9, 10).

b. Rotation of the twisting fingers (11) being initiated by a control impulse that is triggered on the maximum pressure necessary for severance building up in the hydraulic circuit on the cutting means coming against an end stop.

c. Similar starting position always being assumed by the twisting fingers (11) and synchronization inaccuracies between the various twisting stations (I', 11', III') being compensated for through the use of so-called geared brake motors with low pullout torque.

d. The binding wires (4, 5) or that part of them (4b, 5b) where they are drawn together on the ready compacted bale end of the press ram and those (4a, 5a) at the rear end of the press ram as viewed in its direction of compression being held in position by being clamped between the cutting punch (9) and the anvil (10) or wire-feed head (8) during the severance phase until effective twisting together of the free ends (4a, 5a and 4b, 5b) is effected.

2. A process in accordance with Claim 1, characterized by, the following further steps in the sequence of operations.

a. The cutting pressure that clamps the free ends of the wires (4a, 5a and 4b, 5b), that remain under tension after severance, being maintained until the tension resulting from the twisting operation pulls them out of the clamping means.

b. Twisting being initiated in the case of the multimotor (13) embodyment at each individual level (E₁, E,, E₃) by a pressure monitor indicating that severance has been effected; in the case of the embodyment utilising a single motor (13') for all binding levels (E,, E₂, E₃) only once a suitable electronic evaluation unit forming part of the machine control signals that severance has been effected at all levels or that indicates or that indicates or signals the machine control when full cutting pressure has built up.

3. An apparatus to perform the process steps detailed in Claim 1 on a baling press with compression chamber (1) and associated press ram (2) and with binding wires (4, 5) passing along the outer walls (1a) of the compression chamber being passed crosswise to the direction (R) in which the press ram (2) travels, to the twisting stations (11, 12, 13) by wire-feed means comprising a drive cylinder (6), piston-rod (7) with wire-feed head (8) on which is mounted a cutting punch (9) for wire severance, characterised by, a combination of the following constructional features:

a. Individual hydraulic cylinder-piston combinations (6, 7, 7a, 8) for each binding level (E,, E₂, E₃), mounted on the wall of the compression chamber (1), but not otherwise mechanically coupled one with another, to carry the binding wires from the outer wall (1a) of the compression chamber across to the vicinity of the twisting spindles (12) or twisting hooks (13).

b. Each piston rod (7) having at its free end extending out of the hydraulic cylinder (6) a rod-head (7a) that in its end position is centered by means of guideways (7b) in the press ram (2).

c. The free end (8) of each rod-head (7a) having, apart from the known guide pulleys (FR) for the binding wires (4, 5), a cutting punch (9) located centrally between the pulleys (FR) with the tip (Sp or Sp 1) of said cutting punch being set back counter to the feed direction (VR) of the piston rod (7) by a small dimension (a).

d. An anvil (10) that is spring-loaded to move back in an axial direction (x) being provided at each binding level (E₁, E,, E₃) opposite to the cutting punch (9) in the same line of action (VR). The said anvil in its end position against a block being arranged to contact or press in a switching element connected in the machine control circuit.

e. Each anvil (10) having a lesser overall diameter (d) than the clearance (D) between the arms (8a) of the wire feed head between which the cutting punch (9) is located and each anvil being situated between a pair of twisting spindles (12) fitted with twisting hooks (11) and driven by a geared brake motor (13).

f. All wire feed stations (6 to 8a) and all severing and twisting stations (9 to 13) being each mounted on common frames (15 and 16) secured to the outer walls (1a) of the compression chamber (1) in such a manner as to be releasable.

4. An apparatus in accordance with Claim 3, characterised by, a single electric motor (13') being provided to drive the twisting spindles (11, 12) of all binding levels (E₁, E₂. E₃) together by way of a mechanical drive coupling (14), the said motor being mounted above the frame (16) and facing towards the compression chamber (1) in order to reduce the overhang (A) at the side that arises when individual geared brake motors (13) for each binding level (E,, E₂, E₃) are fitted to one side of the compression chamber.

5. An apparatus in accordance with one or more of the above-detailed claims, characterised by, the cutting punch (9) having a major tip (Sp') and two supplementary tips (Sp 1), one on either side and each set back in a direction counter to the direction of feed (VR), whereby the latter (Sp 1) wedge in the free wire ends (4a, 5a and 4b, 5b) following severance by the main tip (Sp').

6. An apparatus in accordance with one or more of the above-detailed claims, characterised by, the wire-feed mechanisms (6, 7, 8) in conjunction with the pressure applied to pass the wires across and the spring loaded anvils (10) that are able to move back slightly against the pressure applied by the tips (Sp) acting also as the severance mechanism and providing the pressure necessary for severance.

7. An apparatus in accordance with one or more of the above-detailed claims, characterised by, the anvil (10) having a diameter (d) sufficiently less than the opening (D) between the wire feed arms (8a) for the wires (4a, 5a and 4b, 5b) to be capable of being clamped between the said anvil and the said arms.

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