EP3647042B1 - Machine for high efficiency compacting of compressible waste - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a machine for compacting compressible waste with high efficiency making it possible to form transportable bales.

One envisaged field of application is in particular, but not exclusively, that of the compaction of cellulosic type waste, for example cardboard, or even plastic waste.

Known compaction machines include a substantially vertical cylindrical compaction cavity having an open upper end for receiving waste and an opposite lower end. This lower end receives a support support, such as a handling pallet, easily transportable by means of a pallet truck. Also, the cylindrical compaction cavity is delimited at the front by a semi-cylindrical portion divided into two hinged doors mounted to pivot along two diametrically opposite parallel axes of the cavity. Before using the machine, an open plastic bag of a volume equivalent to that of the cylindrical compaction cavity is installed precisely inside the cavity and resting on the handling pallet. In addition, the compaction machine comprises a compaction and shredding device comprising a compaction roller equipped with teeth and drive members for driving it in a vertical translation movement and a double rotational movement inside the cylindrical compaction cavity so as to vertically compact the waste on the handling pallet as it is fed through the open upper end. In this way, a cylindrical ball of compacted waste is formed inside the plastic bag.

On the other hand, when too large quantities of waste are introduced through the open upper end, or when the waste introduced is less compressible, there is a risk of jamming the compacting machine. Also, to overcome this, it was imagined to automatically vary the operating speed of the compaction cylinder, by function of the mechanical resistance encountered by the cylinder inside the cylindrical cavity. Therefore, a measuring device provides a value representative of the power delivered by the drive members of the compaction roller, and when this power value is greater than a given threshold, the compaction roller is raised and its direction of rotation is reverse. We can refer in particular to the document FR2802462 , which describes such an implementation mode. The document EP-A-1023988 discloses a compaction machine according to the preamble of claim 1.

However, if this mode of implementation presents advantages in certain circumstances, in particular when the waste to be treated is not very compressible or even rigid, or even when too large quantities of waste are introduced, the compaction roller rises constantly and the Compaction no longer takes place, or with degraded productivity.

Also, a problem which arises and which the present invention aims to solve is to provide a compaction machine which makes it possible to compact the waste with great productivity in all circumstances and in particular, when a large quantity of waste is introduced into the cylindrical cavity.

For this purpose, a waste compaction machine provided with the characteristics of claim 1 is proposed.

Thus, a characteristic of the invention lies in the implementation of a timer, that is to say a clock making it possible to count down the time, which, surprisingly, makes it possible to reduce the frequency of reading of the compaction roller , while overcoming jams. In other words, when the waste in a jammed situation offers the compaction roller a strong resistance, consequently, the drive members must exert greater efforts. Also, instead of causing the compaction roller to be raised as soon as the forces reach a limit value, the forces are prolonged. Therefore, and in most cases, this allows the resistance offered by the waste to be overcome and the compaction roller to continue its course. In this way, the compaction roller compresses the waste over longer periods of time, and ensures better compaction, and also better yield. Yield can be seen as the quantity of waste compacted per unit of time.

Furthermore, thanks to the timer, there is no need to interrupt the operation of the compaction machine to carry out manual unblocking in the event of a severe jam.

According to the invention, the predetermined time interval is greater than one second. In this way, it turns out that after one second, the power supplied by the drive members is sufficient for the compaction roller to overcome a majority of the obstacles it encounters. On the other hand, for a minority, this power is not sufficient, and consequently, the lifting device causes the compaction roller to be raised. It will be observed that the determined time interval is advantageously between one and two seconds. It can then be adjusted according to the type of waste to be compacted so as to obtain maximum yield.

Furthermore, and according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, said control members are further connected to said drive members to be able to reverse the direction of drive of said roller. compaction. In this way, as soon as the compaction roller is raised, the control members order the drive members to operate in reverse of the compaction roller, both in its direction of rotation around its own axis of symmetry and in its direction. rotation in the cylindrical cavity as will be explained in more detail later in the description. Consequently, when the accumulated waste provides the compaction roller with resistance in one direction of rotation, the change in the direction of rotation allows the compaction roller to take the accumulated waste from behind and shred it for then compacting it. In addition, the compaction roller is raised, then released to compact the waste again under the action of its own weight.

Furthermore, and preferably, said drive members comprise a hydraulic motor, while said measuring device comprises a pressure indicator. The use of a hydraulic motor makes it possible to obtain a significant driving force localized in a small space. Thus, by installing a pressure indicator on the fluid supplying the hydraulic motor, the forces encountered by the hydraulic motor can easily be measured since the fluid pressure increases correspondingly. In addition, the drive members include gear trains allowing the single hydraulic motor to rotate the compaction roller, both around its own axis of symmetry, and also in a horizontal plane around a vertical axis which will be detailed below.

In addition, said lifting device advantageously comprises a hydraulic cylinder. In this way, thanks to a single hydraulic pump, both the hydraulic motor is powered to drive said compaction roller and the hydraulic cylinder to raise said compaction roller. Thus, energy resources are rationalized. Still pursuing this last goal, said hydraulic motor and said hydraulic cylinder are advantageously powered by the same hydraulic circuit. As soon as the compaction roller is raised using the hydraulic cylinder, the drive elements require little energy, because the compaction roller does not act no or very little on waste. Therefore, the implementation of the same hydraulic circuit does not raise any difficulties, and makes it possible to reduce both the power of the hydraulic pump and the length of the supply conduit.

According to the invention, said control members further comprise another timer to be able to control the lifting of said compaction roller during another determined time interval. Thus, said other timer makes it possible to control the operation of the hydraulic cylinder for another determined time, for example three seconds, during which the compaction roller is raised. At the end of these three seconds, the hydraulic cylinder ceases to be powered and the compaction roller, under the effect of its own weight, falls back to rest on the compacted waste to be compacted.

According to another mode of implementation, said drive members comprise an electric motor, while said measuring device comprises an indicator of electrical power consumed by the motor. Thus, thanks to the electrical power consumed indicator, we can easily measure the efforts encountered by the motor during the compaction of the waste.

• la Figure 1 est une vue schématique en perspective de dessus d'une machine de compactage conforme à l'invention ;
• la Figure 2 est vue schématique de côté de la machine de compactage représenté sur la Figure 1 ;
• la Figure 3 est une vue schématique d'un circuit hydraulique mis en oeuvre dans la machine de compactage selon l'invention ; et,
• la Figure 4 est un synoptique des moyens de commande de la machine de compactage selon l'invention.

Other particularities and advantages of the invention will emerge on reading the description given below of particular embodiments of the invention, given for information but not limitation, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• there Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view from above of a compaction machine according to the invention;
• there Figure 2 is schematic side view of the compaction machine shown on the Figure 1 ;
• there Figure 3 is a schematic view of a hydraulic circuit implemented in the compaction machine according to the invention; And,
• there Figure 4 is a block diagram of the control means of the compaction machine according to the invention.

There Figure 1 shows a compaction machine 10 according to the invention. It comprises a first part forming a bracket 12 and a second receiving part 14 intended to be engaged under the first part forming a bracket 12. Thus, the latter comprises a U-shaped profile 16 held in a vertical position on a floor wall 15, thanks to a base 18 having two longitudinal beams 20, 22 spaced apart l 'from each other. The two longitudinal members 20, 22 define on the ground wall 15 a receiving surface 25. Also, the compaction machine 10 comprises an upper part 27 which extends overhanging the receiving surface 25. Thus, the upper part 27 and the receiving surface 25 vertically delimit a receiving space 29. In addition, the upper part 27 comprises a cylindrical jacket with a circular base 31 and delimiting an upper opening 32 and an opposite lower opening 33.

The U-shaped profile 16 is adapted to form a slide. Also, the compaction machine 10 comprises an arm 24 having a first end 26 slidably mounted in the upper part of the U-shaped profile 16 and a second opposite end 28.

The first end 26 of the arm 24 which can be found illustrated on the Figure 2 is connected to a cylinder rod 30, which extends longitudinally inside the U-shaped profile 16 to engage in a cylinder body 35. The latter is single-acting and extends longitudinally to the interior of the U-shaped profile 16 up to the base 18. In this way, the cylinder rod 30 can drive the arm 24 in translation in a vertical direction.

The arm 24 extends overhanging the upper part 27 of the compacting machine 10 and at its second end 28 a column 36 is installed.

We find column 36 on the Figure 1 to which we will refer again. It is thus held vertically substantially coaxially inside the cylindrical jacket 31.

The column 36 has an upper end of the column 37 here accommodating a hydraulic motor 38, and a lower end 40 accommodating a return block 42. And the return block 42 laterally receives a compaction roller 44. The compaction roller 44 comprises in projection of its cylindrical surface of the asperities in point 47 of diamond or arrows, allowing it to engage with plastic waste to be able to better drag it and shred it.

We will refer to the Figure 3 , illustrating a hydraulic circuit 50 housed inside the compaction machine 10 and on which we find, according to conventional diagrams, the cylinder body 35 and the hydraulic motor 38. The hydraulic circuit 50 includes an oil tank 52, to which a pump 54 is connected; which pump 54 is driven in rotation by means of an electric motor 56.

The hydraulic motor 38 is then supplied with oil thanks to the pump 54 via a reversing distributor 58 with three positions. The three positions make it possible to rotate the hydraulic motor in two opposite directions and also to bring it to a standstill, in particular to ensure the transition between the two directions of rotation as will be explained below.

The cylinder body 35 is also supplied with oil by the pump 54 thanks to a two-position distributor 60; which distributor controls the pressurization of the cylinder body 35 or the exhaust into the tank 52. When the cylinder body 35 is exhausted, the cylinder rod 30 retracts by itself inside under the weight of the elements it supports.

Also, the oil pressure in the supply circuit of the hydraulic motor 38 is controlled by a pressure detector 62, which measures the pressure of the oil supplying the hydraulic motor 38, and provides a signal when this pressure value exceeds a limit value.

We also represented on the Figure 4 a control diagram of the compaction machine 10 shown on the Figure 1 . Thus, we find on this Figure 4 , the pressure detector 62, which is able to provide a signal for exceeding a limit pressure value to control members 64 including a first timer 65, a second timer 66, a third timer 67 and a microcontroller 68. timers 65, 66, 67 are respectively clocks allowing the counting of time in a step corresponding to the hundredth of a second. THE control members 64 are connected, on the one hand to the three-position reversing distributor 58 and on the other hand, to the two-position distributor 60.

We will now describe the operation of the compaction machine according to the invention.

According to a first step, we install in the receiving part 14 shown on the Figure 1 a plastic recovery bag and the receiving part 14 is engaged, then forming a cylindrical cavity, directly above the upper part 27. The cylinder body 35 shown on the Figure 2 is exhausted into the oil tank 52 via the control members 64 shown on the Figure 4 , so that the cylinder rod 30 in extension to maintain the arm 24 in the high position, descends under the weight of the elements which it supports. In this way, the column 36, the return block 42 and the compaction roller 44 descend inside the cylindrical cavity.

Thus, still via the control members 64, the three-position reversing distributor 58 is controlled to drive the hydraulic motor 38 in one direction of rotation. In addition to the hydraulic motor 38, the drive members comprise meshes making it possible to rotate the return housing 42 on itself around the axis of the column 34, and the compaction roller 44 in rotation around its own axis of symmetry, which extends substantially perpendicular to the axis of column 34.

Waste is thus introduced through the upper opening 32, shown on the Figure 1 , and as they are introduced, they accumulate in the bottom of the plastic bag then causing the progressive rise of the compaction roller 44, which remains in heavy support on the waste that it compacts. Thanks to its double rotational movement, it both shreds the waste and distributes it evenly inside the cylindrical cavity.

However, as soon as the compaction roller 44 encounters mechanical resistance, due to an accumulation of waste, the hydraulic motor 38 provides greater effort. Therefore, the pressure in the hydraulic circuit increases, and if this pressure reaches a pre-recorded limit value, between 50 and 150 bar, for example 90 bar, the pressure detector 62 shown on the Figure 3 transmits a signal to the control members 64 shown on the Figure 4 .

Therefore, the second timer 66 preset for example to 1.5 seconds, is triggered. And when this duration has elapsed, if the pressure detector 62 still transmits a signal representative of the pressure limit value, then the first timer 65 is triggered in turn and the microcontroller 68 of the control elements 64 orders the distributor to two positions 60 the supply of oil under pressure to the cylinder body 35. In this way, the compaction roller 44 is driven in translation upwards. The setting of the first timer 65 is between two and five seconds, for example three seconds. Parallel to the triggering of the first timer 65, the third timer 67 is triggered. When the duration of this third timer 67 expires, the microcontroller 68 orders the reversing distributor 58 to stop the hydraulic motor 38. This third timer 67 is set for a duration less than that of the first timer 65. , for example at two seconds. In this way, after two seconds, the compaction roller 44 ceases to be driven, while the cylinder body 35 ceases to be powered after three seconds. Therefore, after three seconds, the compaction roller is ordered to rotate in the opposite direction, while it comes down to rest on the waste that it is compacting. In this way, it compacts the waste causing the jam and thus eliminates it.

Thus, in the example above, the raising of the compaction roller 44 and the reversal of its direction of rotation only take place if the resistance to the movement of the compaction roller inside the cylindrical cavity reaches a certain intensity, measured by the oil pressure in the hydraulic circuit and for a specific time, i.e. one and a half seconds. Thanks to this characteristic, we are freed from unwanted rises of the compaction roller.

Claims (6)

1. A waste compaction machine (10) comprising:

   - a substantially vertical cylindrical cavity (14) having an open upper end (32) for receiving waste;

   - a compaction roll (44) and drive members (38, 36, 42) for driving said compaction roll (44) according to a dual rotational movement inside said cylindrical cavity (14), whereas said compaction roll (44) is free in vertical translation, so as to be able to compact said waste;

   - a measuring device (62) connected to said drive members (38) to output a value representative of the forces exerted by said drive members to drive said compaction roll (44);

   - a device (30, 35) for lifting said compaction roll (44) and control members (64) connected to said lifting device (30, 35) and to said measuring device (62) for controlling lifting of said compaction roll (44), when said measuring device (62) outputs a force value higher than a limit value, said control members (64) comprising a first timer (65) to be able to control lifting of said compaction roll (44) for a determined time interval comprised between two and five seconds;

   characterised in that said control members (64) further comprise a second timer (66) and a third timer (67), such that the third timer (67) is triggered concomitantly with triggering of the first timer (65) for a duration shorter than that of the first timer (65), and at the end of which, the compaction roll (44) stops being driven,
   and that the second timer (66) controls lifting of said compaction roll (44), if and only if said measuring device outputs, for a predetermined time interval longer than one second, a force value higher than said limit value.
2. The compaction machine according to claim 1, characterised in that said control members (64) are further connected to said drive members (58) so as to be able to reverse the drive direction of said compaction roll (44).
3. The compaction machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the said drive members comprise a hydraulic motor (38), whereas said measuring device (62) includes a pressure indicator.
4. The compaction machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that said lifting device (30, 35) comprises a hydraulic cylinder.
5. The compaction machine according to claims 3 and 4, characterised in that said hydraulic motor (38) and said hydraulic cylinder (30, 35) are powered by the same hydraulic circuit.
6. The compaction machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said drive members comprise an electric motor, whereas said measuring device includes an indicator of the electric power consumed by said motor.

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