GB2253365A - Metal baling machine system - Google Patents

Abstract

A metal baling machine for aluminium cans comprising an elongate baling tube 200, hydraulic ram means 44 for compressing material within the tube into a bale, in which the hydraulic ram has a plurality of studs 454 protruding from its front surface at positions close to the outer edges of the front surface, each stud providing an additional pressure at the specified position. Cans are supplied by a conveyor (102, Fig 2) which is actuated when a sensor (600, Fig 6) detects an absence of cans in a hopper 20. A magnetic roller (114, Fig. 2) may divert steel cans and a motor (500, Fig 6) vibrates the hopper 20. Door 46 is raised for the ram to push out a bale (50, Fig. 1). A cutting edge 462 is mounted at the base of the hopper 20. <IMAGE>

Description

METAL BALING MACHINE SYSTEM The present invention relates to metal baling machine systems and more particularly to metal baling machines and associated feed conveyor systems suitable for baling of aluminium cans or similar small objects hereafter referred to as aluminium cans.

Known metal baling machines comprise a baling box and a hinged lid which crushes material placed in the box. A hydraulic ram then compacts the material into a bale.

A disadvantage with these machines is that they require to be fed by an operator in a semi-continuous manner and although the operator can carry out sorting operations during the period that the lid is descending and ascending, the machine is still relatively inefficient.

Also the baling box has to be relatively large to accommodate a large amount of material to be crushed and this, though eventually providing a large bale, means that the power required by the machine is relatively high such that it exceeds 13 amps and, therefore, the machine is not readily powered by a domestic electricity ring mains system.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a metal baling machine suitable for baling aluminium cans and also a feed system for the metal baling machine for providing efficient operation of the baling machine.

The present invention therefore provides a metal baling machine for aluminium cans comprising an elongate baling tube, hydraulic ram means for compressing material within the tube into a bale, in which the hydraulic ram has a plurality of studs protruding from its front surface at positions close to the outer edges of the front surface, each stud providing an additional pressure at the specified position.

Preferably the hydraulic ram means includes pressure sensing means for sensing the resistance pressure of the aluminium can being baled, the hydraulic ram sensing means being operative to cycle the ram at a first low pressure until a predetermined resistance pressure is detected and to then provide a second high pressure to form the bale.

Preferably the baler includes a feed hopper for reception of the aluminium cans, the feed hopper being connected to an aperture in the baling tube and being operative to feed aluminium cans into the baling tube in front of the hydraulic ram for subsequent crushing by the hydraulic ram.

Preferably the hydraulic ram is equipped with a shield plate means for closing off the aperture during operation of the hydraulic ram to prevent aluminium cans falling into the tube at the rear of the ram.

Preferably the feed hopper is provided with vibrating means to vibrate at least a portion of the hopper to assist the passage of aluminium cans into the baling tube.

Preferably the hopper comprises an elongate substantially vertical feed tube which is vibrated in a vertical motion to assist in the passage of the aluminium cans.

The hopper preferably has means for detecting the presence of cans within the hopper and means for controlling the operation of a feed apparatus to ensure a constant supply of cans within the hopper for crushing by the baler.

Preferably the feed apparatus comprises a conveyor, the conveyor being provided with an enlarged hopper to provide a substantially continuous supply of cans.

Preferably the conveyor is also provided with sorting apparatus to sort cans into solely aluminium cans and also cans with a steel content.

Preferably the conveyor is driven by an electric motor which is controlled by switch means operative in response to the detection of cans within the hopper to switch off the electric motor, the electric motor being switched on when the detector detects that there are no cans in the hopper adjacent to the detector.

Preferably the vibratory means is actuated only when the electric motor drive for the conveyor is actuated to thereby ensure that cans delivered to the hopper are correctly fed to the baling tube.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows the baler according to the present invention in side elevation, Figure 2 shows the baler of Figure 1 in end elevation in combination with a feeding apparatus shown in side elevation, Figure 3 shows the combination of Figure 2 in plan view, Figure 4 shows diagrammatically in cross-sectional side elevation a baling tube and hopper arrangement suitable for the baler of Figures 1 to 3, Figure 5 shows in greater detail the end profile of the hydraulic piston of Figure 4, Figure 6 shows in greater detail the hopper for the baler, and Figure 7 shows in greater detail the detector arrangement for the hopper of Figure 6.

With reference now to Figure 1 of the drawings, the baling machine 10 comprises a supporting framework 12 of suitable design which houses in known manner control electronics 14, and hydraulic reservoir means pressure being provided by electric motor 16 and suitable compression means.

The baler is provided with a hopper 20 which is connected to feed material 30 fed into the hopper into a baling tube 40 (shown dotted) via an opening 42.

The baling ram 44 is shown diagrammatically and will be described in greater detail with reference to Figures 4 and 5.

A door 46 is also shown which in known manner is lifted in the direction of arrow 48 to allow a bale 50 to be ejected by ram 44 under the control of the electronics 14.

As can be seen in Figure 1 and Figure 3 a cover 52 extends beyond door 46 to prevent access to door 46 as it is being closed, thereby preventing, for example, accidental injury to the feet of an operator.

Referring now to Figure 2, a feed apparatus 100 comprising a conveyor 102 (shown chain dotted) and an enlarged hopper 104 mounted on a frame 106, 108 equipped with wheels 110 enabling it to be positioned so that the exit 112 of the conveyor 102 is adjacent to feed hopper 20.

In a preferred embodiment upper roller 114 is magnetic causing cans with a steel content to be attracted and follow the path indicated by arrow 116, aluminium cans following the path indicated by arrow 118 and being guided by guard 120 into hopper 20.

The conveyor 102 may be conveniently powered by an electric motor 122 shown in Figure 3. The electric motor may be switched on and off in accordance with the presence of cans 30 in hopper 20 to maintain a continuous supply of cans for the baler without running the conveyor continuously. The presence of cans may be detected as described hereinafter.

With reference now to Figures 4 to 7, the baling process is carried out inside an elongate tubular baling box 200 which is preferably of square cross-section. This produces bales which can be readily stacked together. Other suitable shapes such as rectangular could, however, be used.

As described tube 200 has at one end the hydraulically operated door 46 which slides vertically in guides 202, 204 to close one end of the tube 200.

The hydraulic ram 44 comprises a hydraulic cylinder and piston arrangement 442, 444 with a piston rod 446. The head of ram 44 comprises a first steel plate 448, to which is attached a nylon block 450 to which is attached a front plate 452. Front plate 452 has on its front face a plurality of protrusions 454 which may be of any suitable shape. The shape shown is a solid cylinder and eight protrusions are shown mounted (or formed integrally) on -the front of plate 452. The protrusions are mounted on the edges of the plate and are operative to apply additional pressure at those points to provide interlocking of the compressed cans. The effect of this is to provide additional compaction of the bale and a degree of distortion of the bale at these points. This causes the baled cans to link together in a more complex manner thus creating an interlocking effect. This is of especial importance for the production of a small bale and the production of a small bale is of importance since it enables a lower ram pressure to be used and thereby a lower power requirement for the machine. The size and number of protrusions may vary but they should always be situated around the periphery to produce pressure on the sides of the bale to achieve the interlocking effect.

The nylon block 450 assists in providing a lubrication effect for the ram in baling tube 200. An elongate guard plate 460 is attached to plate 448 and moves therewith to close of entrance 42 when ram 44 is being operated. A "knife" edge 462 is provided at the front edge of hopper 20 to slice any cans protruding only partially into tube 200.

The hopper 20 is provided with vibratory means 500 comprising a vibratory motor 502 and spring suspension means 504, 506. This can be energised when the ram bd is nonoperative, at its rest position, to vibrate cans 30 down into the tubular box 200 and it can be switched off at other times.

In a particular embodiment motor 502 is controlled to be switched on only after motor 122 is switched off thereby ensuring minimum power consumption at any time.

A can sensor 600 is also preferably provided at a suitable position in the tube of hopper 20 as shown in Figure 6. With reference to Figure 7 the sensor may comprise a circumferential winding 602 set between two plastic ring members 604, 606 so that the inductance in winding 602 can be used to sense the presence of cans within the hopper 20. A suitable strengthening plate 608 (Figure 6) can be used to join together the then interrupted sides of hopper 20. The inside profile of hopper 20 will be smooth as shown in Figure 7.

The operation of the baler is as follows: Metal cans preferably pre-sorted into predominantly aluminium cans are placed into large hopper 104 and when the conveyor is actuated the cans are lifted, sorted again by roller 114 and the aluminium cans fed into smaller hopper 20. The conveyor is fed with electrical power via the electronic control system 14 of baler 10.

Thus when baler 10 is switched on, conveyor 100 is actuated, and hopper 20 is filled to capacity, this being ensured by vibrator motor 500.

Ram 44 is then moved to position 44' (Figure 1) to compress cans which have fallen into baling tube 200. Initially a low compression pressure is used and the resistance pressure in the hydraulic system is detected when the ram is at a predetermined position. This position must be after ram 44 has passed knife edge 462 so that the cutting pressure is not detected Preferably, it is as shown at detector position 201. If, as will be the case in the first movement of ram 44, the pressure resistance as measured for example by sensor 443 is low then the ram will be returned and the process repeated until the resistance pressure rises to a predetermined level, At this level there are sufficient cans in the baling tube 200 to form a bale of a desired size. The ram pressure is then automatically continued and the bale is formed. Door 46 is then raised and the bale 50 is pushed out, as shown, by ram 44. Ram 44 is then withdrawn and door 46 again lowered and the process repeated.

The studs 454 ensure that though the bale 50 is small, it remains intact. By being able to make a small bale the system, including baler 10 and conveyor 100, can be powered by a 13 amp mains supply.

Claims (11)

1. A metal baling machine for aluminium cans comprising an elongate baling tube, hydraulic ram means for compressing material within the tube into a bale, in which the hydraulic ram has a plurality of studs protruding from its front surface at positions close to the outer edges of the front surface, each stud providing an additional pressure at the specified position.

2. A metal baling machine as claimed in claim 1 in which the hydraulic ram means includes pressure sensing means for sensing the resistance pressure of the aluminium can being baled, the hydraulic ram sensing means being operative to cycle the ram at a first low pressure until a predetermined resistance pressure is detected and to then provide a second high pressure to form the bale.

3. A metal baling machine as claimed in claim 2 in which the baler includes a feed hopper for reception of the aluminium cans, the feed hopper being connected to an aperture in the baling tube and being operative to feed aluminium cans into the baling tube in front of the hydraulic ram for subsequent crushing by the hydraulic ram.

4. A metal baling machine as claimed in claim 3 in which the hydraulic ram is equipped with a shield plate means for closing off the aperture during operation of the hydraulic ram to prevent aluminium cans falling into the tube at the rear of the ram.

5. A metal baling machine as claimed in claim 4 in which the feed hopper is provided with vibrating means to vibrate at least a portion of the hopper to assist the passage of aluminium cans into the baling tube.

6. A metal baling machine as claimed in claim 5 in which the hopper comprises an elongate substantially vertical feed tube which is vibrated in a vertical motion to assist in the passage of the aluminium cans.

7. A metal baling machine as claimed in claim 6 in which the hopper has means for detecting the presence of cans within the hopper and means for controlling the operation of a feed apparatus to ensure a constant supply of cans within the hopper for crushing by the baler.

8. A metal baling machine as claimed in claim 7 in which the feed apparatus comprises a conveyor, the conveyor being provided with an enlarged hopper to provide a substantially continuous supply of cans.

9. A metal baling machine as claimed in claim 8 in which the conveyor is also provided with sorting apparatus to sort cans into solely aluminium cans and also cans with a steel content.

10. A baling machine as claimed in claim 9 in which the conveyor is driven by an electric motor which is controlled by switch means operative in response to the detection of cans within the hopper to switch off the electric motor, the electric motor being switched on when the detector detects that there are no cans in the hopper adjacent to the detector.

11. A baling machine as claimed in claim 10 in which the vibratory means is actuated only when the electric motor drive for the conveyor is stopped to thereby ensure that cans delivered to the hopper are correctly fed to the baling tube.