GB2426227A

GB2426227A - Baler apparatus for waste material disposal

Info

Publication number: GB2426227A
Application number: GB0514958A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David William Thomas
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-05-18
Filing date: 2005-07-21
Publication date: 2006-11-22
Also published as: GB0514958D0; GB0510185D0

Abstract

An apparatus for compacting and bundling of waste material into bales has a cylinder formed by two semi-cylindrical side members with one side member fixed (1) and the other side member (2) hinged at (3). At the centre of the top of the fixed side (1), there is a means (6) of pulling and retaining the two half cylinders together comprising a small ratchet winch (6a) acting on a wire, chain, strap or rope (6b) which is slung across to hinged side (2). Operation of the winch compresses the material inside. Before filling with waste material one end of a string or cord (8) with a loop is attached to a Vee grip (10) on the fixed side and the other end of the cord (8) is attached to a similar Vee grip (9) on the other hinged side. After the material has been compacted through operation of the winch (6a), both ends of the cord are taken out of their Vee grips and then tied securely together. The bale of material can then be removed by releasing the hinged side and is easily stored for subsequent disposal.

Description

TITLE: Baler apparatus for waste material disposal.

This invention relates to a baler apparatus for compressing or compacting waste material such as plastics or more particularly plastic sheeting. Plastic sheeting is used in agriculture for wrapping silage bales, silage bunkers, fertiliser bags, feeding stuffs and in building construction for wrapping and packaging of materials. The material is cut away to release the contents which can leave long, untidy and difficult to handle plastic strips which io can not be easily bundled together for environmentally safe disposal.

It is an object of this invention to provide a baler apparatus of simple construction, being principally intended for hand operation, and which can be easily transported for use in the field for compacting and baling waste plastics into manageable bundles for disposal by recycling. This invention also provides a method for the bundling, compaction and baling of waste material which method may be preferably carried out using the apparatus of this invention.

This invention broadly provides a method for compacting and bundling of waste material into bales, in which method material to be baled is placed between two pivotally interconnected parts across which has been laid one or more cords, the parts being pressed together to compress the material following which the opposed ends of the or each cord are secured together, the parts being thereafter opened and the bale, secured by the cord or cords, removed.

This invention also provides a method for the compacting and bindling of waste material into bales, in which method material to be baled is placed between two pivotally interconnected concave parts forming half shells around the interior periphery of which is laid a plurality of cords in spaced, generally parallel relationship, the half shells being brought together to compress the material following which the opposed ends of each of the respective cords are tied together, the shells being thereafter opened and the bale, secured by the cords, being removed.

This invention provides, in another aspect, apparatus for the compacting and bundling of waste material into bales, the apparatus comprising two semi- cylindrical members connected by hinge means at their respective one io longitudinal sides whereby the members may pivoted from an open position facilitating the introduction of waste material between the members, to a closed position wherein the other longitudinal sides of the members are brought together whereby the waste material is compressed, the said other longitudinal sides have cooperating means whereby said sides may be drawn together to is effect the compression, the internal periphery defined between the members having provision for receiving a plurality of cords for securing around the compressed waste after compression.

In this arrangement the semi-cylindrical members may define, when closed, a drum preferably formed from a plurality of parallel spaced arcuate ribs supporting a mesh material. The members may be drawn together by a winch mounted on one member with a line extending from the winch to the other member. The cords may have one end attached to the free side of one member with the other end thereof attached to the free side of the other member. On closure of the members the ends of each of the cords are secured together following which the members are opened to release the bale of compacted material.

An embodiment of the apparatus according to this invention is described by way of an example and with reference to the drawings. In the drawings: Figure 1 shows the position with the members in an open waste receiving position, Figure 2 shows an apparatus in perspective view and in the closed position of the two half-cylindrical members, Figure 3 shows the position with the members in a closed waste compacting position, and Figure 3a shows a detail of one side illustrating slots between sections of the mesh to facilitate tying the bale The apparatus consists of a cylinder formed by two semi-cylindrical side members which are effectively pivotally interconnected with one side member fixed (1) and the other side member (2) hinged at (3). The fixed member (1) has ground support runners (la) and a brace (Ib). The end of the cylinder thus formed can be closed or left open. The sides of the cylinder can be solid sheet or preferably of a mesh material (4) welded on to a circular tubular frame (5).

The cylinder can be of any size, but for ease of handling the cylinder will typically be 0.50 metre diameter and 1.25 metre long.

At the centre of the top of the fixed side (1), there isa means (6) of pulling and retaining the two half cylinders together and in this example a small ratchet winch (6a) is provided acting on a wire, chain, strap or rope (6b) which is slung across to hinged side (2). Operation of the winch compresses the material inside. Other means could be provided such as an over centre clamp device or, in a larger version, an hydraulic ram.

Before filling the cylinder with waste material one end of a string or cord (8) with a loop (8a) is attached to a Vee grip (10) on the fixed side and the other end of the cord (8) is attached to a similar Vee grip (9) on the other hinged side.

After the material has been compacted through operation of the winch (6a), both ends of the cord are taken out of their Vee grips (9) and (10) and then tied securely together. This is most easily achieved by the provision of slits in the side of one or both cylinders as shown in Fig. 3 item (11). The bale of material io can then be removed by releasing the hinged side and is easily stored for subsequent disposal.

The semi-cylindrical form of the two members is not essential and other profiles may be provided.

In the arrangement shown in Fig.3 the Vee grips (9) and (10) have been moved to a position down the side of the members (2) and (1). Openings (11) are provided in the sides (1) or (2) in order to facilitate the tying of the cords (8).

Similar openings may be provide also on the fixed side (1).

Fig. 3a shows a detail view of one side (1) or (2) with the mesh areas (4) separated by the open areas (11).

Claims

1. A method for compacting and bundling of waste material into bales, in which method material to be baled is placed between two pivotally interconnected parts across which has been laid one or more cords, the parts being pressed together to compress the material following which the opposed ends of the or each cord are secured together, the parts being thereafter opened and the bale, secured by the cord or cords, removed.

2. A method for compacting and bundling of waste material into bales in accordance with claim 1, in which method the material to be baled is placed between two pivotally interconnected concave parts forming half shells around the interior periphery of which is laid one or a plurality of cords in spaced, generally parallel relationship, the half shells being brought together to compress the material following which the opposed ends of each cord are tied together, the shells being thereafter opened and the bale, secured by the cord or cords, is removed.

3. An apparatus for compacting and bundling of waste material into bales, the apparatus comprising two concave members connected by hinge means at their respective one longitudinal sides whereby the members may be pivoted from an open position facilitating the introduction of waste material between the members, to a closed position wherein the other longitudinal sides of the members are brought together whereby the waste material is compressed, the said other longitudinal sides having cooperating means whereby said sides may be pressed or drawn together to effect the compression, the internal periphery defined between the members having provision for receiving a plurality of cords for securing around the waste after compression

4. An apparatus in accordance with claim 3, wherein the two concave members are semi-cylindrical members

5. An apparatus in accordance with claim 3 or 4, wherein the concave or semi-cylindrical members define, when closed, a drum.

6. An apparatus in accordance with claim 3 or 4 or 5, wherein the concave or semi-cylindrical members are formed from a plurality of parallel spaced io arcuate ribs supporting a mesh material.

7. An apparatus in accordance with any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the concave or semi-cylindrical members are drawn together by a winch means, mounted on one member with a connection extending from the winch to the other member.

8. An apparatus in accordance with any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein the one concave or semi-cylindrical member has means for attachment to one end of each cord the other concave or semi-cylindrical member having means for attachment to the other end of each cord.

9. An apparatus in accordance with any one of claims 3 to 8, wherein means are provided on a concave or semi-cylindrical member to facilitate the securing together of the respective ends of each cord.

10. An apparatus in accordance with any one of claims 3 to 9, wherein the semi-cylindrical members include end parts and define, when closed, a cylinder closed-off at each end.

11. An apparatus in accordance with any one of claims 3 to 10, wherein the concave or semi-cylindrical members are drawn together by hydraulic means or over-centre clamp means.

12. A method for compacting and bundling of waste material into bales substantially as described herein and exemplified with reference to the drawings.

13. An apparatus for compacting and bundling of waste material into bales substantially as described herein and exemplified with reference to the drawings.