NZ196031A - Safety interlock for access hole guard for wool press - Google Patents

Description

196031 PATENTS FORM NO. 5 PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION No.196031 Date:16 January 1981 Complete After Provisional IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO WOOL PRESSES We, DONALD PRESSES LTD of 31 Perry Street, Masterton, New Zealand, a New Zealand company, hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a Patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: * Followed by page la 196031 J The present invention relates to improvements in and relating to wool presses.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a safety guard for a wool press to cover over the opening 5 where the wool is inserted during a pressing operation. New Zealand Government Regulations which came into force on 1st January 1981 require such a guard to be fitted and the present invention has as its object the provision of such a safety guard in a reliable and efficient manner. 10 A wool press, a specific type of which is described in New Zealand .Patent Specification No. 182597 and Australian Patent Specification No. 30515/77 for example, generally comprises a bottom box into which a woolpack is placed and secured with bale fasteners prior to being filled 15 evenly with wool. Hinged to the bottom box is a top box which in its raised position and with a half gate secured thereacross is filled with wool and a press cap is operated. The press cap presses the wool from the top box into the bottom box prior to the cap being returned automatically 20 and the top box being refilled, this refilling of the top box typically being repeated six to eight times.

Wool engaging fingers are generally provided extending into the top box to hold the compressed wool while the top box is refilled.

In New Zealand,where the filled bale is sewn, the cap is controlled so as to remain in its lowered position when, with the top box tipped backwards, the top of the bale is QO readily accessible for it to be sewn up. By contrast, in LAJ a; O ■; Australia the top of the bale is not sewn but is instead • :-s) ■-// generally closed off with clips. — la — 196031 The sewn bale can then be removed and the operation repeated with the filling of the next woolpack.

For a full description of a typical wool press in which the present invention can be used reference should be made to trade literature, technical journals and patents such as those mentioned above in this field.

According to one embodiment of the present invention there is provided a wool press including: (a) means to receive and secure a wool pack therewithin; (b) an opening through which wool is introduced prior to compression within the wool pack; (c) guard means movable between first and second positions to cover over or expose said opening respectively; (d) a press cap movable from a first raised position to a second lowered position to compress said wool in said wool pack; (e) press cap controlling means normally biased to maintain said press cap in said first raised position; (f) first detecting means detecting when said guard means is in said first position and causing said controlling means to move said press cap to said lowered position; (g) releasable locking means to hold said guard means in said first position; (h) second detecting means detecting when said press cap is at or adjacent said second lowered position and releasing said locking means to allow said guard means to return to its second position and causing said controlling 196031 means to move said press cap to its said first raised position; (i) override means to override said second detecting means to allow said press cap to remain in said lowered position with said guard means returned to said second position to enable access to the wool pack after filling with wool to secure the open end thereof.

The present invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein; FIGURES 1 : show, schematically, the operational sequence as wool is loaded into and subsequently compressed in a wool press including a guard of the present invention; FIGURE 2 : shows, diagrammatically, a front view of a wool press including a guard of the present invention; FIGURE 3 shows, diagrammatically, an enlarged 196031 side view of part of an operating mechanism for a wool press guard according to one embodiment of the invention, in the guard-open position; 5 FIGURE 4 : shows, diagrammatically, the mechanism of Figure 3 to a reduced scale and with part of the mechanism omitted for clarity, the mechanism being in a guard-closed position; FIGURE 5 : shows, diagrammatically, a modified version of the mechanism of Figures 3 and 4 in the guard-closed position; FIGURE 6 : shows, diagrammatically, the mechanism of Figures 3 and 4 connected with a 15 guard to operate same; FIGURE 7 : shows, diagrammatically, the guard control mechanism of Figure 6 but from the opposite side of the wool press.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 of the accompanying 20 drawings, in Figure 1(a) a wool press 1 is shown with a press cap 2 and an opening 3 through which wool 6 can be inserted for subsequent compression within a woolpack 5. The opening 3 is able to be closed off by means of a movable safety guard 4 which upon closing, see Figure 1 (bl, allows 25 the press, cap 2 to travel downwardly in a direction indicated by arrow A in order to compress the wool within the woolpack 5. At or towards the bottom of the downward stroke of the press cap 2 the safety guard 4 can be automatically released 196031 so as to regain its raised position in once again exposing the opening 3.

Upon return of the press cap 2 to its raised position, see Figure 1(c), the raised guard 4 enables the next batch 5 of wool to be inserted through the opening 3. This operational sequence will be repeated until on a final pressing operation, see Figure 1(d), the press cap 2 can be retained in its downward position compressing the wool 6 within the woolpack 5 and with the guard 4 now raised providing access to the wool 10 bale 5 for it to be sewn and subsequently removed from the press 1.

Referring now to Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings, one type of wool press 1 is shown comprising a bottom box 1A in which the woolpack (5) will be received and secured. 15 A top- box IB pivoted to the bottom box 1A is able to be tipped back manually when sewing and removal of the wool bale is required.

The opening (3) of the top box IB,into which the wool to be pressed is fed,is shown closed off by a safety guard 20 4 which by means of arms 7 can be raised from the position shown in Figure 2 to its upper position 4A, shown in outline. In this position of the guard 4 wool can be fed into the press 1 and, after the final pressing operation, the wool bale (5) can be sewn.

The cap (2) not shown in Figure 2, is connected at the bottom portion 8A of a ram assembly 8.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings, the control system for the operation of the guard 4 of Figures 1 and 2 is suitably an 196031 hydraulic system pressurized by a suitable motor which can be controlled in its operation in any suitable manner e.g. by pneumatic, electrical, electronic or hydraulic control circuitsor components.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 3 and 4 an hydraulic system is used including a 4/3 cam operated hydraulic valve 11 which is biassed e.g. spring loaded, to a "down" position corresponding with the reverse or upward stroke of the press cap 2.

The guard 4 (not shown in Figures 3 and 4), is mounted at the end of and guided by a paralellogram of operating arms 7.

The manual pulling down of the guard 4 causes a finger 16 to operate a cam 30 which is shown in detail in Figure 15 4, a further cam 21 and operating linkage 22 shown in Figure 3 having been omitted for clarity. The operation of the cam 30 by the finger 16 moves a cam follower in the form of a guide roller 12 upwardly through a "neutral" position into the "pressing" position and at the same time moves a knee 14 to a position from which one or 20 more springs 18 pull the knee 14 into a locked position to hold the guard 4 down.

At the end of a stablizing rod 17 which is connected at its bottom end to the press cap 2 (see Figures 6 and 7) a detent 26 is provided which, as shown in Figure 4, can engage 25 )a lever 9 to turn cam 30 (connected with lever 9) to a position where the spring or other bias provided for the valve 11 further rotates cam 30. The valve 11 then flicks over the "neutral" position to the reverse or upward stroke of the press cap 2.

In the meantime an unlocking lever 10 is also engaged 196031 by detent 26 to release knee joint 14 from its over locked position and the guard 4 guided by the paralellogram of arms 7 opens by means of a bias suitably provided by tension spring 19 (see Figure 7).

^ When the press cap 2 is returning to its open position a reversing mechanism, shown as an abuttment plate 20, moves the lever 9 to the "neutral" position of the hydraulic system. The press 1 can then only be operated when the guard 4 is again pulled into its closed position.

When a filled woolpack 5 has to be sewn a cam '21 can be engaged by a shackle 22 operated by means of a lever 23.

As the stablizing rod 17 moves towards the position at which the press cap 2 reaches the end of its stroke, the guard 4 is released via lever 10 to return up and the guide roller 12 flicks to cam 21 whereby the hydraulic circuit is held in the "neutral" position and the press cap 2 remains in the down position for the sewing operation to take place.

When return of the cap 2 to its upper position is required such that the sewn bale 5 can be removed and a fresh woolpack 20 inserted, movement of the lever 23 downwardly into the position shown in Figure 6 will again switch the roller 12 onto cam 30 for operation of the roller 12 to cause the valve 11 to switch to the cap return stroke.

The upper position of the lever 23 for the sewing oper-^ ation to take place is shown defined by an abuttment 24 while the normal down position of the lever 23 is shown defined by the lower abuttment 25.

The raising and lowering of the press cap 2 is in this embodiment effected by a ram 8 operated by hydraulic pressure.

This hydraulic pressure is provided by "a motor controlled, 196031 see Figure 7, by a micro switch 31. As the guard 4 is lowered the finger 16 presses on a spring strip 32 thus releasing pressure on the micro switch switching the motor on. On the return of the press cap to the raised position the cap 2 5 abuts against an adjustable stop 34 provided at the end of a bar 33 slidable within a guide 35. The opposite end of the bar 33 has attached thereto one end of the spring strip 32 which will thus be raised switching the micro switch 31 off and thus causing the motor also to be switched off. 10 Referring, now particularly to Figure 5 of the accompany ing drawings it may be desirable to enable the downward movement of the ram 8 to be reversed manually at any stage of its downward stroke so as to return the cap 2 and the guard 4 to their raised positions. This may for example be necessary if 15 the press 1 has been overfilled with wool or if some unwanted matter has been introduced with the wool or alternatively just as a safety precaution.

Thus in Figure 5 a ram/guide trip mechanism is shown referenced generally by arrow 38. This comprises a rod 39 20 having a handle 40 at one end and a bar 41 at its opposite end within a guide 42. A spring 43 positioned between the bottom edge of the bar 41 and a framework angle 44 normally biasses the bar 41 to its raised position. When however the downward movement of the ram 8 and cap 2 is required to be 25 stopped and reversed so as to return the cap 2 and the guard 4 to their raised positions the handle 14 can be pulled downwardly so as to trip levers 9 and 10 changing the position of the hydraulic valve 11 and causing the ram 8 to be raised. 196031 A return stop 44, see Figure 7, may provide an adjustable abuttment at its end 4 5 for the upper guard arm 7 to define the upper position of the guard 4.

Thus, in operation,the woolpack (5) is placed in the bottom box 1A and is filled evenly with wool. The top box IB is now tipped back into its upright position and the half gate 1C secured in position. The top box IB is now filled with wool, the power to the press 1 switched on and the safety guard 4 pulled down. The cap 2 will now be lowered by the ram 8 to press the wool and return automatically, the safety guard 4 also returning to the up position and the motor switching off automatically. This is repeated with the refilling of the top box IB for perhaps 6 to 8 times until for the last pressing a pack cap is placed on the press cap 2 and the control lever 23 moved into the stop position which will prevent the cap 2 from returning. Once the guard 4 has returned to its raised position the half gate 1C can be unlocked, the top box IB tipped back and the bale sewn up prior to its removal from the press 1.

Thus by this invention there is provided a safety guard control apparatus suitable for a wool press whereby the sequence of operations in the pressing of wool can be carried out speedily and effectively without the operator thereof being in danger of coming into contact with the pressing means during its compression stroke.

Where in the aforegoing description reference has beBn made to specific components or integers of the invention having known equivalents then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth. 196031 Although this invention has been described by way of example and with reference to one possible embodiment thereof it is to be understood that modifications or improvements may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 196031

Claims (9)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS;

1. A wool press including: (a) means to receive and secure a wool pack therewithin; (b) an opening through which wool is introduced prior to compression within the wool pack; (c) guard means movable between first and second positions to cover over or expose said opening respectively; (d) a press cap movable from a first raised position to a second lowered position to compress said wool in said wool pack; (e) press cap controlling means normally biased to maintain said press cap in said first raised position; (f) first detecting means detecting when said guard means is in said first position and causing said controlling means to move said press cap to said lowered position; (g) releasable locking means to hold said guard means in said first position; (h) second detecting means detecting when said press cap is at or adjacent said second lowered position and releasing said locking means to allow said guard means to return to its said second position and causing said controlling means to move said press cap to its said first raised position; (i) override means to override said second detecting means to allow said press cap to remain in said lowered position with said guard means returned to said second position to enable access to the wool pack after filling with wool to secure the open end thereof.

2. A wool press as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said guard means has at least one pivotal arm connected on either side thereof, said controlling means comprises a cam means - 11 - 196031 and a projecting member connected with and movable by at least one of said arms to operate said cam means.

3. A wool press as claimed in Claim 2 wherein said controlling means further comprises an hydraulic ram and a valve means controlling the flow of pressurized fluid to said ram means to control the raising and lowering thereof and a cam follower means, said cam means engageable with said cam follower means which controls the operating position of said valve means.

4. A wool press as claimed in Claim 3 wherein movement of said projecting member further moves a biassed lever arrangement into an overlooked position to hold the guard means in its lowered position.

5. A wool press as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said press cap includes an elongate member movable therewith and having an abuttment means thereon which at or towards the lowered position of the press cap is engageable with a first lever means connected with, and controlling the operation of, the means for raising and lowering the press cap.

6. A wool press as claimed in Claim 5 when dependent on Claim 4 wherein said abuttment means at or towards the lowered position of the press cap further engages a second lever means connected with and controlling the release of said lever arrangement from said overlocked position to enable a bias acting on said guard means to raise said guard means to its second raised position.

7. A wool press as claimed in Claim 6 wherein said first lever means is engageable by an abuttment member provided on and moveable with said press cap as it returns - 12 - 196031 to its raised position.

8. A wool press as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the raising and lowering of the press cap and the guard means controls the operation of a switch means controlling a power supply to the press cap. switching means is operable by a spring strip biassed thereagainst to switch off said power supply but movable therefrom when said guard means moves from its raised position, said spring strip being connected to and movable towards and away from said switching means with one end of a slidable member an opposite end of which is engageable by said press cap as it moves to its raised position so that said spring strip is again able to engage said switching means in switching said power supply off.

10. A wool press as claimed in Claim 6 or Claim 7 wherein said first and second lever means are operable by a trip mechanism to return the press cap and the guard means to their respective raised positions during the pressing stroke.

11. A wool press substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. A wool press as claimed in Claim 8 wherein said BALDWIN OAREY -w •*> i ATTO.-v2N.Lif L(S FOR THE APPLICANT^ - 13 -