NZ221243A - Wool press: hoop frames which absorb pressing forces joined by pivoted links - Google Patents

Description

V O 221243 o NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 1933 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION AFTER PROVISIONAL NO; 221243 DATED: 29 3uly 1987 IMPROVED COMPACTING APPARATUS We, ASH ENGINEERING COMPANY LIMITED, a New Zealand company, of Ash Road, Wiri, Auckland, New Zealand, do 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 ?21243 2 This invention relates to compacting apparatus and more particularly but not exclusively to a press for fibrous material for example wool.

In our Australian Patent Specification No. 55280/86 and New Zealand Patent Specification No. 211480 there is described and claimed a compacting apparatus including a "hoop-frame". This "hoop-frame" provides a distribution of forces, particularly bursting or compressive forces, within the compacting apparatus during a compacting operation which reduces the likelihood of excessive loading on the compacting apparatus frame structure.

Such excessive loading has been a problem in the past with previous compacting apparatus, resulting in limited fatigue life and frequent maintenance shut-down of the equipment so that the necessary repairs can be carried out.

The present invention provides a further compacting apparatus embodying a hoop-frame although the contents of NeW Zealand Patent Specification No. 211480 and Australian Patent Specification No. 55280/86 are incorporated herein their entirety where appropriate.

It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a compaction apparatus having a hoop-frame and achieving an efficient distribution of forces, particularly tensile forces, within the compaction apparatus during a compacting operation.

Further objects of this invention will become apparent from the following description. f*'la.JljflEVv -/— o o 221243 According to one aspect of the present invention there is thus provided a compaction apparatus including a compacting means adapted to move into and from a compaction zone, a hoop-frame being provided positioned about the said compaction zone and having frame members thereof pivotally connected together and connected to at least part of said compacting means whereby tensile forces generated in the said frame during a compaction operation can be distributed therewithin by pivotal movement between said frame members and wherein a plurality of angularly disposed tie-rods are respectively each pivotally connected between adjacent said frame members.

Further aspects of this invention which should be considered in all its novel aspects will become apparent from the following description given by way of example of possible embodiments thereof and in which reference is made to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1: shows diagrammatically a side perspective view of a compacting apparatus according to one embodiment of.the invention; Figure 2: shows a view along arrows II-II of Figure 1; Figure 3: shows a half-cross sectional view of a hoop-frame of a compaction apparatus according to another possible embodiment of the invention; Figure 4: shows diagrammatically a view along arrows IV-IV of Figure 1.

Figure 5: shows a side view along arrows V-V of^»fiIT] Figure 4.

JUL 1990S 22x243 -it- In our compaction apparatus of the aforementioned New Zealand and Australian Patent Specifications, there is disclosed a hoop-framework assembly comprising three hoop-frames (12, 13, 14) spaced apart longitudinally along the-.compaction apparatus. Each hoop-frame is formed from a pin-joint assembly of upper and lower cross beams connected together by vertical side-frame members. The pin-jointing between the vertical side members and the upper cross beams enables a pivoting therebetween to absorb compaction-generating forces in the frame-work. Stabilising connecting pins included in the connection between the vertical side-frame members and the lower cross beams are disclosed in order to restrict, but still permit, a relative pivotal movement therebetween and providing stability for the framework.

In the accompanying drawings a compaction apparatus according to one possible embodiment of the invention is shown with a pre-pressing chamber 17 and a high-pressure pressing chamber 5 and mounted on a pedestal or support 30. Mounted about the high-pressure chamber 5 are shown hoop-frame assemblies 1 and la, one of which is shown in greater detail in Figure 2.

The compaction apparatus of the present invention preferably is able to handle a multiplicity of bales of fibrous material particularly wool which are introduced into the compaction apparatus along conveyor 18. At the position of the apparatus underneath the pre-pressing chamber 17 (in the position occupied in Figure 1 by a bale 22 after compression) the uncompressed bale is lifted up into the pre-pressing chamber 17 by means of a scissor lift mechanism 21. Once positioned in the pre-pressing chamber 17 a ram 19 is operated so as to compress the bale into a size commensurate with the size, or part-size of the high-pressure chamber 5, the bale being fed from 22i243 the pre-compression chamber 17 into the high-pressure chamber 5 by the ram 19. The ram 19, in a multiple-bale handling apparatus, will then be withdrawn back to its initial position and the second bale introduced into the pre-pressure chamber 17, compressed and fed into the high-pressure chamber 5 before the ram 19 returns again to its initial position. For a three-bale apparatus, the third bale is then compressed in the pre-compressing chamber 17 and fed into the high-pressure chamber so that at that time there will be three bales within the high-pressure chamber 5 and the ram 19 will be locked in position forming an end wall of the high-pressure chamber 5.

The ram 15 at the opposite end of the high-pressure chamber 5 will then be operated so as to compress the bales to the required size. The composite compressed bale is then strapped either manually or automatically before being fed back through the pre-pressing chamber and lowered from there to be fed out (a compressed bale being shown in Figure 1 and referenced 22). The compressed bale can then be fed out from the position shown in Figure 1 by means of conveyor 24.

The pre-pressing chamber 17 is shown provided in the plan view in Figure 4 with a pair of side walls 31 connected to link arms 26 pivotally connected by pins 33 with arms 25 connected to side rams 16. In this way operation of the rams 16 cause the pivoting of the links 26 and the inward movement of the side walls 31 so as to compress the bale to a size commensurate with the expanded size of the high-pressure chamber or one-third the size of the high-pressure chamber in the case of a three-bale unit for example.

The weight of the compacting apparatus is taken by the supporting framework 30 while the frameworks 1 and 1A effectively only support 22124 the arms or tie-rods 9 (see Figure 2) defining the hoop-frames of the present invention.

The scissor arrangement 21 raises and lowers platform 50 so as to introduce the uncompressed bale(s) into the pre-compression chamber 17 or remove the compressed bales therefrom for discharge on conveyor 24.

In carrying out the high-pressure compacting operation substantial tensile stresses are created in the apparatus and these tensile stresses are absorbed by the hoop-frames, one or more of which may be provided and not necessarily the two hoop-frames as shown in Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 2 a hoop-frame for the compacting apparatus of Figure 1 is shown referenced generally by arrow 1A. It is seen to comprise a pair of upper frame members 2 pivotally connected with a pair of lower frame members 3 by means of vertical side frame members 4. Within this substantially rigid framework 1A (the other vertical side frame members 4 not being shown) there is provided the high-pressure compaction chamber 5 within which one or more bales of fibrous materials can be compressed by means of side squeeze presses. These presses 6 are shown with grooves 7 therein through which securing straps 40 as shown on the compressed bale 22 in Figure 1, can be passed after pressing. Tranverse grooves would also be provided in the longitudinally operating rams 15 and 19 (not shown). A lower press means 8 is also shown provided which is able to move relative to an upper press means 14.

The hoop-frame 1A provided about the compaction chamber 5 is shown having a plurality of angularly disposed pivotal frame members 9 in the form of arms or tie-rods, each pivotally connected with respective frame members 2, 3 or 4 by means of pins or the like 41 and being interconnected by frame members 10 on which the press means 6, 8 and 14 are provided. In this way, tr". S,, 221243 as a compaction operation proceeds the forces generated by the compaction operation are able to be distributed through the framework 1A by means of the tie-rods 9 and can be accommodated therein by the relative pivotal movement of the members 9 relative to the framework members 2, 3 and 4.

In a further embodiment of a hoop-frame for use in a compaction apparatus such as shown in Figure 1, the hoop-frame is referenced generally by arrow 1. It is shown with a press means referenced generally by arrow |I2 mounted about the compaction chamber. The hoop-frame 11 is shown with beam members 12 forming a substantially rectangular or square framework structure and with angularly disposed pivotal frame members or tie-rods 13 provided at each corner of the framework 11. As the press means 12 are operated during a compression operation the pivotal movement of the tie-rods 13 within the framework 11 can distribute and enable the accommodation of the forces, particularly the tensile stresses, generated thereby.

It is thus seen that the present invention facilitates the accommodation within the compaction apparatus of the forces generated by a compaction operation but in particular the tensile forces.

It is mentioned however that in the pressing of wool bales for example, as shown by wool bale 22 in Figure 1, these are strapped or bound with wire or binding 40 in order to maintain them in their compressed state.

However the wire or bindings are required to maintain in a compressed state bales of various densities. Where a particularly dense bale has been compressed there is a possibility that the binding will not be strong enough resulting in the binding breaking and endangering operating personnel. 22124 To obviate this problem the compacting apparatus of the present invention may include in or on one or more surfaces against which the bale is pressed, a pressure sensing means which can detect when a bale of higher than normal density is being pressed so that stronger or additional binding can be utilised and operating personnel can be forewarned of the presence of a bale of higher than normal density.

It is envisaged that the warning means may be any suitable type and may be audible and/or visual and that moreover the detection of a higher than normal density bale may possibly automatically result in stronger or additional binding being provided for the bale being processed.

Wherein the foregoing description reference has been made to specific components or integers of the invention having known equivalents then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth.

Although this invention has been described by way of example and with reference to possible embodiments thereof it is to be understood that modifications or improvements may be made thereto without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims. -21243

Claims (4)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A compaction apparatus including compacting means adapted to move into and from a compaction zone, a hoop-frame being provided positioned about the said (^) compaction zone and having frame members thereof pivotally connected together and connected to at least part of said compacting means whereby tensile forces generated in the said frame during a (^7) compaction operation can be distributed therewithin by pivotal movement between said frame members and wherein a plurality of angularly disposed tie-rods are respectively each pivotally connected between adjacent said frame members.

2. A compaction apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said frame members each support respective compacting means.

3. A compaction apparatus as claimed in Claim 2 wherein said tie-rods are angled across said adjacent frame members to form respective corner portions of said frame.

4. A compaction apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein a plurality of said frames are provided spaced apart longitudinally along the apparatus. A compaction apparatus as claimed in Claim 4 wherein said compaction zone comprises a high pressure pressing chamber and at least a pair of said frames are provided about said high pressure pressing chamber. $7 Us fl8JUL!990a G O r\ ?212A3 - 10 - A compaction apparatus as claimed in Claim 5 wherein one or more of oaid bales can be initially introduced into a pre-pressing chamber of said apparatus before being transferred into said high-pressure chamber and wherein transfer means can transfer said one or more bales after compaction from said high-pressure chamber through said pre-pressing chamber for subsequent discharge from said apparatus. A compaction apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. G C* JINEERING COMPANY LIMITED IE) 2Y