WO2001076858A1

WO2001076858A1 - Means for a bailing device having end plates and a receiving mat

Info

Publication number: WO2001076858A1
Application number: PCT/SE2001/000758
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kristian TORÄNG; Lars-Åke BRÄNNSTRÖM
Original assignee: Bala Press Ab
Priority date: 2000-04-06
Filing date: 2001-04-06
Publication date: 2001-10-18
Also published as: SE0001288D0; SE0001288L; AU2001245001A1; SE516492C2

Abstract

The present invention relates to an arrangement (1) for a machine (5) equipped with end plates (2, 3) and a driven receiving mat (4) for the formation of a press chamber (6) in which round bales are formed from domestic refuse (8) and other material, in conjunction with which the end plates (2, 3) can be caused to be displaced in such a way as to be retracted from the receiving mat (4). In accordance with the invention, the end plates (2, 3) are arranged in such a way that they are capable of rotating freely and of being actuated in such a way as to enable them to be displaced across (9, 10) the intended direction of rotation (11). The mat (4) is endless and is so arranged as to enclose the aforementioned end plates (2, 3) and to interact with a driving device for driving the mat (4). The mat (4) is in the form of a single, flexible, broad belt that is so arranged as to be supported only by the end plates (2, 3) viewed around the circumference of the end plates.

Description

Means for a bailing device having end plates and a receiving mat.

The present invention relates to an arrangement for a machine equipped with end plates and a driven receiving mat for the formation of a press chamber in which round bales are formed from domestic refuse and other material, in conjunction with which the end plates can be caused to be displaced in such a way as to be retracted from the receiving mat.

Previously disclosed devices for performing round baling of material generally consist of both rollers and a number of belts situated adjacent to another, for example as illustrated in DE 3,920,377 Al and US 4,426,926 A. These round baling devices are complicated in respect of both their construction and their use. The end plates in accordance with the first device referred to above are driven and do not permit any change in the volume of the space in which compression and baling of the material take place. If any larger objects find their way into the chamber in the device in which compression of the material takes place, no expansion of the aforementioned chamber is possible, which can be a major disadvantage. All the rollers also make the device complicated. The compression mat in accordance with the aforementioned second patent is formed by a number of endless narrow belts, which are situated alongside one another viewed in the lateral sense. The belts are so arranged in this case as to be more readily flexible in the longitudinal sense than in the transverse sense, although this does not help since material that is fed in to the belt for the purpose of being formed into a compact bale, for example domestic refuse and other waste, is exposed to the risk of becoming trapped between all the belts and their side edges, which constitutes a significant hygienic inconvenience, among other things, when baling domestic refuse. Driving all the narrow belts is also a major problem, as is the arrangement of the end plates, and the actual rigid frames of the device are used for this purpose in the aforementioned previously disclosed device, which does not permit any flexibility in relation to bale production.

The principal object of the present invention is thus, in the first instance, to solve the aforementioned problem by simple and effective means.

The aforementioned object is achieved by means of an arrangement in accordance with the present invention, which is characterized essentially in that the end plates are arranged in such a way as to be capable of rotating freely; in that the end plates are disc-shaped and exhibit a receiving surface for the belt around its circumference; in that the end plates are actuated in such a way as to enable them to be displaced across the intended direction of rotation; in that the mat is endless and is so arranged as to enclose the aforementioned end plates and to interact with a driving device for driving the mat, in that the driving device for the mat consists of a roller, which preferably exhibits rubber material around its circumference, and around which the mat is guided and is in contact with the rear side of the mat, and in that the aforementioned roller is preferably driven by a hydraulic motor which is attached to the shaft of the driving roller, in conjunction with which the mat is in the form of a single, flexible, endless broad belt that is so arranged as to be supported only by the end plates, viewed around the circumference of the end plates, and in that the mat extends in an endless fashion around the aforementioned driving roller and a pivotally supported deflector roller. Mat. The chamber of the machine consists of two end plates, around which a broad belt is tensioned and forms the round bale. The outside of the chamber is open and permits expansion of the belt. The belt is flexible and has the ability to move out of the way if a large object comes into the chamber. Tensioning of the belt is performed automatically and is controlled by the control unit of the press .

The main point of the patent is that the mat is tensioned around the end plates and does not have any means of support on its rear side, but only a few rollers to deflect the direction of the mat. Belt receiving surfaces.

The belt receiving surfaces of the end plates and the special characteristics and width of the mat make the press chamber into a cylindrical chamber, which, in the closed position without any contents, retains its form of its own accord. This cylindrical chamber receives the material to be compressed, and it retains its form even when the chamber is full. The extent of winding around the end plates is identical both when the chamber is empty and when it is full. This unique combination makes it possible to compress material at relatively high pressure. The appearance and form of the end plates are equivalent to a narrow belt pulley in contact with the outer edges of the mat. Driving device.

Driving takes place via one of the mat deflector pulleys, which has the greatest winding of the mat with a directly connected motor and gearbox. Driving can be effected by means of an electric or hydraulic motor and can be of the variable type at the same time. Movement of the end plates .

The end plates are designed in such a way that they are normally in a central position during the actual pressing operation. When the bale subsequently requires to be lifted across, the end plates are pressed in for the purpose of clamping the bale securely. When the bale subsequently requires to be set down, the end plates are extended outwards beyond the normal position to give a greater distance between the end plates, and the bale is then free. When the bale is then released and the end plates are moved back into the chamber, they revert to their normal position, which is the central position for this movement. Conditions . The belt is intended to create a partially closed chamber, in which material of varying kinds and sizes can be compressed before subsequently being wrapped to produce a bale .

In order to permit this to take place, the construction of the belt is specially developed to provide the appropriate and necessary characteristics. Account has also been taken in this case of the stresses in the belt which arise as the belt passes from empty to full load, and of which zones of the belt are exposed to loading during each working cycle and operation. These vary over the range from pre-tensioning to prevent the belt from slipping on the driving roller to the point loadings which can arise as a result of the absence of homogeneity in the material that is to be compressed. The choice of material in the carcass and the number of reinforcing fabric inserts are similarly based on the requirement to achieve high resistance to penetration, although even if this were to occur, operation can continue without having to scrap the belt. Repairs must also be possible without the need to dismantle the belt. Cold vulcanizing can also be used to advantage in this case, including when remaking splices. α The press belt must exhibit transverse rigidity over its entire width. This is achieved by applying a layer of rigid cord on either side of the load-absorbing carcass. The nature of the cord is such that it exhibits both low elongation and high resistance to compressive strain. These are critical characteristics in order to withstand the bending forces which occur in the transverse direction. α Low elongation

The force-absorbing carcass consists of a number of fabric inserts, which, in their direction of tension, consist of polyester. These fabric inserts have received a special treatment, which means that the elastic elongation is very low at the reference load (approx. 12% of the breaking load) . α Reinforced transverse rigidity

In order further to improve the transverse rigidity, the fabric inserts in the carcass can also be provided with polyester in the transverse direction.

□ Rubber covering plates

The press belt is provided with rubber covering plates, the relative thickness of which lies in the range from 1:1 to 2 : 1. The thick rubber plate must be turned in towards the press chamber (material side) and must be at least 6 mm thick.

□ Belt splice

The belt splice in the endless belt must be at right angles to the edge of the belt, and the length of the splice must be adapted so that its maximum extent is the same length as half the circumference of one of the deflector or driving/tensioning rollers over which the belt passes with an angle of winding equivalent to 180 degrees or more. α Combination covering plate/low belt elongation

The combination of a thick covering plate facing towards the inside of the press chamber and a carcass with low elongation means that the compression of the rubber covering plate that occurs inside the press chamber enables wear to be kept to an absolute minimum. A thin covering plate and high elongation in the carcass, either together or separately, create poor conditions for the achievement of an acceptable service life from the press belt. α Effect of shrinkage forces

The natural shrinkage forces which arise in a vulcanized rubber material mean that excessively large variation in the thicknesses of the rubber in the covering plates creates undesired bending forces. The variation in thickness should accordingly not exceed a ratio of 2:1. The invention is described below as a preferred illustrative embodiment, in conjunction with which reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a side view of the actual baling unit in a device;

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the baling unit in an operating bale pressing stage;

Fig. 3 shows the baling unit in an upward pivoted position;

Fig. 4 shows a side view of the entire baling and sweeping device;

Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of the aforementioned device; Figs. 6-8 show different positions for lateral end plates which are included in the baling unit; and

Fig. 9 shows a sectioned view of a rubber mat which forms a press belt.

An arrangement 1 for a machine 5 equipped with pairs of end plates 2, 3 and a driven receiving mat 4 for the formation of an enclosed press chamber 6, in which round bales 7 are formed from domestic refuse 8 and other material, and in conjunction with which the end plates 2, 3 can be caused to be displaced in such a way as to be retracted from the receiving mat 4, comprises, among other things, the arrangement of the end plates 2, 3 and the driving actuation of the mat 4. More particularly, this involves the arrangement of the end plates 2 , 3 in such a way that they are capable of rotating freely and of being actuated in such a way as to enable them to be displaced across 9, 10 the intended direction of rotation 11. It also involves the mat 4 being endless and being so arranged as to enclose the aforementioned end plates 2, 3 and to interact with a driving device 12 for driving the mat 4. Finally, it involves the mat 4 being in the form of a flexible broad B belt that is so arranged as to be supported only by the end plates 2, 3 viewed around the circumference of the end plates.

The aforementioned end plates 2, 3 are disc-shaped and exhibit a receiving surface 13, 14 around the circumference for making contact with the belt 4 around its respective lateral edge parts 4A, 4B. The end plates 2, 3 and their aforementioned belt receiving surface 13, 14 preferably consist of a metallic material, and the belt receiving surface 13, 14 of the end plates 2, 3 is rotatably mounted about fixed outward-facing lateral end plates 15, which are supported in such a way that they do not pivot by a pivotally mounted 16, 17 swinging arm construction 18, 19, 20. This can exhibit two pivotally mounted swinging arms 18, 19 so arranged as to pivot about a pivot shaft 20 with brackets 21, 22 and means 23, 24 enabling the end plates to be displaced in the desired direction 25, 26 inwards to and outwards from the baling chamber 6, for example jacks in the form of hydraulic cylinder piston arrangements.

The aforementioned belt receiving surface 13, 14, which is executed as a narrow, annular cylinder, is transformed into an end plate disc 27, 28 extending internally along the press chamber 6 and facing towards it. The aforementioned end plate disc 27, 28, together with the associated belt receiving surface 13, 14, are each supported in a rotatably mounted fashion by their own aforementioned end plate 15 in accordance with the foregoing.

The driving device for the mat 4 comprises a roller 12, which preferably exhibits rubber material around its circumference, and which can exhibit a grip-increasing pattern around its circumference. The mat 4 is so arranged as to be deflected around the aforementioned driving roller 12 and to make contact with its rear side 4C, in conjunction with which driving of the aforementioned roller 12 is preferably achieved by means of a hydraulic motor attached to the shaft 29 of the driving roller.

The mat 4 extends in an endless fashion around the aforementioned driving roller 12, the end plates 2, 3 and a pivoting upper diverter roller 30 and a number of additional, preferably fixed diverter rollers 31, 32, 33, 34. The aforementioned upper diverter roller 30 is supported by a pivotally mounted frame 35, which is preferably capable of being actuated by means of a jack or some other actuating unit in such a way as to be actuated when a finished round bale 7 is to be removed and lifted with the help of the swinging arm construction 18-20 in a previously disclosed fashion.

The aforementioned mat 4 consists of a single, broad belt, which is tensioned around the rollers 12, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34 in such a way as to form a circular press chamber 6 between them, and which is so arranged as to be more readily flexible in the longitudinal sense 36 than in the transverse sense 37, so that it can be diverted easily around the rollers 12, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34 yet retains flexibility such that it has the ability to move out of the way, for example, if a large object comes into the chamber 6 and cannot be compressed immediately therein. The aforementioned ability is also achieved thanks to the fact that the outside of the chamber 6 is open and that there is nothing to prevent the belt 4 from being deflected out of the way at its centre. The main idea of invention is thus that the mat 4 is tensioned around the end plates 2, 3 and does not have any means of support on its rear side 4C, but that only a few rollers are present there to deflect the intended longitudinal direction of the mat. The mat consists of a rubber mat with an internal longitudinal cord and a transversely rigid cord to either side of the longitudinal cord and with an outer layer of rubber.

Tensioning of the mat 4 can be so arranged as to be performed automatically and as to be controlled by the control unit of the press .

An arrangement 1 in accordance with the above, which exhibits a winding mechanism 50 for wrapping a bale 7 formed inside the press chamber 6 by means of a net (not illustrated) or other binding devices (not illustrated) and a sweeping mechanism 51 for the purpose of plastic wrapping 52 of a formed bound bale 7 by means of a plastic film or some other similar wrapping intended for this purpose, involves the arrangement of the sweeping mechanism 51 in the close vicinity of the aforementioned discharge point 53 for bales 7 of the swinging arms 18, 19, which function as a lifting device, at a distance from the press chamber 6.

The invention is not, of course, restricted to the embodiment described above and illustrated in the drawings. Modifications are possible, especially with regard to the nature of the various parts, or through the application of equivalent technology, without departing from the area of protection for the invention as defined in the Patent Claims.

Claims

P a t e n t C l a i m s

1. Arrangement (1) for a machine (5) equipped with end plates (2, 3) and a driven receiving mat (4) for the formation of a press chamber (6) in which round bales (7) are formed from domestic refuse (8) and other material, in conjunction with which the end plates (2, 3) can be caused to be displaced in such a way as to be retracted from the receiving mat (4) , characterized in that the end plates (2, 3) are arranged in such a way as to be capable of rotating freely; in that the end plates (2, 3) are disc-shaped and exhibit a receiving surface (13, 14) for the belt (4) extending around its circumference; in that the end plates (2, 3) are actuated in such a way as to enable them to be displaced across (9, 10) the intended direction of rotation (11) ; in that the mat (4) is endless and is so arranged as to enclose the aforementioned end plates (2, 3) and to interact with a driving device (12) for driving the mat (4) ; in that the driving device for the mat (4) consists of a roller (12), which preferably exhibits rubber material around its circumference, and around which the mat (4) is guided and is in contact with the rear side (4C) of the mat; in that the aforementioned driving roller (12) is preferably driven by a hydraulic motor which is attached to the shaft (29) of the driving roller, in conjunction with which the mat (4) is in the form of a single, flexible, endless broad belt that is so arranged as to be supported only by the end plates (2, 3) , viewed around the circumference of the end plates, and in that the mat (4) extends in an endless fashion around the aforementioned driving roller (12) and a pivotally supported deflector roller (30) .

2. Arrangement in accordance with Patent Claim 1, characterized in that the end plates (2, 3) and their aforementioned belt-receiving surface (13, 14) consist of a metallic material.

3. Arrangement in accordance with one or other of the above Patent Claims, characterized in that the belt-receiving surface (13, 14) of the end plates (2, 3) is rotatably mounted about fixed outward- facing lateral end plates (15) .

4. Arrangement in accordance with Patent Claim 1, characterized in that the belt receiving surface (13, 14), which is executed as a narrow, annular cylinder, exhibits an end plate disc (27, 28) extending internally along the press chamber (6) and capable of rotating together with the associated aforementioned belt-receiving surface (13, 14).

5. Arrangement in accordance with Patent Claim 1, characterized in that the upper diverter roller (30) is supported by a pivotally mounted frame (35) , which is capable of actuation by means of a jack.

6. Arrangement in accordance with one or other of the above Patent Claims, characterized in that the end plates are supported by a pivotally mounted (16, 17) swinging arm construction (18, 19, 20) .

7. Arrangement (1), which exhibits a winding mechanism (50) for wrapping a bale (7) formed inside the press chamber (6) by means of a net or other binding devices and a sweeping mechanism (51) for the purpose of plastic wrapping (52) of a formed bound bale (7) by means of a plastic film or some other similar wrapping in accordance with Patent Claim 6, characterized in that the sweeping mechanism (51) is arranged in the close vicinity of the aforementioned discharge point (53) of the swinging arms (18, 19) , which function as a lifting device, at a distance from the press chamber (6) .

8. Arrangement in accordance with Patent Claim 1, characterized in that the mat (4) consists of a rubber mat with an internal longitudinal cord (500) and a transversely rigid cord (510, 520) to either side of the longitudinal cord (500) and with an outer layer (530, 540) of rubber.