WO2014155313A1

WO2014155313A1 - Apparatus for pressing a stable material

Info

Publication number: WO2014155313A1
Application number: PCT/IB2014/060176
Authority: WO
Inventors: Renzo Giunti
Original assignee: Gualchierani S.R.L. Unipersonale
Priority date: 2013-03-27
Filing date: 2014-03-26
Publication date: 2014-10-02
Also published as: ITFI20130068A1

Abstract

An apparatus for pressing a staple textile material comprising at least one container, preferably two containers which alternate from the loading position to the pressing position and vice versa, wherein the whole machine and all the components thereof are installed above the floor on a structure resting upon and fixed to the floor, without there being the need to carry out any type of excavation, thus eliminating the high costs for the building excavation works associated with similar apparatus known in the prior art.

Description

APPARATUS FOR PRESSING A STABLE MATERIAL.

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus for pressing a combed staple material.

In particular, the present invention relates to an apparatus, useful in the textile industry, which comprises at least one container that can be moved from a position in which the staple material is loaded inside it to a position in which the staple material loaded inside the container is pressed in such a way as to form a pressed pack of the staple material (bump).

Apparatus for pressing combed staple material, such as, for example, staples of wool or cotton fibres, or of other natural, artificial or synthetic materials, and useful in the textile industry, are well known in the art.

Typically, such pressing apparatus are paired with a combing machine with an associated winding machine for loading the staple material into special containers that are open at the top. The winding machine pushes the staple material into the container, which is likewise rotating in this phase, through an eccentric opening located on a rotating disk in such a way as to form continuous coils that are superimposed and deposited in a circle inside the container, thus forming a doughnut of staple material. Typically, at the beginning of the loading phase, before the winding machine starts dispensing the staple material, the base plate of the container is raised by a pneumatic piston or another similar system in order to bring the base plate close to the rotating disk of the winding machine, where the outlet opening for the staple material is located, in such a way as to obtain proper deposition of the coils of staple material, which would otherwise fall loosely into the container.

During loading, the base plate is then gradually lowered so as to permit uniform loading of the staple material. Therefore, in order to lift the base plate of the container during filling it is necessary for there to be a pneumatic piston or another similar system positioned vertically below the container itself. On the other hand, when the container is in the pressing position, pressing is achieved by means of a hydraulic piston, positioned vertically below the container, which pushes the base plate upward, compresses the staple material against the upper opposed pressing plate and extracts it from the container compressed between the two plates, thus forming a pressed pack ("bump").

Therefore, the positioning of the two pistons, one in a loading position for lifting the base plate and one in a pressing position for carrying out the pressing, in addition to the base itself, which comprises all of the members necessary for their operation, requires a recessed pit, rather complex and deep, positioned beneath the apparatus itself.

However, this solution has the disadvantage of needing to have a pit and fit it out accordingly, as well as of having to provide routes of access to the pit in order to be able to safely carry out cleaning, maintenance, repair, replacement and other similar jobs on the device for lifting the base plate located beneath the container during loading, and also on the hydraulic piston used for pressing located beneath the full container during pressing, as well as on the various accessories enabling the operation of the apparatus.

In fact, the pit poses problems in terms of space occupied and the associated high costs.

Therefore, in this context, the technical problem at the basis of the present invention is to find an alternative solution for the apparatus, by eliminating the pit whilst maintaining adequate pressing performance and efficiency of the apparatus.

This problem is solved according to the invention by an apparatus for pressing staple material such as the one disclosed in claim 1 .

The Applicant has in fact found that an apparatus for pressing staple material, in which the apparatus and all the components thereof are positioned above the supporting surface (floor), is able to resolve the technical problem present in analogous prior art apparatus. The apparatus comprises a load-bearing structure which comprises a base, whose lower part constitutes the minimum level of the apparatus resting on the supporting surface (or floor).

The load-bearing structure comprises: at least one first container equipped with a base plate for containing the staple material inside it; a device per for lifting the base plate in order to obtain a homogeneous load of the staple material inside the container; a first pressing device for pressing the staple material inside the first container; a rotatable device for moving the first container from a first loading position in which the staple material is loaded inside the first container and a second pressing position in which the staple material is pressed by means of the first pressing device so as to form a pressed pack of the staple material.

Each of the components of the load-bearing structure of the apparatus for pressing staple material is thus positioned above the supporting surface (floor) on which the base of the structure itself rests.

In this manner, one avoids using a pit, since it is no longer necessary to have a space available beneath the container to be loaded in order to house within that space a pneumatic piston or another similar device capable of lifting the base plate to obtain a homogeneous load, nor a space beneath the container in the pressing position in order to house a piston for pressing the staple material. In fact, the pressing device contained in the apparatus of the present invention, located above the floor, enables the base plate to be moved vertically both during the loading phase and during the pressing phase without requiring any underfloor parts.

Through the present invention, therefore, all the costs and problems related to the construction of a pit and the respective access routes are eliminated.

Moreover, an important advantage of the present invention is given by the possibility of being able to move the pressing apparatus when necessary, without, any problems and without having to bear huge expenses for the building modifications necessary to move the apparatus, since it is no longer constrained by the pit as was the case in the prior art.

Typically, the apparatus of the present invention is paired with a device for dispensing a staple material, such as, for example a winding machine, for continuous loading of the staple material into the at least one first container.

In this manner, considering the fact that the winding machine and the other machines that normally make Up a textile combing department, in addition to the pressing apparatus, are simply rested on and fixed to the floor, and hence do not require any excavation for their positioning, the only constraint on any changes in positioning or moving the machines given by the apparatus for pressing the staple material is thereby eliminated.

In the present invention, "staple material" means a combed staple textile material, such as, for example, staples of wool or cotton fibres, or of other natural, artificial or synthetic materials, and useful in the textile industry. Preferably, the apparatus of the present invention further comprises a second container equipped with a respective base plate, and a second pressing device for pressing the staple material inside the second container.

Preferably, the first and second pressing devices are mounted opposite each other on the rotatable device.

In this manner, when the first container is in the loading position, the second container is in the pressing position, and vice versa.

Preferably, the first and second containers are substantially identical and opposite each other.

Preferably, the first and second pressing devices are located on the rotatable device and are substantially opposite each other.

Preferably, each of the first and second pressing devices consists of a main body, substantially elongate in shape and positioned in such a way as to be substantially parallel to the supporting surface. Preferably, the first and second pressing devices are independent of each other.

Preferably, each of the first and second pressing devices comprises a respective cylinder which slides vertically on a corresponding rod.

Preferably, each of the cylinders of the first and second pressing devices is a hydraulic cylinder of the telescopic type.

In this manner the occupied space is reduced.

In a preferred embodiment, each of the cylinders of the first and second pressing devices is positioned on the rotatable device.

In another alternative preferred embodiment, each of the cylinders of the first and second pressing devices is located in a fixed position on an upper beam of the structure of the apparatus of the present invention.

Preferably, each of the first and second pressing devices is equipped at a first end with a first rotation rack.

Preferably, each of the rotation racks is constrained to its container and respective base plate. More preferably, each of the rotation racks comprises an outer ring (not rotating), which is connected to the rotatable device by means of two half-encircling arms locked onto the outer ring, and an inner ring (rotating) which is engaged with either the first or second container and the respective base plate.

In this manner, each of the base plates is able to rotate about its own axis; furthermore, each of the base plates and the respective rotation racks of the corresponding first and second containers are simultaneously able to move vertically along their vertical axis, the base plates inside and the rotation racks outside the containers.

This vertical movement of the base plate occurs both when the base plate is in the loading position beneath the winding machine so as to obtain a proper distribution of the staple material inside the container, and when the base plate is in the pressing position after the full container has been moved from the loading position to the pressing position.

In fact, it is possible, once the at least one container has been loaded with material to be pressed, to move it into the second pressing position by means of the rotatable device. At this point, with the full container in the pressing position, it is possible to press the material inside it by lifting the base plate, achieved by means of the sliding cylinder connected to the pressing device located above the base of the structure.

More preferably, the main body of each of the first and second pressing devices is equipped, at a second end opposite the first end, with a second rack constrained to the first or second container and to the respective base plate.

In this manner, the second rack can also maintain one of the first or second containers in the second pressing position and vice versa.

The first rack and the second rack, placed on two identical pressing devices set opposite, are independent from each other.

It is thus possible to have a first situation in which a first container with its respective base plate is in the pressing position and a second situation in which a second container with respective base plate is in the loading position or vice versa.

Preferably, the first and second pressing devices independent from each other are positioned on at least two rods, which are in turn positioned between two flanges whose centre corresponds to the centre of the main body, so that the two racks, each with its own container and base plate, are positioned symmetrically relative to that axis.

Preferably, each of the first and second pressing devices further comprises a central column that passes through the through hole of the central body of the respective pressing device. More preferably, there are at least two rods positioned laterally to the column, each provided with a sliding cylinder comprising its own rack anchored to it and which can slide vertically.

In this manner, it is possible to make the pressing devices slide vertically, along with their main body, each equipped with its own rack and comprising the first and second containers with their base plates. Preferably, each of the first and second containers is provided with external longitudinal grooves, preferably at least two grooves, more preferably at least four grooves, to enable the insertion of two, preferably four plates for engaging the first and/or second rack, through its respective container, to the respective base plates in the respective containers.

In this manner, the first and/or second rack of the pressing device of the apparatus of the present invention will engage with the respective base plate through the grooves of the container.

Preferably, the apparatus of the present invention is equipped with at least one corresponding and opposed pressing plate with its own piston for pressing the material, located below an upper beam of the load-bearing structure, on an axis with the container in the pressing position.

In this manner, when the pressing device in the pressing position pushes the base plate of either the first or second container upwards, the staple material to be pressed contained in that container is pressed against the opposed pressing plate, which will yield to the set pressure and slide upwards until stopping at the pre-established stopping point so as to form a pressed pack of the staple material, in a position to be tied.

Preferably, the first or second container, along with its base plate, is equipped with a mechanism that enables a rotating movement thereof about its vertical axis in the loading position. Preferably, the mechanism is a pneumatically or electromagnetically driven spindle located in the base of the load-bearing structure of the apparatus. This spindle can be equipped with its own motor drive or else can receive motion from the operating machine (combing machine) it is paired with.

In this manner, when the container is in the loading position, the container, along with its base plate, is able to rotate, enabling the staple material loaded by means of the winding machine to be uniformly distributed inside the container itself.

Located in the pressing position there is a second spindle connected to an actuator, which during pressing enables the container and its respective base plate to complete one or more 907180° rotations so as to enable the operation of an automatic tying machine, if present, for tying the pressed pack ("bump").

Preferably, the apparatus of the present invention is further equipped with at least a first platform intended to receive the pressed packs once extracted from the container positioned for the pressing phase.

In this manner, the tied, pressed packs will be temporarily placed on the first platform before being picked up and conveyed to departments for subsequent processes or destinations.

Preferably, the apparatus of the present invention further comprises an additional platform, set in an intermediate position between the first platform and the base of the load-bearing structure of the apparatus of the present invention.

The additional platform will prove to be particularly advantageous in the event that the cylinders of the first and second pressing devices are hydraulic cylinders of the telescopic type, useful for reducing the occupied space.

Further embodiments of the invention are defined in the corresponding dependent claims.

The invention is illustrated here below in greater detail with reference to the appended drawings, which represent a non-limiting example embodiment thereof.

In the drawings:

- Fig. 1 is a side view of an apparatus for pressing the staple material according to a first embodiment of the present invention, which shows the container 5a, empty, in the initial loading phase and the other container 5b, full, in the pressing position.

- Fig. 2 is another side view of the apparatus in Fig. 1 , in which the container 5a and the container 5b are in loading and pressing positions that are different from the ones shown in Fig. 1.

- Fig. 3 is a further view of the apparatus in Fig .1 , in which the container 5a and the container 5b are in further loading and pressing positions that are different from the ones shown in Fig. 1 and in Fig. 2.

- Fig. 4 is a plan view from above of the pressing device of the apparatus in Fig. 1 .

Fig. 5 shows a side view of an apparatus for pressing the staple material according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6 shows a portion of the apparatus in Fig. 5 greater detail.

Fig. 7 shows a side view of an apparatus for pressing the staple material according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

Figs. 8,9 and 10 show other side views of the apparatus of Fig. 7, in which the container 5a and the container 5b are in loading and pressing positions that are different from the ones shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 1 1 shows a plan view of the apparatus in Fig. 7.

A first embodiment of an apparatus 1 , according to the present invention, for pressing a staple material, such as, for example a staple material 2, is described here below with reference to the appended Figures 1 to 4, in which a first container 5a and a second container 5b are shown in different working positions.

In this embodiment, the apparatus 1 has a supporting surface (floor) 3, on which the base 4 of the load-bearing structure of the apparatus 1 rests, and wherein the load-bearing structure 1 comprises: a first container 5a in a loading position, open at the top, with its upper end about 1 .5 cm from the rotating disk of the winding machine and equipped with its own base plate 6a and a second container 5b, substantially identical to the first container 5a and likewise open at the top, with its upper end about 1 .5 cm from the upper opposed pressing plate 22 and equipped with its own base plate 6b.

The apparatus 1 further has a device for dispensing the staple material, such as, for example, a winding machine, for continuous loading of the staple material 2 into the container 5a, which is positioned at that moment in the loading position. The apparatus 1 further comprises a rotatable device 7 for moving the first container 5a from a first loading position, in which the staple material 2 is loaded inside the first container 5a, to a second pressing position, in which the staple material 2 is pressed to obtain a pressed pack, or vice versa. In the embodiment shown, the rotatable device 7 is driven by a gear motor 8 located on the upper beam 9 of the structure of the apparatus 1 ; the rotatable device 7 completes 180° rotations, one in a clockwise direction and one in an anticlockwise direction, in order to alternate the containers 5a, 5b in the two positions of loading and pressing and vice versa.

The two containers 5a, 5b are mounted opposite each other on the rotatable device 7, so that, simultaneously with the movement of the first container 5a from the loading position to the pressing position, or vice versa, the rotatable device 7 also moves the second container 5b from the pressing position to the loading position, or vice versa.

The apparatus 1 of the present invention further comprises two pressing devices 10a, 10b, which are typically necessary when the apparatus is paired with a combing machine and continuous winding machine in order to press the staple material 2 contained in the respective containers 5a, 5b; the pressing devices 10a, 10b are independent of each other and each comprises its own rack 1 1a, 1 1 b integral with the rotatable device 7.

The apparatus 1 of the present invention further comprises a platform 21 intended to receive the cylinder-shaped packs 23 of pressed staple material (also called "bumps").

Fig. 1 shows the initial step of loading a container 5a, empty, whose base plate 6a is lifted by means of the pressing device 10a all the way up below the rotating disk of the winding machine, while the other container 5b, full, is in the pressing position with its own base plate 6b located low, with the pressing device 10b thus in the initial pressing position, and the upper opposed pressing plate 22 located flush with the platform 21.

With reference to Fig. 2, there is shown a situation in which the two pressing devices 10a, 10b, independent from each other, are positioned in a working position that is different from the one shown in Fig. 1 .

In fact, in Fig. 2 the winding machine continues to fill the container 5a located in the loading position and the respective base plate 6a continues its gradual, controlled descent so as to properly deposit the staple material inside the container 5a. The base plate 6b of the container 5b is instead at the upper end of stroke, in the pressing position. The pressing device 10b has pressed the staple material squeezed between the base plate 6b and the upper opposed pressing plate 22 and has extracted it from the container 5b, thus forming a pressed cylinder-shaped pack 23 (also called "bump"), on top of the platform 21 , ready to be tied.

Fig. 3 shows the step following the one shown in Fig. 2, in which the base plate 6a of the container 5a is substantially at the end of loading, in the lower end-of-stroke position, at the minimum reachable height. In the pressing position, the upper opposed pressing plate 22 has instead risen to the end of stroke at the highest point and the tied pressed pack 23 is ready to be expelled and deposited on the appendage of the platform 21 that collects the finished packs 23, which will be picked up so as to be conveyed to departments for subsequent processes or destinations.

Fig. 4 shows the base 4 of the apparatus 1 , having an almost octagonal shape, on which the various components are mounted: located at the centre of the base 4, resting on the floor 3, is the central column 12, which is the pivot for the rotation of the rotatable system 7. The rotatable system 7 comprises the two pressing devices 10a, 10b, which, by means of the two half-encircling arms 13a, 13b, support the two racks 1 a, 1 1 b. The racks 1 1 a, 1 1 b are fixed to the arms 13a, 13b by means of screws. The racks 1 1 a, 1 b are located opposite each other and are independent from each other. The appendage of the platform 21 for receiving the finished packs is also shown.

In Fig. 4, the container 5a is positioned below the winding machine for loading, whilst the container 5b is in the opposite position for pressing.

As the pressing device 10a, 10b is integral with the rotatable device 7, when the rotatable device 7 inverts the positions of the two containers 5a, 5b from the loading position to the pressing position and vice versa, the pressing device 10a, 10b and the respective racks a, 1 1 b will follow that movement. Therefore, while the rack 11a can be in a condition such as to move the container 5a and its own base plate 6a into the loading position, the other rack 1 1 b can independently move the container 5b and its own base plate 6b into the pressing position.

The two pressing devices 10a, 10b are moreover each provided with a hole through which a corresponding rod 14a, 14b passes, the rods being positioned laterally at the centre of the rotatable device 7. Mounted on the rods 14a, 14b there is a first sliding cylinder 15a and, respectively, a second sliding cylinder 15b, integral with their own pressing devices 10a, 10b. Along the sliding cylinders 15a, 15b, the pressing devices 10a, 10b slide vertically inside their respective containers 5a, 5b, together with their racks 1 1a,1 1b and base plates 6a, 6b.

In fact, in the apparatus 1 of the present invention the containers 5a, 5b are provided with external vertical grooves 16a, 16b to enable engagement between the racks 1 a,11 b and the containers 5a, 5b. In fact, the plates 17a, 17b are inserted in the vertical grooves 16a, 16b, in engagement, so as to connect the base plates 6a, 6b to the racks 1a,1 1 b and thus to the pressing devices 10a, 10b.

Therefore, the outer ring 19a, 19b (non-rotating) of the rotation racks 1 1 a, 1 1 b is connected by screws to the two arms 13a, 13b of the pressing device 10a, 0b. The inner ring 20a, 20b (rotating) of the racks 1 1a, 1 b is connected with the base plate 6a, 6b by means of the plates 17a, 17b, which extend across the container 5a, 5b, passing through the vertical grooves 16a, 16b.

In this manner it is possible to obtain the following conditions: the pressing devices 10a, 10b can move the base plates 6a,6b vertically inside the containers 5a, 5b, which, via the racks 1 1 a, 11 b, can also rotate about their own axis. Via alternate 180° rotations, the pressing devices 10a, 10b can move the containers 5a, 5b with their respective base plates 6a, 6b so as to alternate them between the loading position and the pressing position and vice versa.

As shown in the Figure, each of the base plates 6a, 6b of the corresponding containers 5a, 5b is able to move vertically.

Once the container 5a has been completely loaded with staple material 2, and the pressed pack 23 of the staple material has been picked up from the container 5b, thus freeing the container 5b of its contents, the base plate 6b will also descend to its end of stroke at the lowest point, so that with the two base plates 6a, 6b both in the lowest position, the rotatable device 7 is actuated and the positions of the containers 5a and 5b are inverted.

The apparatus 1 is further equipped with an upper opposed pressing plate 22 for pressing the staple material 2 contained in the container present in the pressing position. The upper opposed pressing plate 22 is moved by the piston 22a positioned at the lower end of the upper beam 9 of the structure.

Therefore, the piston 22a, before the containers are alternated, slides downward and stops at the end of stroke with the upper opposed pressing plate 22 at a lower level than the platform 21 so as to close off the opening in the platform 21 in the pressing position, pending the arrival of the container full of staple material, in order to start another pressing phase. A second embodiment of an apparatus 1 according to the present invention for pressing a staple material is described below with reference to the appended Figures 5 and 6.

Figs. 5 and 6 represent a second embodiment which maintains all of the essential features of the first embodiment described previously.

However, in this second embodiment the sliding cylinders 24,25 that move the base plates 6a, 6b vertically are not located on the rotatable device 7 (as was the case for the sliding cylinders 14a, 4b in the first embodiment), but are rather located in a fixed position on the upper beam 9 of the structure of the apparatus 1.

The two pressing devices 10a, 10b, which comprise the two racks 11 a, 11 b, are each solidly joined to their own slider 26a, 26b sliding vertically on the rods 14a, 14b located on the rotatable device 7, which rotates about the central pivot 2 of the rotatable device 7 itself. Each of the sliders 26a, 26b is provided with a rod 27a, 27b connected thereto, and whose upper end passes through the upper plate of the rotatable device 7, and is provided with a male flange 28a, 28b able to engage with the female flange 29a, 29b fixed on the rods of the respective pistons 24,25 upon every 180° rotation in order to alternate the containers 5a, 5b. The vertical movement of the sliders 26a, 26b and thus of the respective racks 11a,11b and of the base plates 6a,6b of the containers 5a, 5b, is driven by the two pistons 24,25 located in a fixed position above the upper beam 9 of the structure of the apparatus 1.

Therefore, with this solution there is the possibility of using the piston 24 independently from the piston 25, which piston 24 is fixedly located on an axis with the loading position. In this manner, the piston 24 will have the sole purpose of vertically moving only the base plate of the container when it is in the loading position. The respective slider 26a, 26b of the pressing device 10a, 10b, via its rods 27a, 27b, is always and only engaged, by means of the attachment flange 28a, 28b, with the female flange 29a located on the rod of the piston 24, in the loading position.

In this manner, the piston 24, which performs less heavy-duty work than the piston 25, which must carry out the pressing, can be of a more economical type, for example, of a pneumatic rather than hydraulic type.

On the other hand, when the container 5a, 5b is in the pressing position, after the 180° rotations, the slider 26a, 26b of the pressing device 10a, 10b will be always and only engaged, by means of its male flange 28a, 28b, with the female flange 29b located on the rod of the pressing piston 25, located fixedly on the upper beam 9 of the structure of the apparatus 1.

The pistons 24,25, located in a fixed position on the upper beam 9 of the structure of the apparatus 1 , analogously to the sliding cylinders 14a, 14b located on the rotatable device 7, as described in the first embodiment, make it possible to have the whole apparatus and all of the components of the apparatus located above the floor, without the necessity of doing any type of excavation for installation.

A third embodiment of an apparatus 1 according to the present invention for pressing a staple material is described below with reference to the appended Figures 7 to 1 1.

Fig. 7 shows a further embodiment in which the two pistons, one in the loading position in order to lift the base plate and obtain a proper deposition of the staple material and the other in the pressing position in order to press the staple material loaded, are hydraulic pistons 30,32 of a telescopic type. In this manner, the overall dimensions are reduced.

As in the previously described embodiments and unlike the prior art solutions, the telescopic pistons 30,32 make it possible to have, in this case as well, the whole apparatus and all of the components of the apparatus located above the floor, without the necessity of doing any type of excavation for installation.

Since the winding machine does not have sufficient force to push the staple material and be able to load an adequate amount of staple material in a reduced space, it is necessary that in the loading position there be a an adequate depth, and hence capacity of the container, so that it can receive an adequate amount of staple material inside it.

In order to solve this problem, a further platform 33 has been interposed between the platform 21 and the base 4 of the apparatus 1. The two containers 5a, 5b, as indicated in the previous embodiments, have been divided into two parts: one part of each of the containers 5a, 5b, corresponding to about two thirds of the standard depth necessary for reaching an adequate amount of staple material inside it, is located above the further platform 33 and the two containers 5a, 5b can be alternated by means of the rotatable device 7, provided with arms 7a. Moreover, the two parts of the containers 5c,5d which correspond to about a third of the standard depth necessary for reaching an adequate amount of staple material inside them, are located in a stable position below the additional platform 33: the container 5c in the loading position and the container 5d in the pressing position. The platform 33 is provided with two circular- shaped openings, one located in the loading position and the other in the pressing position. These openings enable the rotating containers 5a, 5b located above the platform 33 to mate with the containers 5c,5d, which are located in a stable position below the platform 33. The containers 5c, 5d are provided with respective motor drives so as to receive the movement of rotation about their axis as in the previously described embodiments. Therefore, when one of the containers 5a, 5b is in the loading position above the container 5c, it is possible to transmit, by friction between the flange of the respective edges that come into contact, the rotational movement about its axis, necessary when the containers 5a, 5b are below the winding machine in the loading position, in order to obtain proper deposition of the coils of staple material. On the other hand, when the containers 5a, 5b are in the pressing position above the container 5d, after pressing has taken place, they can carry out the 90 180° rotations for tying the pressed pack 23 by means of an actuator as in the previously described embodiments. The containers 5a, 5b located above the platform 33 can be moved by means of the rotatable device 7 from the loading position to the pressing position and vice versa. The rotatable device 7 is in fact equipped with two pairs of arms 7a, which are provided with wheels in order to maintain each of the containers on its own axis and to facilitate the rotation of the containers about its axis.

The telescopic piston 30 located in the loading position comprises the plate 31 , which must be lifted in order to obtain a proper arrangement of the staple material. The piston 30 has a shorter stroke, and thus smaller dimensions; the thickness of the plate 31 is also very small and it is therefore possible, in that loading position, to have sufficient space available for housing the piston 30 with its plate 31.

Moreover, by exploiting the depth of the container 5c, it is also possible to obtain a loading depth such as to enable an adequate load of staple material. In fact, in this condition, the rotating containers 5a, 5b located above the additional platform 33 and the container 5c located below the additional platform 33 are superimposed; therefore, the respective depths are added together, making it possible to reach the necessary capacity for obtaining an adequate load of staple material.

At this point, in the loading position, once loading has been carried out, the winding machine having loaded an adequate amount of staple material, before starting the movement of the containers 5a, 5b located above the additional platform 33, it is necessary to slide the plate 31 upward. The staple material 2 is compressed by exerting a light pressure, and the part of staple material contained in the container 5c is transferred from the container 5c to the container 5a, 5b in the part above the platform 33. The plate 31 stops at the level of the platform 33 so as to form a single sliding surface with the platform 33.

In this manner, all of the loaded staple material will be inside the container 5a, 5b between the platform 21 and the additional platform 33. By means of the 180° rotation of the rotatable device 7 with the group of arms 7a, the movement of the full container in the pressing position can thus take place, as can, consequently, the movement of the empty container in the loading position for a further filling step. Simultaneously, in the pressing position, the step of pressing the staple material 2 will start, according to the same process as in the other previously described embodiments.

Figs. 8,9 and 10 show some significant operating steps of the third embodiment which follow the operating step shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 8 in fact shows the step following the one shown in Fig. 7, in which, in the loading position, the plate 31 has moved and lightly pressed the staple material 2 inside the container 5a, 5b above the additional platform 33, in the position in which the containers 5a, 5b can alternate from the loading position to the pressing position.

Fig. 9 shows the container 5a loaded with the staple material 2, which container has been moved by means of the rotatable device 7 and the arms 7a from the loading position to the pressing position.

Fig. 10 shows the container 5b in the loading position and the plate 31 at the upper end of stroke at the start of the loading step, whilst in the pressing position; the tied, pressed pack 23 is ready to be moved onto the platform 21 for collecting the finished bumps.

Fig. 11 shows a plan view of the third embodiment shown in Figs. 7 to 10. The two containers 5a, 5b are indicated and the parts 5c, 5d (not visible in Fig. 11) are located below them in a stable position beneath the additional platform 33, the central column 14 and the rotatable device 7 with the associated arms 7a for guiding and moving the containers 5a, 5b from the loading position to the pressing position, and vice versa.

The industrial invention is has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that equivalent modifications can be made without going outside the scope of protection granted thereto.

Claims

An apparatus (1) for pressing a staple material (2), wherein the apparatus (1) has a load-bearing structure comprising a base (4) which supports: at least one first container (5a), equipped with a base plate (6a), for containing the staple material inside it (2); a device for lifting the base plate (6a) so as to obtain a homogeneous load of the staple material (2); a first pressing device (10a) for pressing the staple material (2) inside the first container (5a); a rotatable device (7) for moving the first container (5a) from a first loading position, in which the staple material (2) is loaded inside the first container (5a), to a second pressing position, in which the staple material (2) is pressed by the first pressing device (10a) to obtain a pressed pack (23) of the staple material (2);

characterised in that the lower part of the base (4) of the load- bearing structure of the apparatus (1), which rests on a floor or on a supporting surface (3), constitutes the minimum level of the apparatus (1).

The apparatus (1) according to claim 1 , also comprising a second container (5b), equipped with a respective base plate (6b), and a second pressing device (10b) for pressing the staple material (2) inside the second container (5b), wherein the first and second containers (5a, 5b) are mounted opposite each other on the rotatable device (7) in such a way that when the first container (5a) is in the loading position, the second container (5b) is in the pressing position, and vice versa.

The apparatus (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first pressing device (10a) and the second pressing device (10b) are independent from one another.

The apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the first and second pressing devices (10a, 10b) is substantially elongate in shape and positioned in such a way as to be substantially parallel to the supporting surface (3).

The apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pressing devices (10a, 10b) are located on the rotatable device (7) and are substantially opposite each other.

The apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pressing devices (10a, 10b) comprise respective cylinders (15a, 15b) which slide vertically on corresponding rods

(14a, 14b) of the rotatable device (7).

The apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the pressing devices (10a, 10b) is equipped at the respective ends with a rotation rack (11a, 11b).

The apparatus (1) according to claim 7, wherein each of the rotation racks (11a, 11b) allows rotation of the corresponding container (5a, 5b) and of the respective base plate (6a, 6b) about the its own axis, simultaneously with the vertical movement of its base plate (6a, 6b) in the loading position.

The apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the base plates (6a, 6b) and the respective rotation racks (11a, 11b) of the corresponding first and second containers (5a, 5b) are able to move vertically along their vertical axis, the base plates (6a, 6b) inside and the rotation racks (11a, 11b) outside the containers (5a, 5b).

The apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the first and second containers (5a, 5b) is provided with external lateral grooves (16a, 16b) to allow the insertion therein of corresponding plates (17a, 17b) for engaging the rotation racks (11a, 11b), through the respective container (5a, 5b), to the respective base plates (6a, 6b).