Patent ID: 6729229
Filing Date: 2004-05-04
Classification: B30B

Abstract:
A process for baling materials comprising the steps of:a. providing a pre-compression lid baler having a hopper with an upper hopper segment and a lower hopper segment, a pre-crush chamber beneath the hopper and a hydraulically actuated gatherer ram horizontally moveable through the pre-crush chamber, the pre-crush chamber having a bottom plate and a side plate, the gatherer ran having a retracted mode and an extended compression mode, a hydraulically actuated pre-compression lid pivotally mounted to the side plate above the bottom plate to rotate from an open position allowing passage of material through the hopper into the pre-crush chamber to a closed position forming a top of the pre-crush chamber, and at least one pre-compression lid stop preventing the pre-compression lid from entering the pre-crush chamber in the closed position by contact with a pre-compression lid stop angle; b. loading materials to be baled into the upper hopper segment; c. opening the pre-compression lid to allow loading of materials into the pre-crush chamber; d. rotating the pre-compression lid from the open position to the closed position and into limiting contact with the pre-compression lid stop angle while the gatherer ram is in the retracted mode, thereby urging the materials to be baled into the pre-crush chamber and pre-compressing the materials to be baled within the pre-crush chamber; and, e. actuating the gatherer ram from the retracted mode to the extended compression Mode, thereby compressing the pre-compressed materials within the pre-crush chamber into a bale while avoiding inadvertent movement of the pre-compression lid into the pre-crush chamber.