Abstract:
An apparatus for handling compressible materials is disclosed. The apparatus includes compressing means adapted to compress a first charge of compressible material into a first compressed charge in a compression area, a holding area which is substantially the same size as the first compressed charge, and push means adapted to push the first compressed charge from the compression area into the holding area. The compression means is also adapted to compress a second charge of compressible material in the compression area to form a second compressed charge. The push means is also adapted to push the second compressed charge from the compression area into the holding area, such that it will eject the first compressed charge from the holding area into a bag configured to receive the first compressed charge. A related method and attachment for handling compressible materials are also disclosed.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    This invention relates to a method, arrangement and product resulting from the method and arrangement, all with respect to handling compressible materials including trash. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0002]    A consistent method currently of handling compressible materials especially trash is to collect such trash and hold this in a transfer station where it is highly compressed into a charge and where the charge is then bound by encircling wire in which state, it is then transported to a remote longer term or permanent storage location. 
         [0003]    The problem that is being addressed by this invention is in the first instance in relation to transport of trash. The term trash in this context is intended to mean waste that is of a type that is conventionally collected by city authorities and which can be usefully compressed and then held more or less effectively by encircling wire or tapes or the like for subsequent transport and storage. 
         [0004]    However, it has been realised that the invention that has resulted can provide at least in its wider form benefits in relation to other materials. Such further materials may for instance be fibrous materials being hay or green fodder, which are traditionally compressed and baled for transport. 
         [0005]    The problem will be expanded in relation to trash but it is not intended therefore that the invention in its broader form shall be so limited. 
         [0006]    As cities have grown, the need to have permanent refuse or trash depositories further away from city boundaries has increased, and it has long become impractical to use a vehicle designed to collect trash from a primary source such as rubbish containers or bins, to take that rubbish to the somewhat remote permanent location. 
         [0007]    The answer has been to have the dedicated trash collection vehicles, which conventionally include some modest compression to assist in storage capacity for each vehicle, transfer their load to a transfer station that is much closer to the city. 
         [0008]    Thereafter, it is much more efficient to use bulk transfer to transfer the rubbish to a permanent location. 
         [0009]    Currently, it is well known to compress trash at a transfer station to a very high degree of compression and then hold the compressed status of the material while it is encircled with wire at least around its narrower aspect, thereby forming a bale of sorts. These bales are then stacked one upon the other on the tray of a truck and transferred in this mode to the permanent depository. 
         [0010]    A number of problems reside in this process. 
         [0011]    The first of these is that the trash, being merely held together by encircling wire, and being of itself of a random character which may include in one part squashed vegetables, and other packages of paper goods, and other solid items, nonetheless does not separate such material from external access so that, when being transferred through suburban and country roads, the material of itself can be regarded as still offensive. 
         [0012]    Further, wire being tightly wound around the compressible materials can have, depending on the nature of the materials, a tendency to cut into and indeed through the materials allowing for a reduction in the compression status and also allowing for more release of the materials that were hoped to be held together. 
         [0013]    Further, the material being exposed to the atmosphere is also then exposed to both birds and rodents, which can cause significant interference with the conventional running of this process. 
         [0014]    A further difficulty arises when more charges are created and stored waiting for location on the tray of a transport. 
         [0015]    The materials during such periods are of course further exposed to birds and rodents and also are open to exude odours that may be of rotting flesh or vegetable matter. Further these materials can fall from any such bales and there has been needed extra covering to at least reduce this effect during transport along conventional roads. 
         [0016]    However, a further difficulty has been discovered in that, as the trash has been very highly compressed in the first instance, it will have a tendency to relax and expand, even though it is bound by encircling wire. 
         [0017]    The wire, however, will then be caused to take up a circular path so that a charge of trash that has been compressed to be of rectilinear proportions, will after a period when bound by wire encircling around its narrower aspect, return to being at least generally cylindrical in shape. 
         [0018]    The problem here then is that if the bales are each reverting to a cylindrical shape, then they become unstable when stacked one upon the other at least when perhaps two or three are resting on a bottom bale. 
         [0019]    This means that the efficiency in terms of storage becomes a problem apart from the exposure and other difficulties. 
         [0020]    Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. 
         [0021]    For the purpose of this specification the word “comprising” means “including but not limited to”, and the word ‘comprises’ has a corresponding meaning. 
         [0022]    In a first instance, our proposal is to effect a bagging of a charge of compressible material subsequent to its compression and keeping it in such a bag through the transfer to a permanent site location and indeed storing the trash then permanently in its bag. 
         [0023]    In preference such compressible material is trash of the type discussed. 
         [0024]    A number of difficulties arise in relation to such an initial proposal. 
         [0025]    A first of these relates to the difficulty that the charge of material will normally expand subsequent to being compressed and that any subsequent shape will be disadvantageous for subsequent stacking. 
         [0026]    Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. 
       DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
       [0027]    In a first instance then, I propose that a bag be used to define a bale, which is shaped so that it will, when filled with a charge of material subsequent to compression, assist in maintenance of a rectilinear shape. 
         [0028]    A further difficulty relates to an arrangement whereby a bale can be efficiently located on a repeating basis, whereby it can then receive a discharged or ejecting charge of material. 
         [0029]    In preference this difficulty is reduced by having a holding area, which can releaseably receive an open mouth of a bale and hold this for subsequent placement over an outlet of an ejecting bale. 
         [0030]    A number of factors and aspects relate to both a method, an arrangement to achieve the method to provide for these solutions, and any product resulting from these so that perhaps in a broadest sense, the invention can be said to reside in a method of handling compressible materials having compressing means compressing a charge of compressible material into a compressed charge in a compression area, push means then pushing the compressed charge from the compression area into a holding area, effecting a further compression stroke with said compression means compressing a further charge of compressible material into the compression area to thereby form a subsequent compressed charge, then using the push means to push the further compressed charge from the compression area into the holding area, the arrangement being such that such action will then further eject the first charge from the storage area into a bag where the bag is arranged and positioned to receive such compressed charge. 
         [0031]    Preferably, the holding area is further arranged so as to assist in keeping the first said compressed charge to a substantially rectilinear shape. 
         [0032]    In preference, the storage area into which the respective compressed charges are directed and stored includes opposed sides and a top and bottom defining thereby a passageway aligned to receive a compressed charge and maintain a compressed charge in a compressed state. 
         [0033]    In preference, the storage arrangement has an outer surface adapted to receive there around and over, a bag preparatory to the bag being drawn out and around a compression charge as the compression charge is ejected from the storage area, thereby creating a bale. 
         [0034]    In preference, there is a bag support frame adapted to receive and releaseably hold an open mouth of a bag in a compressed charge receiving state, and means to transport the bag support frame with an attached bag from a loading station to a position where the frame is positioned at or toward an inner end of the storage arrangement so that it is holding the bag with the bag enveloping the storage arrangement. 
         [0035]    One of the difficulties associated with such a device is that a bag can, unless it is being separately supported, be a large and floppy piece of material, and this creates difficulties where the open mouth of the bag is releaseably held by a bag support frame, and the bag support frame with the attached bag is being moved into a positioning state for the bag to then receive the ejecting charge of material, thereby creating a bale. 
         [0036]    We have discovered that there is advantage therefore in providing a blast of fluid, which in practical terms would be air, so as to in effect blow open and retain the bale shape as it is being located over the storage arrangement. 
         [0037]    One location for an air outlet to provide this source of a location adjacent the open mouth and directed in toward the body of the bag. 
         [0038]    The arrangement preferred to be used in relation to the bag material itself is a woven plastics material which has a rectilinear end and sides emanating from the end with at an opposite end, an edge including a seam, a draw tape through the seam and adapted then to be pulled tightly and tie off the respective end. 
         [0039]    One of the difficulties currently is the difficulty that with a bag support frame, once the bag has been released, the support frame itself then needs to be reloaded for subsequent use. 
         [0040]    However, in preference, each bag is loaded onto its own bag support frame. 
         [0041]    It is proposed that any bag support frame once used and having its bag released will then be relocated to a holding station where each support frame is supported by a conveyor track such that each bag support frame would be able to be then presented to a bag loading position. The bag support frame with an attached bag that has been attached to the frame at the bag loading station is thereafter caused to transfer with a bag support frame with attached bags to a storage station. 
         [0042]    In preference there is further an arrangement so that there is a mechanism for taking the bag support frame with an attached bag from the storage station, attach to it and then carry it as it is controlled through a further process of loading such a bag support frame with the attached bag over the storage arrangement. 
         [0043]    With respect to the compression area, the apparatus to effect such compression is known and includes in one case a first compression action, whereas an ejection action is effected subsequent to this, which action is effected in a transverse direction to the compression action. 
         [0044]    Conventionally also, an existing apparatus provides for a closure of a compression area including a gate that is moved to be positioned across an ejection end of the compression area while a compression stroke is occurring. 
         [0045]    Once the compression stroke is finished, the gate is withdrawn and the ejection stroke is effected. 
         [0046]    It might be appreciated that what is being proposed in the arrangement described includes the an arrangement and method so that there is a previous charge of material residing in the storage area such that its end will act as a closure across an ejection end of the compression area. 
         [0047]    In other words, a process is envisaged to have in its widest sense both options but in a preferred instance, it should be such that a previously existing formed charge of materials can provide a sufficient closure of an ejection end of a compression area. 
         [0048]    The advantage here is then that the time previously necessary for withdrawing of the gate across the ejection area is then removed and this can result in a significant reduction in cycle time. 
         [0049]    It is further to be understood in preference that any compression stroke is compression in one direction only into the compression area and as been previously stated, this is then means that the compressed materials are compressed effectively mostly In an injection direction. This is a characteristic of typical trash and other compressible materials of the type discussed. 
         [0050]    This however, can mean that the tendency of such compressible material will be to relax only back into the direction of the previous compression so that there is not in fact a large exuding pressure from a compression area transverse to the compression direction. 
         [0051]    This discovery assists in being able to rely upon this process where the former charge acts to contain an area of subsequent compression. 
         [0052]    In a further form, the invention may be said to reside in an attachment for a baling machine that is adapted to provide a holding area such that a first compressed charge may be ejected from a compression area of the baling machine into the holding area and remain therein until a subsequent compressed charge is forced from the compression area into the holding area, such that this action will then further eject the first charge from the holding area into a bag where the bag is arranged and positioned to receive the first compressed charge. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0053]    For a better understanding of this invention it will now be described with respect to the preferred embodiment which shall be described herein with the assistance of drawings wherein; 
           [0054]      FIGS. 1 and 2  are overall perspective views of the equipment for forming and handling compressible material bales, which is city trash in this particular instance, illustrating a general arrangement of this apparatus; 
           [0055]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a mechanical robot which robot is supporting the bag support frame; 
           [0056]      FIGS. 4 and 5  are detailed views of a bag support frame passing over sleeve or nozzle defining the trash holding area or trash storage arrangement; 
           [0057]      FIGS. 6 through 10  are schematic illustrations of the trash bale forming equipment, and the arrangement of this equipment, illustrating the successive stages in the formation of a bale; 
           [0058]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the trash bale; and 
           [0059]      FIGS. 12 and 13  are schematic illustrations of trash bale forming equipment according to a further form of the invention, where a closure gate is used to provide closure to the compression area. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0060]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , which illustrates some of the equipment, and an arrangement of this equipment that is designed to facilitate the means and method of handling trash according to the present invention. 
         [0061]    Visible in  FIG. 1  are a trash compressing system  1 , a housing for a trash conveyor  2  that supplies trash to the trash compressing system  1 , a holding area  4  for a compressed charge of trash, a programmable robot  6 , and an overhead conveyor  8  supporting a number of bag support frames  10 . 
         [0062]    Shown in greater detail in  FIG. 2  are the holding area  4  for the compressed charges, the programmable robot  6 , the overhead conveyor  8  supporting a number of bag support frames  10 , and a bag support frame loading station  12 . The trash compressing system  1  and the trash conveyor and its housing  2 , have been omitted from this view in order to permit better visibility of the aforementioned components. The operation and interaction of all of this equipment is managed by a programmable control system. 
         [0063]    The bag support frames  10  are adapted to support fresh bale bags  14 , and travel on the overhead conveyor  8 , this conveyor is routed from the bag loading station  12 , to a support frame holding station  13 ; it is from this holding station  13  that the robot  6  takes the loaded bag support frames  10  as required. Once a bag support frame has been used, i.e. it no longer supports a bag  14 , it is returned to the overhead conveyor  8  by the robot  6  and it is taken back to the bag loading station  12  for recharging with a fresh bag  14 . 
         [0064]    The bags  14  are made from a strong, woven plastics material. When opened out to their full extent, the bags  14  are shaped so as to define a substantially rectangular cube. One end of the bag incorporates a closable opening defined by a ‘drawstring’ type of arrangement (as seen in  FIG. 11 ), although a cable or tape is used in place of string due its increased strength. 
         [0065]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , the bag support frames  10  are comprised of four frame elements that define a rectangular opening  16  that is, surrounded by a short sleeve or nozzle  15 . The bag support frames  10  are equipped with cam-locks  18  on the top  20  and bottom  22  frame elements, which are adapted to retain the bale bag  14 , once the opening in the bag has been passed over the sleeve or nozzle  15 . 
         [0066]    The robot  6  is equipped with an end effector  24  that is adapted to engage a receiving portion  26  for said end effector on the side of the bag support frame  10 . The top  20  of the bag support frame is then equipped with loop means  17  that allow it to be suspended from hooks on the overhead conveyor  8  when the bag support frame  10  is not in use. 
         [0067]    At the commencement of a baling cycle, the robot  6  removes a loaded bag support frame  10  from the support frame holding station  13  of the support frame conveyor  8 , and positions the opening  16  to the frame and the bag  14  over the end of a rectilinear sleeve or nozzle  30  defining the holding area  4 . 
         [0068]    A jet of compressed air is then supplied via passageways passing through the walls of the sleeve or nozzle  30  so as to give shape to the bag  14  as the robot passes  6  it over the sleeve or nozzle  30 . 
         [0069]    Referring now to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the robot  6  will continue passing the bag over the sleeve or nozzle  30  until it reaches a programmed end positioned. At a point near the end of travel, there are a small pair of brackets  32  fixed to the sleeve or nozzle  30 ; the cam locks  18  retaining the bag to the bag support frame are urged against these brackets  32  by the movement of the robot  6  relative to the sleeve or nozzle  30 , and the cam locks  18  are released. The robot  6  continues to move the support frame  10  along the sleeve or nozzle  30  until the opening in the bag  14  falls off of the short sleeve or nozzle  15  on the support frame  10  and the support frame is free of the bag. The robot  6  then withdraws the now empty bag support frame  10  from the sleeve or nozzle, leaving the bag  14  disposed upon the sleeve or nozzle  30 . 
         [0070]    The robot  6  returns the empty bale support frame  10  to the overhead conveyor  8  and hangs the empty frame  10  on the overhead conveyor  8 . The end effector  24  then releases the empty bag support frame  10 , and the robot moves to the support frame holding area  13  and engages a loaded bag support frame using the end effector, and is ready to begin the process again. 
         [0071]    Referring now to  FIGS. 6 through 10 , the trash compression equipment defines a trash compression area  50 . Trash is delivered to the compression area on the conveyor  2 , at the end of the conveyor the trash falls from the conveyor and into a hopper that feeds the trash into the compression area  50 . 
         [0072]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 , the compression area  50  is defined by a flat floor surface  52  (not visible), a first upright side wall  54  that is fixed in position relative to the floor  52 , a second upright side wall  56  facing the first upright side wall  54  that is fixed to the end of a first hydraulic ram  58 , and a first upright end wall  60  that is fixed to the end of a second hydraulic ram  62 . 
         [0073]    At the moment that a charge of rubbish is dropped into the compression area  50  from the conveyor, each of the hydraulic rams  58  and  62  is in a home, or retracted position. 
         [0074]    At the conclusion of a working day or shift as the case may be, the last bale produced  70  is left in the holding area  4 , i.e. in the sleeve or nozzle  30  defining the holding area. This way, the first charge compressed on the next day or shift is not compressed without some means of constraining that one end of the charge during the compression operation. 
         [0075]    At the commencement of a new shift, the equipment is activated, and the first hydraulic ram  58  drives the second upright sidewall  56  towards the fixed upright sidewall  50  compressing the charge of trash  72 . The second ram  62  remains stationary in its home position, where it supports the end wall  60  during compression. The first ram  58  continues compressing the trash until the compressing surface  74  of the first upright sidewall  56  is coplanar with the inner surface  76  of the sleeve or nozzle  30  defining the holding area  4 , as shown in  FIG. 7 ; at which point the first ram  58  stops and is temporarily locked in position. 
         [0076]    The second ram  62  then drives the end wall  60  so as to push the freshly compressed charge  72  from the compression area into the holding area  4 , as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , which has the effect of displacing the charge  70  that is in the sleeve or nozzle  30  defining the holding area  4  from the holding area into the bale bag  14 . As the first charge  70  leaves the sleeve or nozzle  30  it picks up the end of the bale bag  14  and as this charge leaves the sleeve or nozzle it draws the bag  14  with it until both are free of the sleeve or nozzle  30 . 
         [0077]    Referring now to  FIG. 10 , once the freshly formed rectilinear bale  80  containing its charge of compressed trash is free of the sleeve or nozzle  30 , the ‘drawstring’ style opening  82  in the end of the bag  84  can be closed and tied off by the robot  6 , or indeed a person. 
         [0078]    The rectilinear bales  80  can then be safely stacked for transporting and storage, and the fact that the bag  14  encloses the trash reduces the likelihood that the bale will loose this rectilinear shape once stacked. 
         [0079]    The two rams  58  and  62  then return to their home positions, and the compression area  50  is ready to accept a fresh charge of trash. 
         [0080]    When travelling on the overhead conveyor  8 , a bale support frame  10  is oriented such that its open face faces in the direction of conveyor travel. As a used bag support frame approaches the loading station  12  it is rotated 90 degrees to the direction of travel of the conveyor. When the frame is in the loading position a guide block  90  is then automatically inserted into the opening in the support frame and a pair of operators, one standing to each side of the support frame  10  and guide block  90 , feed a new bag  14  onto the guide block and secure it to the bale support frame using the cam-locks  18 . The guide block  90  is then withdrawn and the frame rotated back so that its open face faces in the direction of conveyor travel once again. 
         [0081]    Referring now to  FIGS. 12 and 13 , where there is illustrated a closure for the compression area  50 . This closure is a gate  100  that is positioned and maintained across the ejection end of the compression area  50  while a compression stroke is occurring. Once the compression stroke is finished, the gate  100  is withdrawn and the ejection stroke is effected using the push means  62  as before. 
         [0082]    Automating the bale forming process in the manner described reduces the number of people required to work in this otherwise dangerous and unpleasant environment. It would be understood by a person skilled in the relevant art however, that the process could be adapted such that the robot&#39;s tasks (i.e. loading of the bag on the nozzle defining the holding area) could be safely carried out by one or more people. 
         [0083]    Bales created using this method have been found to have a density of upward of 100 kg per cubic metre more than conventionally strapped bales. What is more, these bales can be produced at a higher rate, as the production rate is not dictated by the strapping machine used to create conventional bales. 
         [0084]    Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognised that departures can be made within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details described herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the appended claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus.