MODULAR SHEAR PRESS

A shear press (100) for scrap is described, comprising a machine body (105) defining a compaction channel (125) adapted to contain the scrap and guide it in a sliding manner along a predetermined advance direction (A), compaction means (155) coupled to the machine body (105) and adapted to compact the scrap in the compaction channel (125), and cutting means (180) coupled to the machine body (105) and positioned at one end of the compaction channel (125) to separate the compacted scrap into portions, wherein the machine body (105) comprises at least two mutually separable blocks, of which a first block (105A) to which the compaction means (155) and the cutting means (180) are coupled, and a second block (105B) defining a portion of the compaction channel (125) adapted to serve as a loading hopper for the scrap to be treated.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a shear press for scrap, typically but not exclusively for metal scrap, which is adapted to cut a mass of scrap, even of significant size, such as automotive bodywork or other scrap, into smaller portions of pressed scrap.

BACKGROUND ART

As is known, a shear press generally comprises a machine body defining a compaction channel adapted to contain the scrap and guide it in a sliding manner along a predetermined advance direction.

By advancing into the compaction channel, the scrap is pressed by suitable compaction means and then made to proceed towards cutting means that separate them into pieces.

The compaction means and the cutting means are normally placed at the end of the compaction channel, the beginning of which is left substantially clear so that it can act as a loading hopper for the scrap to be treated.

Both the cutting means and the compaction means are installed on board of the machine body, which is currently made as a single monolithic component. Because of this architecture, large and very large shear presses are extremely bulky and heavy, to the point that it is extremely difficult to transport them unless using slow and expensive transport.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the light of the foregoing, an object of the present invention is to overcome or at least significantly reduce the above drawback of the prior art.

Another object is to achieve such an object with a simple, rational and relatively cost-effective solution.

These and other objects are achieved with the features of the invention as described in the independent claim1. The dependent claims describe preferred and/or particularly advantageous aspects of the invention.

Going in more detail, an embodiment of the present invention provides a shear press for scrap comprising a machine body defining a compaction channel adapted to contain the scrap and guide it in a sliding manner along a predetermined advance direction, compaction means coupled to the machine body and adapted to compact the scrap into the compaction channel, and cutting means coupled to the machine body and positioned at one end of the compaction channel to separate the compacted scrap into portions.

According to the invention, the machine body comprises (is divided into) at least two mutually separable blocks, of which a first block to which the compaction means and the cutting means are coupled, and a second block defining a portion of the compaction channel adapted to act as a loading hopper for the scrap to be treated.

With this solution, in order to transport the shear press, it is advantageously possible to separate the two blocks of the machine body, transport them separately and assemble them together at the place of destination.

Since the blocks are individually smaller than the shear press as a whole, each of them can be transported relatively easily and cost-effectively, making the entire transport step easier and more cost-effective as a whole.

According to one aspect of the invention, the first block of the machine body may comprise a first flat flange adapted to be put into contact and be fixed, preferably via disconnectable connecting means (e.g. by bolting) to a corresponding flat flange of the second block.

In this way, the disassembly and assembly of the first and second block are quite simple and fast.

According to another aspect of the invention, the first flat flange of the first block and the corresponding flat flange of the second block may lie in a plane that transversely intersects the compaction channel.

With this solution, the two blocks individually have a smaller length than the machine body as a whole, thus being easier to be carried and handled.

In particular, the plane in which the first flat flange of the first block and the corresponding flat flange of the second block lie may be substantially orthogonal to the advance direction of the scrap in the compaction channel.

In this way, it is advantageously possible to obtain two blocks of regular enough shape to allow an easy transport thereof.

According to another aspect of the invention, the compaction channel may be inferiorly delimited by a bottom plane which is inclined from the top downwards towards the cutting means.

In this way, said bottom plane defines a sort of slide that allows the scrap to advance by the effect of gravity along an inclined advance direction.

According to another aspect of the invention, the machine body may also comprise (be also divided into) a third block, which is removably fixed to the first block on the opposite side with respect to the second block.

Dividing the machine body into three separate blocks increases the portability of the shear press.

In order to facilitate the assembly and disassembly of the third block, the first block of the machine body may comprise a second flat flange adapted to be put into contact and be fixed, preferably via disconnectable connecting means (e.g. by bolting) to a corresponding flat flange of the third block.

Preferably, the second flat flange of the first block and the corresponding flat flange of the third block may lie in a plane parallel to the plane in which the first flat flange of the first block and the corresponding flat flange of the second block lie.

In this way, the first block of the machine body, i.e. that coupled to the compaction means and to the cutting means, has two flat flanges, mutually parallel and opposing, which impart it a rather regular shape and easy to carry.

In particular, prior to transport, the first block of the machine body can may be tipped over and placed resting on the first or, more preferably, on the second flat flange, so as to arrange it with the best possible orientation to be handled and transported

To this end, one aspect of the invention provides that the footprint of the first block, including the cutting means and the compaction means, in a direction orthogonal to the second flat flange is smaller than the footprint of the first block, including the cutting means and the compaction means, in a direction orthogonal to a support plane of the machine body.

With this solution the first block, which generally has quite a large a height with respect to the support plane of the machine body due to the compaction means, the cutting means and the respective hydraulic actuators, when tipped over and placed resting on the second flat flange, has a smaller height which allows it to be transported in a simpler manner and by more cost-effective means of transport.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1shows a shear press100adapted to cut a mass of scrap into portions of pressed scrap.

In particular, the shear press100may be a large machine and may be structured so as to treat even very bulky scrap, such as automotive bodywork or other scrap.

The shear press100comprises a machine body, designated as a whole with reference numeral105, which comprises a base110which defines a support plane115adapted to be arranged substantially horizontally when the base100is placed on the ground.

To this end, it is noted that the base110may be put in direct contact with the ground or kept raised through the interposition of other intermediate support structures.

The machine body105further comprises an upper structure120, generally shaped as a body, which is firmly anchored above the base110and defines at its interior a compaction channel125for the scrap (seeFIG. 2).

The compaction channel125is inferiorly delimited by a bottom plane130, which may consist of one or more monolithic plates arranged mutually parallel and in succession.

The bottom plane130may be inclined with respect to the support plane115of the machine body105, so as to form an acute angle with the latter, the value of which may for example be in the range of 20° and 30°, preferably about equal to 25°.

In particular, the bottom plane130may be inclined for the top downwards starting from an upper end140, which is placed at the maximum distance from the support plane115, towards a lower end145, which is placed at the minimum distance from the support plane115.

In this way, the bottom plane130defines a sort of slide that allows the scrap to slide, by the effect of gravity, from the upper end140towards the lower end145, along a predetermined advance direction indicated with A.

At the upper end140, a platform150may be articulated to the machine body105which, actuated by hydraulic jacks151, may be rotated from a lowered position (shown in the figures) to a raised position, in which it lies substantially coplanar to an extension of the bottom plane130.

The initial portion of the compaction channel125, i.e. that proximal to the upper end140, is open at the top and is bounded by two opposed side walls135(seeFIG. 3), so as to define a sort of loading hopper for the scrap to be treated.

At a subsequent end portion of the compaction channel125, i.e. that proximal to the lower end145, the machine body105is associated to compaction means, globally designated with reference numeral155, which are adapted to press the scrap within said end portion of the compaction channel125.

The compaction means155comprise an upper punch160(seeFIG. 2), which surmounts the background bottom plane130of the compaction channel125and is coupled to the machine body105so as to be adapted to move with reciprocating motion in a direction orthogonal to the bottom plane130, in order to press the scrap against the latter.

The movement of the upper punch160is implemented through one or more hydraulic cylinders jacks165, which are installed on the machine body105and from which they can protrude upwards, thus increasing the footprint thereof in a direction orthogonal to the support plane115.

The compaction means155further comprise a pair of side jaws170(seeFIG. 3), which are arranged mutually opposite along the side walls135of the compaction channel125.

Each jaw170is articulated to the machine body105at the lower end145of the compaction channel125and according to an articulation axis orthogonal to the bottom plane130, in such a way as to cyclically rotate in mutual approach/distancing in order to transversely compact the scrap.

The rotation of each jaw170is implemented through a respective hydraulic jack175, shown inFIGS. 1 and 4, which is installed on the outer side of the machine body105.

Downstream of the compaction means, with respect to the advance direction A of the scrap, the shear press100comprises cutting means180adapted to separate the pressed scrap into portions.

The cutting means180comprise a first blade185(seeFIG. 2), which is fixed along the edge of the lower plane130of the compaction channel125at the lower end145.

This first blade185cooperates with a second blade190, which is carried by a support crosspiece195placed immediately downstream of the compaction channel125with respect to the advance direction A.

The support crosspiece195is coupled to the machine body105, for example to a portal structure of the machine body105, in such a way as to slide with reciprocating motion in a direction orthogonal to the bottom plane130.

Due to this movement, the first and the second blade185and190form a shear or guillotine device, which is adapted to cut the compacted scrap progressively exiting from the lower end145of the compaction channel125.

The movement of the support crosspiece195is implemented through one or more hydraulic cylinders jacks200, which are installed on the machine body105and from which they can protrude upwards, thus increasing the footprint thereof in a direction orthogonal to the support plane115.

The hydraulic jacks165,175and200which actuate the compaction means155and the cutting means180are connected to a suitable water supply circuit, the operation of which is made possible by an engine205, such as an internal combustion engine, which can be placed in the space between the base110and the portion of the compaction channel125which defines the loading hopper.

Downstream of the cutting means180, with respect to the advance direction A of the scrap, the machine body105finally comprises a support structure210(seeFIG. 1) which allows the machine weight to be supported and better distributed on the base110.

This support structure210may for example comprise two posts215, substantially vertical, which rise out of the base110to connect with the upper part of the portal structure that carries the cutting means180.

In the light of the foregoing, the operation of the shear press may be summarized as follows.

The scrap to be treated is loaded from above into the loading hopper defined by the initial portion of the compaction channel125. Due to the inclination of the bottom plane130, the scrap slides towards the end portion of the compaction channel125, where it is subjected to the action of the compaction means155. The mass of pressed scrap then continues to slide downwards, progressively exiting from the compaction channel125to be sheared and separated into smaller portions by the cutting means180.

According to the present invention (seeFIG. 4), the machine body105of the shear press100is divided into at least two monolithic blocks, of which a first block105A to which the cutting means155and the compaction means180are associated, and a second block105B comprising the initial portion of the compaction channel125which defines the loading hopper and to which the engine205may be associated.

In order to allow the assembly of the machine body105, the first block105A is provided with a first flat flange300adapted to be put into contact and to be fixed to a corresponding flat flange305of the second block1058.

As shown inFIG. 7, the flat flange300of the first block105A may be substantially U-shaped delimiting a cross section of the compaction channel125. The flat flange305of the second block105B (not shown) has substantially the same shape and same dimensions as the flat flange300, to which it is fixed via disconnectable connecting means, such as a plurality of fastening bolts.

The flat flanges300and305lie in a plane, ideally designated with B inFIG. 1, which is inclined with respect to the support plane115of the machine body105and intersects the compaction channel125in a transverse direction, i.e. which is not parallel to the support plane115nor to the advance direction A of the scrap along the compaction channel125.

Preferably, the lying plane B of the flat flanges300and305is orthogonal to the advance direction A of the scrap, for example orthogonal to the bottom plane130of the compaction channel125.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, the machine body105is further divided into a third monolithic block105C, which substantially comprises the above support structure210and is removably fixed to the first block105A, on the side opposite to the second block105B.

In order to allow the assembly of this third block105C, the first block105A is provided with a second flat flange310, which is adapted to be put into contact and to be fixed to a corresponding flat flange315of the third block105C. The flat flange315of the third block105C has substantially the same shape and same dimensions as the flat flange310, to which it is fixed via disconnectable connecting means, such as a plurality of fastening bolts.

The flat flanges310and315lie in a plane, ideally designated with C inFIG. 1, which is preferably parallel to plane B in which the flat flanges300and305lie.

In this way, the first block105A takes a quire regular shape (seeFIG. 5) and, after having been separated from the second block105B and from the third block105C, it may be rotated on itself and placed resting on the second flat flange310(seeFIG. 6).

The distance H2between the second flat flange310and the first flat flange300, i.e. the overall footprint of the first block105A in a direction orthogonal to the second flange310, is selected so as to be smaller than the distance H1between the support plane115and the top of the hydraulic jacks installed on the first block105A, i.e. than the overall footprint of the first block105A with respect to the support plane115.

For example, the distance H2may be selected so as to be smaller than or equal to the distance H3between the support plane115and the top of the second block1058(seeFIG. 4).

in this way, when the first block105A is rotated and placed resting on the second flange310as shown inFIG. 6, its height is altogether smaller than the height that it has when it is resting on the support plane115as shown inFIG. 5.

With this solution, in order to transport the shear press100it is advantageously possible to separate the three blocks105A,105B and105C from each other, rotate the first block105A so as to place it resting on the second flat flange310, and finally transport these three blocks separately.

Once the destination site has been reached, the first block105A can be returned to the original position and be assembled to the other blocks105B and105C, thus restoring the integrity of the shear press100.

Of course, a man skilled in the art may make several technical application changes to the shear press100described above, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.