Patent Publication Number: US-2020282681-A1

Title: Machine for processing scrap

Description:
FIELD OF THE ART 
     The present invention regards a machine for processing scrap, such as for example carcasses of vehicle bodies or parts thereof or other similar products. In particular, the invention regards a machine for processing scrap configured for grinding said scrap with the aim of reducing the overall dimension thereof and make them displaceable by means of shovels, buckets and similar tools. 
     STATE OF THE ART 
     Known are machines for processing scrap, such as for example motor vehicles, parts thereof, industrial machinery or large household appliances, which generally provide for compacting the scrap and subsequently cutting the compacted scrap into pieces to reduce the overall dimension thereof and make it easier to move. 
     A known embodiment of such machines comprises a container body which defines a volume for receiving the scrap and housed in which is a press suitable to compact, in at least one portion of the reception volume, said scrap. The machine then comprises a shear suitable to cut the compacted scrap and a conveyor, for example a conveyor belt, or a pusher element which moves the compacted scrap from the portion of the reception volume. Some of these machines also require a conveyor or a pusher element for supplying the press after introducing the scrap, for example by means of a crane with a claw, in the volume for receiving the scrap. 
     A problem of such machinery thus lies in the need for a device that pushes the scrap into the housing volume, towards the press and/or towards the shear. As is, such device requires an accurate designing, requires maintenance and requires power supply. 
     An object of the present invention is to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art through a solution that is simple, rational and inexpensive. 
     Such objects are attained by the characteristics of the invention, which are outlined in the independent claim. The dependent claims outline preferred and/or particularly advantageous aspects of the invention. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In particular, the invention provides a machine for processing scrap comprising:
         a container body which defines a volume for receiving the scrap and which comprises an opening for the inlet of the scrap, provided in the container body, for access to the reception volume   a press suitable to press the scrap and at least partially housed in the reception volume, and   a shear for cutting the scrap at least partially housed in the reception volume,       

     wherein the inlet mouth is obtained in an upper portion of the container body, the press is positioned at a lower height with respect to the inlet opening and the shear is positioned at a lower height with respect to the press. 
     Thanks to such solution, means for moving the scrap towards the press and/or towards the shear are not needed, in that the arrangement of the elements one beneath the other allows to auto-supply them exploiting the force of gravity, thus reducing the required components of the machine and thus reducing the probability of malfunction and the cost thereof. 
     Preferably, the reception volume may extend along a mainly vertical direction. 
     In this manner, the displacement of the scrap by means of gravity is facilitated further. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, the inlet opening can lie on a horizontal plane. 
     This allows facilitating the operations for loading the machine for processing scrap from above, for example by means of a crane with a claw. 
     According to yet another aspect of the invention, the press can comprise a clamp rotatably associated to the container body according to a horizontal hinge axis. 
     Another aspect of the invention provides for that the machine for processing scrap can comprise a further press, at least partially housed in the reception volume and arranged at an intermediate height between the press and the shear. 
     This allows optimising the work of cutting the scrap carried out by the shear. 
     A yet further aspect of the invention provides for that the container body can comprise an outlet opening and the machine comprises a pusher element for pushing the scrap cut by the shear towards said outlet opening. 
     Thanks to such solution it is possible to prevent malfunctions of the machine arising from accumulation of scrap downstream of the shear. 
     A further aspect of the invention provides for that the machine can comprise a mill for scrap suitable to grind the scrap cut by the shear, the mill comprising an inlet mouth and a duct that connects the outlet opening of the container body to the inlet mouth of the mill. 
     In this manner, the cut scrap can directly reach the mill, without having to convey them, for example by means of bulldozers, trucks, cranes. 
     Furthermore, the machine for processing scrap may comprise a discharge opening, in communication with a duct, and a diverter body, the diverter body being moveable between a first position, in which it occludes the discharge opening and it allows the movement of the of the cut scrap from the outlet opening of the container body to the inlet mouth of the mill, and a second position, in which it clears the discharge opening and diverts the scrap exiting from the outlet opening of the container body towards the discharge opening. 
     Thanks to such solution, it is possible to process both painted scrap that should be processed in the mill too, and unpainted scrap, which does not have to be processed in the mill and thus must be discharged before reaching it. 
     Preferably, the duct can be positioned at a height equal to the height of the outlet opening of the container body at most. 
     This allows facilitating the supply of the duct, without requiring means for conveying the scrap. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be apparent from reading the following description—provided by way of non-limiting example—with reference to the figures illustrated in the attached drawings. 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic and sectional lateral view of a machine for processing scrap, in which a press of said machine is positioned in a first operative position. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic and sectional lateral view of the machine for processing scrap of  FIG. 1 , in which the press is positioned in a second operative position. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic and sectional front view of the machine for processing scrap in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , wherein a diverter body is positioned in a first operative position. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic and sectional front view of the machine for processing scrap of  FIG. 3 , wherein the diverter body is positioned in a second operative position. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic and sectional plan view of the machine for processing scrap of the previous figures. 
     
    
    
     BEST EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION 
     With particular reference to such figures, a machine for processing scrap R, in particular for pressing and cutting scrap R is indicated in its entirety with  10 . 
     The machine  10  comprises a container body  15  which defines a volume  20  for receiving the scrap R. For example, the container body  15  comprises a tubular portion that defines (at least partially) the volume  20  for receiving the scrap R. 
     The reception volume  20  extends along a mainly vertical direction, i.e. it mainly extends along a vertical axis Z. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the container body  15 , or the tubular portion, comprises a plurality of inner lateral walls  25  which laterally delimit (with respect to a horizontal direction) the reception volume, the inner walls being vertical, for example they are flat and lie (at least partially) on respective vertical planes. 
     For example, the container body comprises four inner lateral walls  25 , juxtaposed two by two. 
     The container body  15  comprises an inlet opening  30  for the access of the scrap R into the reception volume  20 , the inlet opening  30  being obtained in an upper portion, or—in other words—in a top portion, of the container body  15 . 
     The inlet opening  30  delimits—at the top part—the tubular portion of the container body  15 . 
     For example, the inlet opening  30  lies on a plane transversal to a vertical axis, or it lies on a plane transversal to the vertical axis Z. Preferably, the inlet opening  30  lies on a horizontal plane. 
     The container body  15 , comprises a bottom wall  35  obtained in a lower portion of the container body and which delimits the reception volume  20 . 
     I.e., the bottom wall closes—at the lower part—the tubular portion of the container body  15 . 
     The bottom wall  35  is suitable to support—at the lower part—the scrap R present in the reception volume  20 . 
     The bottom wall  35  is opposite to the inlet opening  30 , the inlet opening  30  being at least partially superimposed—in plan view—with respect to said bottom wall  35 , preferably the inlet opening  30  is fully superimposed—in plan view—with respect to the bottom wall  35 . 
     The bottom wall  35  lies on a substantially horizontal plane. 
     The container body comprises an outlet opening  40  (for processed scrap R), which is obtained in an inner lateral wall of the container body. 
     The outlet opening  40  is delimited—at the lower part—by the bottom wall  35 . 
     The container body  15  comprises: a first section which extends from the inlet opening  30  towards the bottom wall  35 , in which the horizontal cross-section of the reception volume  20  is constant along a vertical axis, a second section immediately subsequent to the first section, in which there is a narrowing of the container body  15  and the horizontal cross-section of the reception volume reduces going towards the bottom wall  35 , and a third section immediately subsequent to the second section and in which the horizontal cross-section of the reception volume  20  is constant along a vertical axis. 
     The outlet opening  40  is positioned, for example entirely, in the third section. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the four inner lateral walls  25 , in the first section and in the third section, lie on vertical planes. 
     It cannot be ruled out that, in an alternative embodiment of the container body—not illustrated—the inner lateral walls can be inclined, for example by about 10° with respect to the vertical axis Z in the direction of mutual approaching going from the inlet opening  30  to the bottom wall, substantially to form a hopper. 
     The machine  10  comprises a press  45 , configured to compress the scrap R, which is at least partially received in the reception volume  20  and it is positioned, preferably entirely, at a lower height with respect to the inlet opening  30 . 
     The press  45  is positioned beneath—in plan view—the inlet opening  30 , for example they are at least partially aligned vertically. 
     It should be observed that in this document, reference to the height of an element is used to indicate the height of such element with respect to a surface on which the machine  10  for processing scrap R lies. 
     The press  45  is positioned in the second section. 
     The press  45  comprises an abutment body suitable to contact the scrap R and an actuation unit configured to displace the abutment body along a transversal direction with respect to a longitudinal axis of the reception volume  20 , in a direction of approaching and moving away with respect to an inner wall of the plurality of inner walls of the container body, opposite to the abutment body. 
     For example, the actuation unit is configured to displace the abutment body along a transversal direction with respect to an axis perpendicular to a laying plane of the inlet opening, i.e. transversal with respect to the axis Z. 
     The abutment body is housed, for example entirely, in the second section of the container body, i.e. it is housed in the narrowing of the reception volume. 
     In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the abutment body comprises a clamp  50 , which is hinged to the container body  15 , i.e. to an inner lateral wall  25  of the container body  15 , with respect to a horizontal hinge axis C. Such clamp  50  is moveable by means of the actuation unit between an inoperative position, in which the distance of the clamp is minimum with respect to the inner lateral wall  25  to which the clamp hinges and the distance is maximum with respect to an inner lateral wall opposite to the inner lateral wall  25  to which it is hinged, and an inoperative position, in which the distance of the clamp is maximum with respect to the inner lateral wall  25  to which the clamp hinges and the distance is minimum with respect to an inner lateral wall  25  opposite to the inner lateral wall to which it is hinged. 
     In the first position the clamp  50  is received in an opening obtained in a portion of the inner lateral wall  25  to which it is hinged. 
     The actuation unit may comprise a pair of linear actuators (not illustrated) suitable to act, directly or indirectly, on the clamp, for example each provided with a first element hinged at one end to the container body and a second element, slidable with respect to the first element and hinged to the clamp at a distal end of the first element. 
     The machine  10  comprises a further press  55 , at least partially housed in the reception volume  20 , for example in the third section, which is configured to compress the scrap R compressed by the press  45 . 
     The further press  55  is positioned, for example entirely, at a lower height with respect to the press  45 . 
     The further press  55  is positioned beneath—in plan view—the press  45 , for example beneath the inlet opening  30  too. 
     Preferably, the further press and the inlet opening are at least partially aligned vertically. 
     Such further press, for example known as sheet pressing machine, comprises an abutment body suitable to contact the scrap R pressed by the press  45  and an actuation unit configured for displacing the abutment body along a transversal direction with respect to a longitudinal axis of the reception volume  20  and with respect to the displacement direction of the abutment body of the press  45 , in the direction of approaching and moving away with respect to an inner lateral wall of the plurality of inner walls of the container body, opposite to the abutment body of the further press  55 . 
     For example, the actuation unit of the further press  55  is configured for displacing the abutment body of the further press  55  along a transversal direction with respect to the axis Z, i.e. transversal with respect to an axis perpendicular to a laying plane of the inlet opening. 
     The abutment body of the further press  55  is housed, for example entirely, in the third section of the container body  15 , for example entirely at a lower height with respect to the press  45 . 
     In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the abutment body comprises a plunger  60  slidable with respect to the container body  15  along a substantially horizontal sliding axis S and a linear actuator  65  configured to actuate the plunger  60  along the sliding axis S between a first position, in which the distance between the plunger and an inner lateral wall of the container body is maximum, and a second position, in which such distance is minimum and the plunger presses the sheets pressed between it and said inner lateral wall of the container body  15 . 
     For example, such sliding axis S is parallel and eccentric with respect to the hinge axis C. 
     The machine  10  comprises a shear  70  for cutting the pressed scrap R, which is at least partially housed in the reception volume  20 , for example in the third section, and it is positioned at a lower height with respect to the height of the press  45  and of the further press  55 . 
     In particular, the shear  70  is arranged at a height comprised between the height of the press  45 , for example of the further press  55 , and the height of the bottom wall  35 . 
     The shear  70  is positioned beneath—in plan view—the further press  55 , for example beneath the press  45  and the inlet opening  30  too. 
     Preferably, the shear  70  and the inlet opening  30  are at least partially aligned vertically. 
     The shear  70  comprises a movable element  75  provided with a blade  80 , a fixed element  85  provided with a blade  90 , and a further linear actuator  95  suitable to actuate the movable element  75  in the direction of approaching and moving away from the fixed element  85  along a sliding axis T. 
     The fixed element  85  is arranged at an upper portion of the outlet opening  40  of the container body  15 , i.e. the blade  90  of the fixed element  85  limits the outlet opening  40  at the top part. 
     The machine  10  comprises a pusher element configured for pushing the cut scrap R outside the reception volume  20 , pushing it, for example through the outlet opening  40 . 
     The pusher element comprises an abutment surface  100  moveable along a thrust axis, for example parallel to the bottom wall  35  and transversal to the outlet mouth, between a first position in which the abutment surface  100  is inside the reception volume, and a second position, in which the abutment surface projects externally from the reception volume through the outlet opening  40 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the pusher element is slidably integrally joined to the movable element  75  of the shear, i.e. the abutment surface  100  is obtained in the movable element  75  of the shear and it is positioned beneath the blade  80  of the movable element. 
     Thus, the thrust axis of the pusher element coincides with the sliding axis T of the movable element  75 . 
     The abutment surface  100  lies on a transversal plane, for example perpendicular to the bottom wall  35 . 
     Furthermore, the abutment surface  100  can lie on a plane parallel to a laying plane of the outlet opening. 
     With particular reference to  FIGS. 3 to 5 , the machine  10  can further comprise a mill  105  for scrap R, configured to grind the scrap R cut by the shear  70 . 
     Such mill  105  comprises a casing  110  rotatably housed in which is a shaft  115  provided with flanges integrally joined in rotation therewith and hinged to which are respective hammers  120  for grinding the scrap R cut by the shear  70 . 
     The shaft  115  is rotatably housed in the casing  110  according to a horizontal rotation axis. 
     The mill  105  comprises an inlet mouth  125  and an outlet mouth  130  obtained in the casing  110 , and a duct  135  that connects the outlet opening of the container body  15  with the inlet mouth of the mill  105 . 
     The duct  135  is arranged at a height equal to the height of the outlet opening  40  at most. For example, the duct  135  comprises a lower wall arranged substantially at the same height as the bottom wall  35 . Preferably, the lower wall is coplanar to the bottom wall  35 . 
     The duct  135  has a horizontal substantially longitudinal axis. 
     The machine  10  comprises a discharge opening  140 , having a section on a nonzero horizontal plane, which can be obtained in one from among the duct  135  and the casing  110 . 
     It should be observed that the discharge opening  140  is different the outlet mouth  130  of the mill  105 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the discharge opening  140  is obtained in the casing, for example in a lower portion thereof, downstream of the inlet mouth, with respect to the flow of the scrap R towards the mill  105 . 
     The machine comprises a diverter body, for example comprising a partitioning  145  hinged to the casing  110 , preferably according to a substantially horizontal hinge axis. 
     The partitioning is hinged downstream of the discharge opening with respect to the flow of the scrap R from the outlet opening  40 . 
     The diverter body, i.e. the partitioning  145 , is movable between a first position, in which it occludes the discharge opening  140  and allows, or it does not obstruct, the movement of the cut scrap R from the outlet opening  40  of the container body  15  to the inlet mouth  125  of the mill  105 , and a second position, in which it clears the discharge opening  140  and diverts the movement of the scrap R exiting from the outlet mouth towards the discharge opening  140 . 
     In particular, in the first position the diverter body occludes, for example fully, the discharge opening  140 . 
     Furthermore, in the first position the partitioning  145  lies on a substantially horizontal plane. 
     In the second position, the partitioning  145  lies on an oblique plane. 
     The machine comprises an actuation of the diverter body, which is controlled by a control unit configured so as to receive a remote signal for switching the diverter body between the first and the second position. 
     The machine  10  according to the invention operates as follows. 
     The scrap R is introduced—by means of a crane with a claw or other means—into the reception volume  20  dropping them through the inlet opening  30 . From there, the scrap R drops by gravity at least up to the second section present in which is the narrowing of the reception volume and present in which is the press  45 , which carries out a first compaction of the scrap R. 
     When the press  45  switches from the operative position to the inoperative position, the scrap R drops by gravity towards the further press  55 , which presses the pressed scrap R compacting it further and maintaining it in position while the shear is actuated to carry out the cutting of the compacted scrap R. 
     Thanks to the presence of the abutment surface  100  on the movable element  75  of the shear  70 , at each actuation of the shear  70 , the scrap R previously cut and resting against the bottom wall is pushed towards the duct of the mill  105 . 
     When processing painted scrap R, an operator—by means of remote control—switches the diverter body present in the duct  135  to the first position, so that the cut scrap R is pushed into the mill  105 . 
     On the contrary, when processing non-painted scrap R, acting on the remote control the operator switches the diverter body to the second position, so as to directly discharge the cut scrap R through the discharge opening, without it reaching the mill. 
     The invention thus conceived is susceptible to numerous modifications and variants all falling within the inventive concept. 
     In addition, all details can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements. 
     Basically, the materials used as well as the shapes and contingent dimensions, may vary according to the needs without departing from the scope of protection of the claims that follow.