Patent Publication Number: US-6708607-B1

Title: Baling press comprising a tiltable compacting container, and method for operating the same

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a baling press with tiltable compacting container wherein above the compacting container a vertically guided compacting ram is arranged and wherein the compacting container can be filled in a forwardly tilted position via the exposed fill opening. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     From DE-OS 26 25 371 a device for compacting trash is already known comprising a compacting ram movable by means of a vertical guide, a pipe (compacting container) arranged underneath, onto which from below a bag-like container is pushed whose bottom is supported on a bottom plate during compacting, and comprising a device for emptying the compacted pipe contents of the pipe into the container, wherein the pipe together with the bottom plate can be tilted forwardly into a slanted position enabling filling. For tilting, an axle is arranged at the fill side below the bottom plate and, moreover, a grip is provided at the upper edge of the pipe. In order to move the pipe forwardly into the fill position, the operator must pull the pipe forwardly, according to the principle of moving a dolly, with a considerable force expenditure in the initial phase of tilting. Only in a later tilting phase, the lever principle of physics will act and the tilting action becomes easier. The complete tilting of the pipe to the front is prevented in that the rearward upper edge of the pipe impacts on the compacting ram guide of the device. 
     For a fluent working action during compacting of the trash it is furthermore disadvantageous that the operator first must tilt the pipe forwardly and can only then pick up the material for filling. Moreover, the device has the disadvantage that for emptying the compacted material the pipe must be moved upwardly by means of an additional guide unit so that its compacted contents can be emptied into the flexible receptacle pushed onto the pipe at the beginning of compacting, wherein the compacted material is again loosened and the volume increased. 
     Moreover, from U.S. Pat. No. 3,946,661 a device—press—for compacting household trash is known. This press has a press housing with an opening at the front side in which a tiltable unit—a container—is arranged which comprises a compacting container which can be positioned underneath a vertically guided compacting ram. The actual compacting container is an insert which is placed onto a bottom of the container so as to be aligned underneath a cylindrical ram guide which is arranged in the upper area of the container and has at the top and the bottom an opening, wherein the upper opening at the same time is the fill opening for dropping the trash. The cylindrical ram guide is at the same time the trash receptacle in which the trash is collected in preparation for compacting. 
     Said container, onto which the insert (compacting container) is placed, is pivotably supported on the housing by means of hinges whose axes are aligned with one another horizontally. In this device it is therefore not the compacting container that is tiltable about a horizontal axis but the additional receiving unit. 
     In contrast to the press of DE-OS 26 25 371 in this press a center of gravity displacement of the horizontal pivot axis is realized, but its pivot axis is arranged such that said entire unit, here also, can be tilted forwardly only by a manual actuation on the grip of the container. This device has also the disadvantages already mentioned above; moreover, the increased manufacturing expenditure is an additional disadvantage. 
     Known are also presses with compacting spaces to be filled from above, which have a compacting container with square or rectangular base surface and wherein, after the compacted bale is finished, at least two sidewalls of the compacting container must be tilted outwardly in order to remove the bale from the compacting space. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the invention is thus to provide a baling press having a tiltable compacting container and being fillable from above in a forwardly tilted position, with which an operator is physically less stressed, which provides for a more fluent working action and which can be produced with minimal technical economic expenditure. 
     The object is solved by a baling press with tiltable compacting container according to the features of claim 1; the dependent claims 2 to 5 disclose further developments or advantageous constructive-technical embodiments of the invention, and claim 6 discloses new process steps for the operation of such baling presses. 
     Important in connection with the newly configured baling press with tiltable compacting container is primarily that a shaft that is provided on the compacting frame, which is preferably configured as a portal, and about which the compacting container as well as bearings, which are provided on or preferably below the bottom of the compacting container and which engage substantially peripherally the shaft, are arranged relative to one another such that the longitudinal axis of the shaft, viewed from an end face of the compacting container, is positioned in a frontal plane located preferably behind the center of gravity of the compacting container. 
     This aforementioned arrangement is selected especially such that the compacting container in the vertical position is almost in equilibrium, but has a small overweight in the pivoting/tilting direction, i.e., in the forward direction. 
     The compacting container is preferably locked by a locking unit in the vertical position required for compacting so that the compacting container (compacting space) and a preferably electro-hydraulically actuated, vertically movable compacting ram of the baling press are aligned with one another for a pressing cycle. 
     With respect to the method, it is furthermore provided in a novel way that upon return of the compacting ram into its upper position the locking unit is actuated such that the compacting container automatically tilts, here in the forward direction, into the filling position. According to a further embodiment, the locking unit is moreover also manually actuatable. 
     In a further technical development, at the backside of the compacting frame a spring unit is provided which is in active interaction with the compacting container such that, upon release of the compacting container, the compacting container receives an additional starting push for the tilting action and that, upon tilting of the compacting container into the vertical position, this spring unit moreover preferably acts as a damping element. 
     Further advantages and technical configurations of the novel baling press reside in the use of at least one pulse valve for the preferably employed electro-hydraulic drive of the compacting ram, in particular, for switching the compacting ram from the compacting stroke to lifting (returning) into its initial position. 
     Slots that are provided in the end face and in the back wall and correspond to one another allow tying of a compacted bale with a strap or wire while the compacting container is still closed. The pressing plate of the compacting ram, moreover, is configured such, as is known in the art, that tying of the bale is possible with the pressing plate positioned on the bale. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be explained in detail in the following with embodiments illustrated schematically in the drawings. It is shown in: 
     FIG.  1 : a novel baling press with tiltable compacting container in a frontal view; 
     FIG. 1 a : a novel baling press with tiltable compacting container in a frontal view. 
     FIG. 1 b : a side view of FIG. 1 a , with indicated tilted position of the compacting container; 
     FIG.  2 : a baling press modified in comparison to FIG. 1 with further details in a side view; 
     FIG. 3 a -FIG. 3 c : details of FIG. 2, respectively; compacting ram and compacting container in different working positions of a pressing cycle. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In FIG. 1 the new baling press  1  is shown in a frontal view. The baling press  1  is comprised of a compacting frame  2  which comprises two lateral portal columns  4  facing one another; a bridge  3  horizontally arranged between the latter  4  in their head area; a transverse beam  9  in the foot area; and a horizontally arranged shaft  10  above the latter  9 . 
     On, in, and above the bridge  3 , a drive  47 , an electro-hydraulically actuated lifting cylinder  48 , as well as a controlling and signaling device, not illustrated in detail, are provided. A start switch  52  and a stop switch (emergency stop)  53  are arranged preferably on a front plate  5 . 
     In the foot area of the portal columns  4  a foot part  6  is provided, respectively, which has at one end a wheel  7  and at the other end an adjusting element  8 , as illustrated in FIG. 1 b.    
     Between the portal columns  4  and above the horizontal shaft  10  a compacting container  11  is arranged which is secured in a tiltable way by means of two stays  23  arranged below on the container  11  which each have a bearing  24  engaging peripherally the shaft  10 . FIGS. 1 a  and  1   b  also show that the compacting container  11  is comprised of a bottom  12 , a back wall  13 , two sidewalls  14  and  15  as well as an end wall  16  which together form an upwardly open compacting space. In the end wall  16  a door  18  is provided which can be locked by means of a door lock  19  and is tiltable about hinges  20  so that the compacting space can be opened for removing the finished compacted, preferably tied, bale after release of the door lock  19 . Above the door  18  a grip  17  is provided on the end wall  16  for handling the compacting container  11 . The upper edges of the compacting container parts  13 ,  14 ,  15  and  16  define the upwardly open fill opening  22 . 
     According to the method it is now provided in a novel way that for releasing the fill opening of the tiltable compacting container  11  the vertically guided compacting ram  30  of the baling press  1  actuates a locking unit acting on the compacting container when the return stroke “R” following a pressing movement is carried out so that the released compacting container automatically tilts into a slanted position such that the fill opening  22  for filling the compacting space of the compacting container is substantially freely accessible. 
     On the backside of the compacting frame  2  at least one supply roll  51  for a tying strap  50  is secured. The tying strap  50  can be handled through slots  18 ′ provided in the back wall  13  and end wall  16  before and after the compacting process. 
     On the left edge of the door  18  as well as on a corresponding location of the left portal column  4 , parts of a signaling unit  28  are arranged. Upon tilting of the compacting container  11  in the forward direction for filling or upon opening of the door  18  for removing the bale, this signaling unit  28  sends a signal to the drive control which has the effect that the drive for the compacting ram  30  is switched off or, upon completion of the movement, is immediately stopped. 
     In FIG. 2 a side view of a modified embodiment of the novel baling press  1  illustrated in FIG. 1 a  and FIG. 1 b  as well as further components and modular units are illustrated in detail. 
     The compacting container is in the working position “filling”, the compacting ram  30  is in its uppermost position, in the rest position. The compacting ram  30  is connected with its auxiliary frame  31 , preferably comprised of U-shaped profiled sections, with the lifting cylinder  48  of the drive  47  and secures at its underside profiled rails  33  positioned parallel to the sidewalls  14  and  15  of the compacting container  11 . 
     The profiled rails  33  have a tub-shaped cross-section wherein the open side is oriented downwardly, and several profiled rails  33  are arranged at a spacing adjacent to one another so that their slantedly extending legs form a V-shaped gap for guiding the tying strap, wherein, however, they are positioned so tightly adjacent to one another that they together form the pressing plate  32 . 
     On the backside of the baling press  1 , a locking unit  40  is arranged which is comprised of several elements, wherein a bolt  27  supported on a flange  26  and a dropping lock  25  are arranged on the back wall  13  of the compacting container  11  and a specially configured locking bolt  41  is provided at the backside of the bridge  3  of the compacting frame  2 . 
     Moreover, in this FIG. 2 a vertically extending central axis  29  is illustrated which is a common axis for the compacting ram  30  and the compacting container  11  positioned vertically for the compacting process. The compacting ram  30  as well as the compacting container  11  are arranged centrally symmetrically relative to this central axis  29  such that the frontal plane extending through the center of gravity of the compacting container  11  is positioned on this central axis  29 . 
     In addition to the novel and specially configured locking unit  40  it is important for the invention that the longitudinal axis  10   a  of the horizontal shaft  10 , about which the compacting container  1  is tiltable, is positioned behind the central axis  29 , i.e., behind the frontal plane FP of the compacting container  11  extending through the center of gravity CG. 
     The details of the locking unit  40  as well as different working positions of the compacting ram  30  in connection with the locking unit  40  are illustrated in FIGS. 3 a  to  3   c.    
     In FIG. 3 a  the compacting ram  30  moves again upwardly according to a partial cycle pressing in the direction “R”. In the side view from the left showing portions of the baling press  1 , which is illustrated in section along the section line “B 1 ” and “B 2 ”, details of the locking unit  40  are illustrated. 
     The locking bolt  41  is pivotably supported by means of a bearing bolt  45  on a support  46  which is fastened on the backside of the bridge  3 . The locking bolt  41  has moreover two legs arranged almost at a right angle to one another, wherein one leg in the end area has a nose  42  which penetrates through the back wall  13  into the compacting space to such an extent that it projects into the area of action of a pawl  34  pivotably arranged on the auxiliary frame. 31 . In the horizontally positioned lower side of the aforementioned leg a locking groove  44  is arranged which is positioned behind the back wall  13  and which in this working position engages across the bolt  27  arranged on the back wall  13  of the compacting container  11  and thus secures the compacting container  11  in the working position “pressing”. 
     The upwardly oriented leg of the locking bolt  41 , which is more narrow than the first described leg, is embodied as a hand grip  43 . By means of a tension spring  49  engaging this hand grip  43  and the support  46 , the other leg of the locking bolt  41 , which is substantially horizontally positioned, is at all times forced by the locking groove  44  into the position “securing”. 
     In the illustration according to FIG. 3 b  the compacting ram  30  has already moved farther upwardly, the pawl  34  engages a nose  42  of the locking bolt  41  and pivots it, by overcoming the spring force, about the bearing bolt  45  in the upward direction so that the locking groove  44  is also lifted and the bolt  27  is thus released. 
     After release of the bolt  27 , see FIG. 3 c  in this context, the compacting container  11  pivots forwardly into the fill position as a result of the afore described special position of the horizontal shaft  10 . The tilting movement carried out in the forward direction is limited by locking members, preferably provided with damping elements and preferably arranged on the portal columns  4 , which engage the compacting container  11 ; the locking members have not been illustrated in the drawings. 
     The dropping lock  25 , arranged on the back wall  13  and configured in the form of a rib, moves forwardly between two profiled rails  33  during the tilting movement of the compacting container  11  and rests in the completely tilted position of the compacting container  11  underneath a transverse part of the auxiliary frame  31 . 
     The dropping lock  25  prevents that the compacting ram  30  can drop below a predetermined position and ensures thus that at any time the compacting container  11  can be moved by manual actuation again into the position “pressing”, i.e., into a vertical position. Moreover, it is illustrated that, after passing the pawl  34 , the bolt  41  drops into its initial position. When the pressing plate  32  begins the compacting stroke and moves downwardly, the slanted portion  36  of the pawl  34  moves along the slanted portion of the nose  42 , pivots during this movement upwardly about the pivot axis  35  and drops, after passing the nose  42 , again into its initial position, wherein its lower surface  38  is supported preferably on a profiled rail  33 . 
     All of the features mentioned in the preceding description as well as the features that can be taken only from the drawings are further components of the invention, even if they are not especially emphasized and, in particular, are not mentioned in the claims. The invention is not limited to the embodiment but is variable in many ways within the frame of the disclosure. 
     list of Reference Numerals 
       1  baling press (with tiltable compacting container) 
       2  compacting frame 
       3  bridge 
       4  portal columns 
       5  front plate 
       6  foot parts 
       7  wheel 
       8  adjusting element 
       9  transverse beam 
       10  horizontal shaft 
       10   a  longitudinal axis 
       11  compacting container 
       12  bottom 
       13  back wall 
       14  sidewall, left 
       15  sidewall, right 
       16  end wall 
       17  grip 
       18  door 
       18 ′ slots 
       19  door lock 
       20  hinges 
       21  upper edge 
       22  fill opening 
       23  stays 
       24  bearing 
       25  dropping lock (rib) 
       26  flange 
       27  bolt 
       28  signaling unit 
       29  central axis 
       30  compacting ram 
       31  auxiliary frame (U-shaped profiles) 
       32  pressing plate 
       33  profiled rails (tub-shaped cross-section) 
       34  pawl 
       35  pivot axis 
       36  slanted portion 
       37  upper surface 
       38  lower surface 
       39  spring unit 
       40  locking unit 
       41  locking bolt 
       42  nose 
       43  hand grip 
       44  locking groove 
       45  bearing bolt 
       46  support 
       47  drive 
       48  lifting column (hydraulically movable) 
       49  tension spring 
       50  baling strap 
       51  supply roll 
       52  start button 
       53  stop button (emergency stop) 
     B 1 , B 2  section lines 
     R direction, movement of compacting ram