Improvements in Presses for Compressing Fibrous or other Materials.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 29th July, 1899-Accepted, 17th Feb., 1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Presses for Compressing Fibrous or other Materials.
I, GEORGE ARCHIBALD LOWRY, of 1124 Monadnock Block, 260 Dearborn
Street Chicago, County of Cook, State of Illinois, United States of America,
Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The object of the invention is to produce an apparatus of simple and novel
construction and arrangement for compressing fibrous or other material, such
as cotton, wool, hair, grass, hay, sisal, alfa, hemp, manilla, excelsior, rags and
the like, into highly condensed or compressed bale form.
The accompanying drawings illustrate various forms, constructions, and
arrangements embodying the principles of the invention.
Fig. 1, is a general view showing a form of the complete apparatus assembled
for operation.
Fig. 2, is a central longitudinal section showing one form of press chamber,
and the manner of mounting the same.
Fig. 3, is a view illustrating the manner in which the material is drawn into
the press chamber.
Fig. 4, is a view in longitudinal section, showing an arrangement of a counter-
abutment, or receding platform, for receiving the end of the compressed column
as it emerges from the press chamber, and means for severing a length therefrom
to form a bale.
Fig. 5, is a broken view in side elevation of the form of counter-abutment or
receding support shown in Fig. 4.
Fig. 6, is a central longitudinal section of the press chamber, showing a
slightly different arrangement thereof, and the application thereto of the
severing cutters.
Fig. 7, is a detached detail view in plan of a part of the severing or bale-
separating apparatus.
Fig. 8, is a detail view in bottom plan of a set of bale-separating and retain-
ing devices.
Fig. 9, is a transverse sectional view on the line 9, 9, Fig. 8.
Fig. 10, is a detail view in plan of a form of bale support or platen embodying
the invention.
Fig. 11, is a central longitudinal section of a modified form of receding sup-
port for the end of the compressed column as it emerges from the press
chamber.
Fig. 12, is a transverse section on the line 12, 12, Fig. 11.
Figs. 13 and 14, are respectively central longitudinal section and end views
of a form of sleeve for the press chamber, employing longitudinal grooves on
the inner surface thereof.
Figs. 15 and 16, are respectively similar views showing a modified arrange-
ment of the same.

page_text: is subjected is greatest at the feed-in end of the chamber, the grooves S, should
be deepest at that point, and may be of diminishing depth towards their other
ends. If desired, the grooves S, may be formed the entire length of the cylinder,
or in a sleeve K, which is to be arranged within the cylinder, and they should
preferably be of diminishing size from one end towards the other. If desired, the
locking ribs may be in the form of a basket L, arranged within the cylinder,
or a sleeve K, thereof. (See Figs. 15 and 16.)
If desired, and in order to protect the under surface of the cap from undue
wear from the friction of the material contacting therewith, a reduction of the
wearing effect on the under surface of the cap may be secured by forming in
such surface, and in concentric relation to the axis of relative rotation, a series
of grooves V, (see Figs. 17 and 18). These grooves should be of increasing
area from the compressing lip of one feed slot to the proximate lip of the next
adjacent slot, so as not to interfere with or impede the relative rotation of the
cap and material.
To the delivery end of the chamber B, may be applied an extension O, which
may determine to some extent, at least, the degree of compression to which the
material is subjected.
It will be seen that every point in the end surface of the mass of material in
the chamber which contacts with the under surface of the cap, travels in a circle
concentric with the axis of relative rotation of the chamber and cap. There-
fore, where the slots D, are truly radial to the axis of relative rotation, the
lines of travel of the surface of the mass of material in the chamber cross the
edges of the slots at substantially right angles. If, however, the slots terminate
at their inner ends at points on the right-hand side of the center of the cap,
with reference to the direction of rotation of the chamber, that is, in advance
of the inner end of a radius of the cap, which radius passes through the outer
end of said slot, and then extend towards the periphery of the cap in a line
in the case where the
rearwardly inclined, with respect to such radius, as
chamber rotates, then the lines of travel of the material past the slots have a
trend or direction towards the inner ends of the slots, that is, any particular
point in the surface of the material approaches the near edge of the slot at a
point nearer the outer end thereof than that at which it leaves the far or com-
pressing edge or lip of the slot, and hence the course of said relative line of
travel of the material across the slot is in a direction the trend of which is
towards the center of the cap. Similarly, if the slots terminate at a point on
the left-hand of the center with reference to such radius and the direction of
rotation of the chamber and extend outwardly therefrom in a line forwardly
inclined in the direction of the relative movement of the material and cap, and
with reference to a radius of the cap, then the lines of relative travel of the
material past the slots have a trend or direction towards the outer ends of the
slots. This trend is illustrated by the arrows and lines shown crossing the
slots D, in the diagram Fig. 25. Since the loose material supplied to or adja-
cent to the slots in the cap is engaged by the material in the chamber, as
above explained, and is drawn through the slots in the cap by reason of such
engagement and the relative rotation of the chamber and cap, it will be at once
apparent that the arrangement of the slots plays an important part in the matter
of feeding the material through the slots and in distributing it throughout the
bale. For instance, with the slots so arranged as that the direction or trend of
the lines of travel of the material past the slots is towards the inner ends of the
slots, the drawing action exerted upon the loose material to draw the same in to
the chamber, is from the outer ends of the slots towards their inner ends, and
hence towards the center of, the chamber. The effect of this is to tend to carry
or draw the material to the center of the bale and to make the bale more dense
towards its center. On the other hand, with the slots arranged so that the
trend or direction of the drawing action is from the inner ends outwardly, the
effect is to tend to carry or draw the material towards the periphery of the

page_text: slots, said slots terminating at their inner ends at a point to one side of the
center of the cap, and means for relatively rotating said chamber and cap.
6. In a press, a chamber or holder, a cap or head for one end thereof, said
cap or head provided with narrow slots therethrough extending from near the
center thereof outwardly towards the periphery, and the width between the lips
of which is insufficient to permit the compressed material to rise therein, the
under surface of the compressing edge or lip of each being inclined towards
the under surface of the cap, and means for relatively rotating the chamber and
cap.
7. In a press, a chamber or holder, a cap having one or more slots formed
therein, the outer surface of the cap on opposite sides of each slot being inclined
towards said slot, and means for relatively rotating the chamber and cap.
8. In a machine for compressing fibrous or other material, a cap or abutment,
and means for rotating the mass of compressed material in contact therewith,
said abutment being provided with one or more slots extending from near the
middle to near the periphery thereof, said slots being inclined to the path of
travel of the compressed material entering the slots.
or more
9. In a press, a chamber forming a holder, a cap for one end thereof and
forming an abutment for one end of the compressed material, and means for
relatively rotating the chamber and cap, said cap provided with one
slots or inlet openings, the compressing lip of each slot being inclined towards
the inner surface of the cap, and the outer surface of the cap converging towards
the edges of each slot.
10. In a press, a chamber, a cap, and means for relatively rotating these
parts, said cap provided with one or more feed slots, each slot terminating at its
inner end at a point on the left-hand side of the center of the cap.
11. In a press, a chamber or holder, a cap or head therefor, and means for
relatively rotating these parts, said cap or head provided with one or more feed
slots, said slots being curved in the direction of the length thereof.
12. In a press, a chamber or holder, a slotted cap or head therefor, said cap
or head made in sections, and means for relatively rotating the chamber and cap.
13. In a press, a chamber or holder, a cap or head therefor, said cap composed
of sections or plates arranged edge to edge, and off-set from each other, to form
feed slots therebetween, and means for relatively rotating the chamber and cap.
14. In a press, a chamber or holder, a cap or head therefor, said cap composed
of sections or plates arranged edge to edge, and off-set from each other, to form
feed slots there between, and strengthening ribs or blocks for said plates, and
means for relatively rotating said chamber and cap.
15. In a press, a cap or abutment comprising an annular frame, a series of
plates arranged edge to edge and secured to said frame, said plates being off-set
to form feed slots therebetween, and means for rotating a mass of compressed
material in contact with said cap or abutment.
16. A press, comprising an open-ended chamber, a slotted cap therefor, and
means for relatively rotating these parts, in combination with means for con-
tracting the diameter of said chamber.
17. A press, comprising an open-ended chamber, means for varying the taper
of the bore thereof, and means for advancing the material through the chamber.
18. In a press, a series of plates arranged to form a passage for the material
to be compressed, means for advancing the material through such passage, and
means for adjusting said plates, whereby the taper of such passage may be
varied.
19. In a press, a series of plates arranged to form a passage for the column
of material, said plates being loosely held at one end, a movable piece having
an inclined surface arranged to engage a co-operating surface on the opposite
ends of said plates, whereby when said movable piece is adjusted the taper of
said passage is varied, and means for advancing the material through such
passage.

page_text: next bale, thus avoiding any interruption in the operation of the machine
through the removal of a completed bale. If desired, the heads A2 may be
świveled to freely rotate with the end of the column M, of material in contact
therewith.
If desired, and in order to facilitate the removal of the bale after being
détached from the end of the column, the heads A2, may be mounted on- a
sleeve G2, in which is received the end of rod 12, a spring H2, forming a yield-
ing support for the sleeve. A latch J³, suitably arranged and operated, may
serve to hold the sleeve in a position more or less near to or removed from the
end of rod 12. In receiving the end of the compressed column, the sleeve
occupies a position near the end of the rod. After a bale has been detached
and is ready to be removed, the latch J2, is detached, and the weight of the' bale
being imposed on the head A2, the spring H2, is compressed, and hence the bale
is lowered away from the end of the column from which it has been detached,
this range of movement being sufficient to enable the bale to clear the end of
the column. Of course many other constructions and arrangements may be
devised for accomplishing this same result, and still be included in the
scope
the invention.
of
The cylinder C2, may be held in position to receive the end of the compressed
column upon the head or platform A, in any suitable manner, as by means of a
spring-pressed bolt K².
As illustrative of the generic character of the invention embodying the idea
of a receding counter-abutment for the end of the compressed column as it
emerges from the press chamber, another construction involving the principles
thereof is shown in Figs. 11, and 12, wherein a threaded rod L2, is pivotally
mounted as at M2, and carries a threaded nut or sleeve N2, upon which is yield-
ingly supported a head 02. This head receives the end of the compressed
column M, the end of the rod L2, being received in the hole P2, formed at the
longitudinal center of the column by the peculiar formation thereof, as above
explained. The yielding support of head O2, offers the desired resistance to the
advancement of the end of the compressed column, and when the column has
advanced sufficiently far to overcome this resistance, a rotation of the threaded
sleeve N2, begins, which causes said sleeve, and with it the head, to travel along
rod L².
Many other forms of apparatus embodying the principle of a receding counter-
abutment may be devised, and still fall within the spirit and scope of the
invention.
After a sufficient length of the compressed column has emerged 'from the
chamber to form a bale of the desired length, such length is detached or sepa-
rated from the column or portion retained in the chamber. This separation
may be accomplished in many different ways, and a construction embodying the
generic principles will now be described, it being understood that this construc-
tion is merely illustrative of an operative means, and the invention is not to be
limited or restricted thereto. In the form shown, an annular collar A³, (see
Figs. 4, 6 & 7) is mounted on the delivery end of the chamber or its 'exten-
sion O. A frame B³, having guide-ways, is carried by collar A³, said ways' being
preferably arranged radially to the axis of the compressed column. Blocks C³
carrying severing or separating blades D3, E3, are mounted in the guide-ways.
The blocks C, may be advanced to cause the severing or separating blades to
penetrate the compressed material in any suitable manner, as, for example, by
means of pivoted levers or arms F³. A convenient arrangement for rocking
said levers is shown, wherein each lever is provided with a projection G³, having
cam surfaces. By arranging an obstruction in the path of these cam surfaces,
it will be seen that when said surfaces are brought into contact with the obstruc-
tion, as the annular frame A³, revolves with the chamber, said levers F³, are
rocked, thereby advancing or retracting the cutters. In Fig. 4, is shown
stops H³, Js, engaging on opposite sides with gear K³. By rotating said gear,

page_text: 20. In a press, a chamber or holder, a series of plates longitudinally arranged
on the inner surface of said chamber to form a passage therethrough, said plates
being loosely held at the receiving end of said chamber, means for moving the
opposite ends of said plates toward the axial center of said chamber, whereby
the taper of the bore of said passage is changed, and means for advancing the
material through said passage.
21. In a press, a chamber or holder, a slotted cap therefor, and means for
relatively rotating these parts, whereby material supplied adjacent to the slots
in the cap is drawn into the chamber and condensed or compressed into a column
and is advanced through the chamber, in combination with means arranged to
receive the end of such column as it emerges from the end of the chamber, to
prevent endwise expansion thereof.
22. In a press, an open-handed chamber or holder, and means for continuously
feeding the material into and through such chamber and subjecting the same to
pressure, in combination with means for receiving supporting, and preventing
expansion of, the material after it is compressed, and as it emerges from the
chamber.
23. In a press, a holder adapted to embrace a portion of the column of com-
pressed material, and means for condensing the material upon one end of said
column and correspondingly advancing such column through the holder, in com-
bination with a receding support arranged to receive the end of such column
as it emerges from the holder.
24. In a press, a holder adapted to embrace a portion of the column of com-
pressed material, and means for condensing the material upon one end of
such column and correspondingly advancing the same through the holder, in
combination with a movable platform or head adapted to receive the end of the
column as it emerges, and means for yieldingly resisting the receding move-
ment of said platform.
25. In a press, an open-handed chamber, means for rotating the same, and a
slotted cap or head for one end of the chamber, in combination with a receding
support arranged to receive the compressed material as it emerges from said
chamber, said support mounted to rotate.
26. In a press, a holder, means for compressing the material in, and corre-
spondingly advancing the same through, the holder, whereby the material emerges
from the holder in a compressed column, a receding support arranged to receive
the end of the compressed column as it emerges from the holder, to hold the
same against endwise expansion, said holder being pivotally mounted, whereby
it may be rocked or swung out of alignment with the column.
27. In a press, a chamber forming a holder in which the material is com-
pressed into a column, and means for condensing the material in layers on the
end of such column and correspondingly advancing the same through the holder,
in combination with means for separating a portion from the end of such
column, of sufficient length to form a bale.
28. In a press, a chamber or holder, and means for compressing the material
in said chamber and correspondingly advancing the same therethrough, whereby
the compressed material emerges in the form of a column, in combination with
means for severing a length therefrom to form a bale.
29. In a press, a chamber or holder, means for compressing the material
therein in superposed flattened spiral layers, and correspondingly advancing the
same therethrough, whereby the material emerges from the chamber in a com-
pressed column, in combination with one or more blades arranged to operate
transversely the length of the column to sever a bale therefrom, and means
for advancing the blades into the column.
30. In a press, a chamber, and means for compressing the material in said
chamber, and correspondingly advancing the same therethrough, in combina-
tion with a receding platform adapted to receive the end of the compressed