Patent Description:
Various types of presses used for compacting urban or similar solid waste are known to the state of the art.

Said type of press is designed to solve problems arising from the storage and transport of considerable amounts of waste.

The function of this machine is in fact to compact and reduce the volume of urban and similar solid waste to facilitate the handling and storage thereof.

Said waste can be for example: paper, plastic, secondary solid fuel, etc..

Said presses generally comprise a compaction tunnel inside which a presser slides that compresses the material against an abutment, to form an agglomeration of waste generally called a "bale". Said abutment is configured to open and allow the transfer of the bale from the press to receiving means for transferring, for example, truck platforms.

The tunnel generally has a generally metallic structure having the shape of a parallelepiped supported on the ground by four legs.

The waste is normally inserted into the press by means of special conveyor belts, which unload by fall into a loading mouth of the press, for example a hopper operatively connected to the structure.

The waste is compacted by means of movable pressing means, e.g. connected to an oleodynamic compacting cylinder. The pressing means push the waste against the abutment by exerting the maximum pressure to form the compacted waste bale. Once compaction is finished, this abutment is raised, for example oleodynamically, leaving the entire internal section of the structure of the press completely free.

The pressing means then move the bale outside the structure of the press until it is completely transferred onto the means used for reception.

One problem with the transfer of the bale from the press over to the receiving means is that these do not always manage to position themselves in the correct way to receive the bale, which translates according to the direction of advancement of the pressing means. In fact, if the structure of the tunnel and the receiving means are not well aligned, the bale will not enter or will get caught against the receiving means. As the press rests on the ground on its legs, the only possibility of alignment is by adjusting the position of the receiving means. The receiving means are in fact generally trucks with relative container or loading platform and the correct alignment with the press requires several manoeuvres by the driver.

Document <CIT> discloses a press and generically describes structural connection device that allow for positional adjustments, particularly rotations, without specifying any technical or positional details.

Document <CIT> describes a press according to the preamble of claim <NUM> with a single translation device arranged below and near the second end of the container structure.

The technical problem at the basis of the present invention is that of providing a press for compacting waste material, in particular preferably urban solids, structurally and functionally conceived to overcome one or more of the limits set out above with reference to the aforementioned prior art.

In the context of the aforementioned problem, a main object of the invention is that of developing a press for compacting waste material, in particular preferably urban solids, which allows the operations to transfer the pressed material or bale onto the receiving means to be simplified.

A further object of the invention is also that of providing to the art a press for compacting waste material, in particular preferably urban solids, within a simple, rational and rather low-cost solution.

In particular, the present invention provides a press Z with the features of claim <NUM> for compacting waste material, in particular preferably urban solids, comprising a compaction tunnel in communication with a hopper through which said waste material to be compacted is received, pressing means configured to translate within a structure of said tunnel which are configured to compress the waste material against an abutment element and to form a bale, said abutment element preferably located at a first end of the structure and movable in vertical direction, to define an opening through which the pressing means transfer said bale onto receiving means.

In particular, the structure of said tunnel is configured to cooperate with at least one translation device adapted to translate the structure on a plane parallel to the ground.

Thanks to this solution it is possible to position the press in such a way as to simplify and make the unloading of the bale to the receiving means safer.

Preferably, the translation device is configured to translate the structure in a transverse direction orthogonal to the longitudinal translation direction of the pressing means.

This enhances the translation safety of the bale to avoid collisions or impacts with the receiving means.

Preferably, the translation device comprises a fixed frame adapted to be fixed to the ground and a movable carriage mechanically connected to said structure and actuating means for translating the movable carriage with respect to the fixed frame.

The advantage of this solution is that it can be easily integrated into already existing presses.

Preferably said structure of the tunnel is shaped like a parallelepiped with a long side parallel to the ground.

A solution according to the invention comprises two translation devices arranged below and in proximity to the first end and in proximity to a second end of said structure.

This facilitates the positioning of the press, which can translate while remaining parallel to its starting position.

Preferably, the structure comprises support means integral therewith and facing the ground and configured to mechanically connect to the translation devices by distancing the structure from the ground.

This has the advantage of having the press at a height suitable for the receiving means with which it has to interface.

In particular, the support means comprise two pairs of legs each arranged in proximity to the first end and in proximity to the second end of said structure.

Preferably each translation device comprises two movable carriages connected below each leg.

In particular, the present invention also provides a method according to claim <NUM>.

These and other objects are achieved thanks to the characteristics of the invention set forth in the independent claim <NUM> and <NUM>.

The dependent claims outline preferred and/or particularly advantageous aspects of the invention.

These and other features will be more apparent from the following description of some embodiments illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings.

With particular reference to the figure, a press <NUM> for compacting waste material is depicted.

In particular it is preferably urban solid waste.

In fact, said type of press is designed to compact and reduce urban and similar solid waste into bales <NUM>, reducing the volume thereof and facilitating the handling thereof.

Said bales <NUM> may have adjustable size and weight.

According to an embodiment of the invention depicted in the figures, said press comprises a compaction tunnel <NUM> configured to receive waste.

Said tunnel <NUM> is defined by a structure <NUM>, preferably metallic resting on the ground.

A preferred embodiment provides that the structure <NUM> is shaped like a parallelepiped or case.

In particular the long side of the parallelepiped is parallel to the ground.

Preferably, said waste is inserted into the structure <NUM> of the tunnel <NUM> by means of a hopper <NUM>.

As depicted in the figure, one embodiment provides that the waste enters the structure <NUM> by falling as the hopper <NUM> is located above the structure <NUM>, on the side opposite the ground.

Thus the tunnel <NUM> is in communication with the hopper <NUM> through which said waste material to be compacted is received.

Preferably, the waste material to be compacted arrives at the hopper <NUM> by means of special conveyor belts, not depicted in the figure, which by unloading by fall into the hopper <NUM> fill the press <NUM>.

The press <NUM> may comprise a hatch <NUM> arranged horizontally below the hopper <NUM>.

Said hatch <NUM> can be configured to translate from an open position wherein it allows the passage of waste into a closed position wherein it closes the passage between the hopper <NUM> and the tunnel <NUM>.

Before the press <NUM> starts compacting the waste, preferably said hatch <NUM>, moved for example by an oleodynamic cylinder, isolates the compaction tunnel <NUM> from the hopper <NUM>.

The press <NUM> further comprises pressing means <NUM> configured to slide within the structure <NUM> of said tunnel <NUM>.

The translation of said pressing means <NUM> pushes the waste material against an abutment element <NUM> a until a sufficient pressure is exerted to compress said waste material and to form a bale <NUM>.

Said pressing means <NUM> can translate by means of drive means preferably of the hydraulic type as they are able to exert high pressures.

Alternatively, solutions in which the drive means that move the pressing means <NUM> are of an electrical, pneumatic type, etc. also fall within the scope of protection of the invention.

Said pressing means may be, for example, a metal shovel having a size preferably similar to the internal cross-section of the structure <NUM> for obtaining a bale <NUM> with maximum size for said structure <NUM>.

Said abutment element <NUM> is preferably located at a first end 111a of the structure <NUM>.

In a preferred embodiment the abutment <NUM> defines a transverse wall, i.e. on the short side of the structure <NUM>.

According to one aspect of the invention, said abutment <NUM> is movable in vertical direction to define an opening 115a that puts the tunnel <NUM> in communication with the outside.

Preferably, the size of the abutment <NUM> is such that it defines an opening 115a that leaves the entire internal section of the press <NUM> completely free.

In this way, the abutment <NUM> can pass from a closed position wherein it receives the thrust of the pressing means <NUM> during the waste compression step into an open position that allows the bale <NUM> thus formed to exit.

In fact through the opening 115a the pressing means <NUM> push the bale <NUM> and transfer it outside the structure <NUM> of the tunnel <NUM>.

Thus the opening 115a will be larger than the size of the pressing means <NUM> that can exit therefrom for the complete ejection of the bale.

Said abutment <NUM> can be raised and lowered by means of movement means, for example of the oleodynamic type.

Also preferably the translation of the pressing means <NUM> is equally of the oleodynamic type. In the figure there is depicted a preferred embodiment that provides an oleodynamic cylinder with <NUM> extensions to be able to also perform the stroke that is additional to the compression stroke, to perform the ejection of the bale <NUM>.

Said transfer generally provides that the bale <NUM> is received by receiving means <NUM>.

Said receiving means <NUM> can be, for example, a truck with cases with closed structure or with a platform.

The conformation of the receiving means <NUM> generally comprises an inlet zone <NUM> through which the bale <NUM> is pushed.

It is therefore important that the receiving means <NUM> are correctly positioned with respect to the bale <NUM> to ensure the correct passage of the bale <NUM>.

For example, the opening 155a of the structure <NUM> should be located at a short distance and in front of the inlet zone <NUM> of the receiving means <NUM>.

To do this, the prior art provides that the receiving means <NUM> are those to adapt to the position of the press <NUM>.

In fact, the press <NUM> is generally fixed to the ground; for example, it comprises a plurality of legs anchored to the ground.

Therefore, it is the operator guiding the receiving means <NUM> who must manoeuvre them so that the correct position for the bale <NUM> to be transferred over is reached.

An object of the invention is a preferred embodiment that provides that the structure <NUM> of said tunnel <NUM> is configured to cooperate with at least one translation device <NUM> adapted to translate the structure <NUM> on a plane parallel to the ground.

In fact, the structure <NUM> can translate parallel to the ground, maintaining at least a degree of freedom.

Thanks to this solution, the press <NUM> is not constrained to the ground in all directions, but can move by adapting to the position of the receiving means <NUM>. Therefore, once the operator has positioned the receiving means <NUM> in a suitable position for unloading in proximity to the press, this position can be further corrected and optimised by displacing the structure <NUM> through activation of the translation device <NUM>.

Preferably, the translation device <NUM> is configured to translate the structure <NUM> in a transverse direction X that is orthogonal to a longitudinal translation direction Y of the pressing means <NUM>. Only one degree of freedom in the displacement of the structure <NUM> may be sufficient. Preferably the transverse translation direction X of the structure <NUM> is orthogonal to the longitudinal translation direction Y of the pressing means <NUM> i.e. the direction of exit of the bale <NUM>.

In fact, the displacement in the transverse direction X allows the position of the opening 115a to be adjusted to that of the receiving means <NUM>; in particular, so that said opening 115a is opposite the inlet zone <NUM> through which the bale <NUM> is pushed.

A misalignment of the opening 115a and of the inlet zone <NUM> may result in the bale <NUM> getting caught while it is transferred over, being damaged and losing some of its waste, as well as damaging the receiving means <NUM>.

The second degree of freedom allowing a translation in the longitudinal direction Y may not be necessary as the manoeuvring capacity of the receiving means <NUM> may be sufficient since the bale <NUM> is of such a length that it can be translated even if there is a certain distance in the longitudinal direction Y between the opening 115a and the inlet zone <NUM>.

<FIG> depicts an example of positioning steps involving an initial placement of the receiving means <NUM> with respect to the press <NUM> (<FIG>) followed by a subsequent correction of the position of the press <NUM> (<FIG>) by activation of the translation means, so that said opening 115a is opposite the inlet zone <NUM>.

<FIG> depicts an example of steps following the positioning of the receiving means <NUM> in which the position of the press <NUM> is corrected (<FIG>) and then the abutment <NUM> is opened (<FIG>).

<FIG> depicts an example of steps following the opening of the abutment <NUM> and in particular the steps of transferring the bale <NUM> from the press <NUM> (<FIG>) to the receiving means <NUM> (<FIG>).

In accordance with an aspect of the invention the translation device <NUM> comprises a fixed frame <NUM> adapted to be fixed to the ground and a movable carriage <NUM> mechanically connected to said structure <NUM> and actuating means <NUM> for translating the movable carriage <NUM> with respect to the fixed frame <NUM>.

In this way, the displacements of the carriages <NUM> and therefore of the structure <NUM> are precisely controlled and commanded by the actuating means <NUM>.

According to the invention, the press <NUM> comprises two translation devices <NUM> arranged below said structure <NUM> and in proximity to the first end 111a and in proximity to a second end 111b.

This allows the position of the entire press to be adjusted without stressing the structure <NUM>. In fact, as depicted in the figures, the two translation devices <NUM> translate together so as to move both the first end 111a and the second end 111b of the structure <NUM> in the same direction and by the same amount.

As depicted in the figures, a preferred form provides that the structure <NUM> comprises support means <NUM> integral with the structure <NUM> itself and facing the ground.

Said support means <NUM> have the purpose of distancing the structure <NUM> from the ground and keeping it at a height adequate for the receiving means <NUM>.

Said support means <NUM> preferably comprise two pairs of legs <NUM>, <NUM> each pair arranged in proximity to the first end 111a and in proximity to the second end 111b of said structure <NUM>.

In particular, each translation device <NUM> comprises two movable carriages <NUM> connected below each leg <NUM>, <NUM>.

Preferably, the actuating means <NUM> move both movable carriages <NUM> together and with the same displacement.

As depicted in the figures, for example, each translation device <NUM> may comprise two movable carriages <NUM> that translate on the fixed frame <NUM> by means of guide and sliding elements <NUM> interposed between each carriage <NUM> and the fixed frame <NUM> and configured to facilitate sliding and keeping it in the correct position.

The actuating means <NUM> may comprise a hydraulic type cylinder <NUM> for each carriage <NUM>.

Alternatively, as depicted in the figure, the actuating means may comprise a single cylinder <NUM> with a single central body 154a and two stems 154b, 154c sliding in an opposed manner. Each stem 154b, 154c may be mechanically connected to the respective carriage <NUM>, while the body 154a is mechanically connected to the fixed frame <NUM>. However, it is understood that embodiment variables known to a person skilled in the art fall within the same scope of protection of the invention.

A preferred embodiment provides that said support means <NUM> can be raised, for example of a telescopic type and driven by hydraulic cylinders, as depicted in the figure; this allows to vary the height of the structure <NUM> from the ground adapting to the receiving means <NUM>.

Said support means <NUM> are preferably configured to mechanically connect to the translation devices <NUM>.

In this way, the press <NUM> can adjust its position both on a plane parallel to the ground, by means of the translation devices <NUM> and its height in a direction orthogonal to the ground by means of the support means <NUM>.

An advantageous aspect of the invention is also that the press <NUM> may comprise a detection device, not depicted in the figure.

Preferably said detection device is adapted to detect the position of the receiving means <NUM>.

Preferably, the detection device is configured to communicate said position to the actuating means <NUM> of the translation device <NUM> to translate the structure <NUM> so that its opening 115a faces a corresponding inlet zone <NUM> of the receiving means <NUM>.

Said detection device may be, for example, a sensor, a camera, or whatever is available to a person skilled in the art to receive information on the position of the receiving means <NUM> with respect to the press <NUM>.

Said detection means can directly communicate the information to the actuating means <NUM> to activate them by generating the displacement of the carriages <NUM> and of the structure <NUM>. Alternatively, the detection means may provide, for example, an alarm to the operator who, by means of manual commands, activates the actuating means <NUM> for displacing the structure until the correct position is reached.

An object of the invention is also the method of making a bale <NUM> of waste material, in particular preferably urban solids within a press <NUM> which provides:.

Preferably, the method provides for translating the structure <NUM> in a transverse direction X orthogonal to the longitudinal translation direction Y of the pressing means <NUM>.

In particular, said method may provide for detecting the position of the receiving means <NUM> before translating, preferably parallel to the ground, the structure <NUM>.

Said method may further provide for raising/lowering the structure to optimise the positioning of the opening 115a with respect to the entry zone <NUM>.

Claim 1:
Press (<NUM>) for compacting waste material, in particular preferably urban solids, comprising a compaction tunnel (<NUM>) in communication with a hopper (<NUM>) through which said waste material to be compacted is received, pressing means (<NUM>) configured to translate within a structure (<NUM>) of said tunnel (<NUM>), which are configured to compress the waste material against an abutment element (<NUM>) and to form a bale (<NUM>), said abutment element (<NUM>) preferably placed at a first end (111a) of the structure (<NUM>) and movable in vertical direction to define an opening (115a) through which the pressing means (<NUM>) transfer said bale (<NUM>) onto receiving means (<NUM>), characterized in that the structure (<NUM>) of said tunnel (<NUM>) comprises two translation devices (<NUM>) arranged below and in proximity to a first end (111a) and in proximity to a second end (111b) of said structure (<NUM>) adapted to translate the structure (<NUM>) on a plane parallel to the ground.