Patent ID: 7730832

Claim:
An apparatus for forming a bale comprising a compressible cellulose acetate and having substantially flat upper and lower surfaces, comprising: (a) an upper platen comprising a convex protruding surface relative to the surface at the circumference of the upper platen for compressing an upper surface of the compressible cellulose acetate, wherein the protruding surface has a curved cross-sectional profile in the x-axis direction and the y-axis direction that is effective for forming a substantially flat upper surface on the compressible cellulose acetate; (b) a lower platen comprising a convex protruding surface relative to the surface at the circumference of the lower platen for compressing a lower surface of the compressible cellulose acetate, wherein the protruding surface has a curved cross-sectional profile in the x-axis direction and the y-axis direction that is effective for forming a substantially flat lower surface on the compressible cellulose acetate; and (c) a rigid enclosure for accommodating the compressible cellulose acetate, wherein the enclosure comprises an upper opening enabling contact between the upper platen and the compressible cellulose acetate, and a lower opening enabling contact between the lower platen and the compressible cellulose acetate.