Patent ID: 8757057

Claim:
A baling machine for baling uncompressed waste material, the baling machine comprising: a baling ram housing having a floor and sidewalls that extend in a first direction from the floor of the baling ram housing defining an opening, and two vertically extending lips each having an inner side adjacent the opening and an outer side, wherein the baling ram housing includes a charging chamber and a compaction chamber, wherein the charging chamber includes an opening whereby uncompressed waste material can be introduced into the charging chamber, and wherein the two vertically extending lips are positioned on lateral sides of the opening into the charging chamber and each of the two vertically extending lips having a vertically elongate opening; a baling ram assembly having a baling ram positioned within the housing, wherein the baling ram urges uncompressed material from the charging chamber into the compaction chamber so as to compress the uncompressed material into a bale; an adjustable hold down assembly positioned adjacent the opening of the charging chamber, wherein the hold down assembly inhibits the baling ram from moving vertically upward in the charging chamber, wherein the hold down assembly includes at least one hold down member having an opening so as to be vertically adjustable with respect to the baling ram housing, wherein the at least one hold down member is coupled to the baling ram housing via at least one shim assembly that includes a plurality of shims and a hold down bolt that extends in a substantially vertical direction that is substantially parallel to the first direction of the baling ram housing and a friction bolt assembly having a friction bolt that extends in a substantially horizontal direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction of the bailing ram housing, wherein the at least one shim assembly and the friction bolt assembly are arranged so that removal of shims from the shim assembly allows the at least one hold down member to be positioned in a first position adjacent the baling ram when the baling ram is in the charging chamber so that the friction bolt assembly can be tightened to secure the at least one hold down member in the first position when at least some of the shims are removed, and wherein the friction bolt extends through the vertically elongate opening so as to couple with the opening of the at least one hold down member so that tightening of the friction bolt secures the at least one hold down member at a desired vertical orientation.