CARDBOARD BALER

PRESSE A COMPACTER LE CARTON

English Abstract

A baler, comprising a compacting mechanism and a binding mechanism is provided. The compacting mechanism comprises a bearing plane against which cardboard is compressed. In using the baler of the invention, a cardboard compacting platform is pulled up by a strap towards the compacting bearing plane along a channel in a frame. The compacting platform is pulled up by mechanical force and dragged downwards by its own weight. A rope clamp placed on each side of the rack combines with the rope retracting ratchet gear and other elements from a rope tightening mechanism to tie up the compacting cardboard.

French Abstract

Il s'agit d'une presse, comprenant un compacteur et une ficeleuse. Le compacteur est constitué de plaques d'appui entre lesquelles le carton est compressé. Pour compacter le carton, une plaque d'appui mobile se déplaçant dans une rainure du cadre est tirée par une courroie vers une plaque d'appui fixe. La plaque d'appui mobile est tirée par une force mécanique et abaissée par gravité. La presse est munie de deux serre-câbles placés de chaque côté du bâti, d'un dispositif à cliquet pour serrer le câble et des autres dispositifs utilisés pour attacher les ballots de carton compactés.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege
is claimed are
defined as follows:
1. A baling device for compacting an amount of material into a bundle
comprising
a) a rack;
b) a compacting bearing plane fastened to the rack;
c) a movable compacting platform slideably connected to the rack for sliding
along the rack towards the compacting bearing plane; and
d) force applying means for moving said movable compacting platform
towards the compacting bearing plane,
wherein the force applying means is mounted on the rack and connected to the
movable
compacting platform through a flexible tension-bearing linkage.
2. A baling device as in Claim 1 wherein the movable compacting platform is
connected to slide along a pair of parallel channels which are provided in the
rack.
3. A baling device as in any one of Claims 1 or 2 wherein the force applying
means
winds the flexible linkage about an axle mounted on the rack in order to move
said movable
compacting plane upwardly towards the compacting bearing plane.
4. A baling device as in any one of Claims 1, 2 or 3 comprising:
e) a rope tightening mechanism including a rope retracting means, and
f) a rope restraining means to hold the tightness of the rope while tying the
knot;
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wherein the rope tightening means comprises means to hold a first end of a
rope in place
while said rope is tightened about the material by the rope tightening means,
and wherein
the rope restraining means is positioned to hold the tightened rope around the
material while
a further part of the rope is slackened in order to allow an operator to tie
the rope around the
material to form a bundle.
5. A baling device as in any one of Claims 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein the rack
comprises:
a) a base, and
b) an inclined rack plane along which compacting platform moves,
wherein the inclined rack plane is oriented at an angle to the base, extending
at an incline
towards the force applying means and upwardly from the front side of the base.
6. A baling device as in any one of Claims 1, 3, or 4 wherein a pair of
parallel channels
are provided along the respective sides of the rack plane and the movable
compacting
platform is connected to slide along said pair of parallel channels.
7. A baling device as in any one of Claims 1, 2 or 4 wherein the force
applying means
operates to wind the linkage about an axle mounted on the rack in order to
move said
movable compacting plane upwardly towards the compacting bearing plane.
8. A baling device as in any one of Claims 1, 2 or 3 comprising:
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a) a rope tightening mechanism including a rope retracting means, and
b) a rope restraining means to hold the tightness of the rope while tying the
knot;
wherein the rope tightening means comprises means to hold a first end of a
rope in place
while said rope is tightened about the material by the rope retracting means,
and wherein the
rope restraining means is positioned to hold the tightened rope around the
material while a
further part of the rope is slackened in order to allow an operator to tie the
rope around the
loose material to form a bundle.
9. A baling device for compacting an amount of material into a bundle
comprising:
a) a rack;
b) a compacting bearing plane fastened to the rack;
c) a movable compacting platform for receiving material to be compacted
slideably connected to the rack for sliding along the rack towards the
compacting bearing plane;
d) force applying means for moving said movable compacting platform
towards the compacting bearing plane, the force applying means being
mounted on the rack and connected to the movable compacting platform
through a flexible tension-bearing linkage
wherein the rack comprises:
e) a base, and
f) an inclined rack plane along which the compacting platform moves, the
inclined rack plane being oriented at an angle to the base, extending inwardly
and upwardly from the front side of the base,
and further comprising:
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g) a rope tightening mechanism including a rope retracting means, and
h) a rope restraining means to hold the tightness of the rope while tying a
knot therein.
wherein the rope tightening means comprises means to hold a first end of a
rope in place
while said rope is tightened about the material by the rope retracting means
to form a bound
bundle, and wherein the rope restraining means is positioned to hold the
tightened rope
around the material while a further part of the rope disengaged from the rope
tightening
means is slackened in order to allow an operator to tie said further part of
the rope to the first
end of the rope to form said knot.
10. A baling device as in Claim 9 comprising a pair of parallel channels
provided along
the respective sides of the rack plane, the movable compacting platform being
connected to
slide along said pair of parallel channels.
11. A baling device as in Claim 10 wherein the force applying means operates
to wind
the linkage about an axle mounted on the rack in order to move said movable
compacting
platform upwardly towards the compacting bearing plane.
12. A baling device for compacting an amount of material into a bundle
comprising;
a) a rack;
b) a compacting bearing plane fastened to the rack;
c) a movable compacting platform for receiving material to be compacted
slideably mounted beneath the compacting bearing plane and connected to the
rack for sliding along the rack upwardly towards the compacting bearing
plane;
d) force applying means for moving said movable compacting platform
upwardly towards the compacting bearing plane, the force applying means
being mounted on the rack and connected to the movable compacting
platform through a flexible tension-bearing linkage,
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wherein the rack comprises:
e) a base, and
f) a rack plane along which the compacting platform moves, the rack plane
defined by a pair of parallel channels provided along the respective sides of
the rack plane, the movable compacting platform being connected to slide
along said pair of parallel channels
g) a pair of vertical members extending from the base to connect respectively
with the pair of parallel channels at an upper apex,
h) a pair of longitudinal members extending respectively between one of the
vertical members and the parallel channel connected to such one vertical
member,
the pair longitudinal members extending outwardly from the rack plane to
support the
bearing plane.
13. A baling device as in Claim 12 wherein the rack plane is inclined at an
angle to the
base, extending inwardly and upwardly from the front side of the base.
14. A baling device as in Claim 13 wherein the force applying means operates
to wind
the linkage about an axle mounted on the rack in order to move said movable
compacting
platform upwardly towards the compacting bearing plane.
15. A baling device as in claim 12 further comprising:
a) a rope tightening mechanism including a rope retracting means, and
b) a rope restraining means to hold the tightness of the rope while tying a
knot
therein.
wherein the rope tightening means comprises means to hold a first end of a
rope in place
while said rope is tightened about the material by the rope retracting means
to form a bound
bundle, and wherein the rope restraining means is positioned to hold the
tightened rope
around the material while a further part of the rope disengaged from the rope
tightening
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means is slackened in order to allow an operator to tie said further part of
the rope to the first
end of the rope to form said knot.
16. A baling device as in claim 13 further comprising:
a) a rope tightening mechanism including a rope retracting means, and
b) a rope restraining means to hold the tightness of the rope while tying a
knot
therein.
wherein the rope tightening means comprises means to hold a first end of a
rope in place
while said rope is tightened about the material by the rope retracting means
to form a bound
bundle, and wherein the rope restraining means is positioned to hold the
tightened rope
around the material while a further part of the rope disengaged from the rope
tightening
means is slackened in order to allow an operator to tie said further part of
the rope to the first
end of the rope to form said knot.
17. A baling device as in claim 14 further comprising:
a) a rope tightening mechanism including a rope retracting means, and
b) a rope restraining means to hold the tightness of the rope while tying a
knot
therein.
wherein the rope tightening means comprises means to hold a first end of a
rope in place
while said rope is tightened about the material by the rope retracting means
to form a bound
bundle, and wherein the rope restraining means is positioned to hold the
tightened rope
around the material while a further part of the rope disengaged from the rope
tightening
means is slackened in order to allow an operator to tie said further part of
the rope to the first
end of the rope to form said knot.
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Description

CA 02481782 2008-01-17
CARDBOARD BALER
Background to the Invention
There are presently automatic electro/hydraulically driven cardboard
compactors that
are big in size, high in cost and stationary. Most cardboard recycling
situations require a
cardboard baler that is easy to use, low in cost, and mobile for the working
envirorunent.
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a new cardboard
baler that
meets these needs.
Summary of the Invention
The broad aspect of the present invention is an apparatus for baling
cardboard.
This invention comprises according to a preferred variant an upright metal
rack, a
cardboard compacting mechanism and a rope tightening mechanism. The steel rack
is an
upright structure defined by one inclined plane, and three vertical planes.
The inclined plane
is occupied by two parallel channels facing each other.
Located on the upper end of the rack and fixed perpendicularly to the inclined
plane,
is a compacting bearing plane. On the rearward side of the rack, opposite from
the inclined
plane and on opposite sides of the rack, a pair of generally upright members
extend from the
base to connect respectively with the upper ends of the respective parallel
channels, each at
a respective upper apex. A pair of longitudinal members extend respectively on
each side of
the rack between one of the generally upright members and the corresponding
parallel
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CA 02481782 2008-01-17
channel connected to such one generally upright member, bracing the rack and
extending
further outwardly from the inclined plane to define and support the compacting
bearing
plane. Under the fixed compacting bearing plane and perpendicular to the
inclined plane is
the movable compacting platform.Four sliding pins attached to the movable
compacting
platform slide in the parallel channels.
A winch is located at the upper end of the rack on the center vertical plane.
A strap,
which serves as a flexible, tension-bearing linkage connects the winch and the
movable
compacting platform. When the winch is retracted the movable compacting
platform moves
up towards the compacting bearing plane. When the winch is released, it causes
the lower,
movable compacting platform to slide downwards away from the compacting
bearing plane
by its own weight.
The rope tightening mechanism comprises two rope clamps carried by the frame
which serve as rope restraining means, a rope retracting shaft and a ratchet
gear. The ratchet
gear turns the rope retracting shaft to retract the rope for tying. The rope
clamp is used to
hold the tightness of the rope while tying the knot.
Brief Description Of The Drawings
In the drawings which form a part of this specification,
FIG 1 is a side view of the baler.
FIG 2 is a front view of the baler.
FIG 3 is a rear view of the baler.
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CA 02481782 2008-01-17
FIG 4 is a cross-section view of the line A-A of FIG 1, showing the sliding
pins of
the compacting platform in the slots of the channels with some parts deleted
for the clarity
of illustration.
FIG 5 is a side view of the baler showing the apparatus loaded with loose
cardboard
before the process of baling, as well as a rope which has been placed around
the loose
material and attached to the clamps and winch.
FIG 6 is a side view of the baler showing the apparatus in the baling position
compressing cardboard into a compacted form, as well as a rope which has been
placed
around the compacted cardboard and attached to the clamps and winch.
Detailed Description of the Invention
The cardboard baler shown in FIG 1 is a mobile upright metal rack 10 with a
cardboard compacting mechanism 20, and a rope tightening mechanism 30.
The rack 10 is an upright metal structure that is delimited by one inclined
plane 11
and three vertical planes. The three vertical planes are made up of the left
plane 12, right
plane 13, and rear side plane 14. Located under base 70, the rack 10, there
are four wheels
16.
The inclined plane 11 is bounded by two slotted steel channels 22 parallel to
each
other. The slots 23 of the channels 22 face each other.
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CA 02481782 2008-01-17
Located on the upper end of the rack 10 and perpendicular to the inclined
plane 11, is
the compacting bearing plane 25. On the rearward side of the rack 10, opposite
from the
inclined plane 11 and on opposite sides of the rack 10, a pair of generally
upright members
71 extend from the base 70 to connect respectively with the upper ends of the
respective
parallel channels 22, each at a respective upper apex 72. A pair of
longitudinal members 73
extend respectively on each side of the rack 10 between one of the generally
upright
members 71 and the corresponding parallel channe122 connected to such one
generally
upright member 71, bracing the rack 10 and extending further outwardly from
the inclined
plane 11 to define and support the compacting bearing plane 25. Under this
fixed
compacting bearing plane 25 and perpendicular to the inclined plane, is the
movable
compacting platform 26. Four sliding pins 27 located on the movable compacting
platform
26 slide in the slots 23 of the parallel channels 22 guiding the compacting
platform 26 as it
moves up and down.
A commercially available winch 21 is located at the upper top of the rack 10
at the
upper end of the rear side plane 14. The winch 21 and the movable compacting
platform 26
are connected by a strap 28. The movable compacting platform 26 is pulled
upwardly
towards the compacting bearing plane 25 along the inclined plane 11 by the
winch's 21
mechanical power and slides down by its own weight.
A rope retracting ratchet gear 31 turns a rope retracting shaft 32 that fits
in two shaft
brackets 33.
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CA 02481782 2008-01-17
A rope toggle clamp 35 is mounted on each outer side of the compacting bearing
plane 25. On one side of the rope toggle clamp 35 towards the rope retracting
shaft 32, there
is a rope hook pin 37. On the other side of the rope toggle clamp 35 away from
the rope
retracting shaft 32, there is a rope guide 38. At each end of the rope
retracting shaft 32,
there is a rope retracting roller 36 and a rope locking pin 39.
In the bailing process of the cardboard the operator places flattened loose
cardboard
40 on the movable compacting platform 26. The operator then turns the handle
of the winch
21 to retract the strap 28 pulling up the movable compacting platform 26. This
causes the
loose cardboard 40 to be formed into the compacted cardboard 50.
To bind the bundle of compacted cardboard 50, the operator uses a length of
rope 60
and makes an end loop at the end of it. The operator places the end loop on
the rope hook
pin 37. The operator then winds the free end of the rope 60 clockwise in
Figure 5 around
loose cardboard 40, placing the rope 60 along the rope guide 38, and aligning
the rope 60
with the rope toggle clamp 35. Then the operator winds the free rope end onto
the rope
locking pin 39 and screws down the rope locking pin 39 to hold the end of the
rope 60 fast
to the rope retracting roller 36.
The operator turns the handle of the rope retracting ratchet gear 31
tightening the
rope 60 until the rope reaches optimum tightness. Then the operator clamps
down the rope
toggle clamp 35 to hold tight the retracted rope 60. The operator then
releases the rope
locking pin 39 and makes a knot by tying the loose end of the rope and the
rope loop
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CA 02481782 2008-01-17
together while the rope 60 is held tight by the toggle clamp 35 (see Figure
5). The operator
then turns the winch 21 handle to release strap 28 lowering the movable
compacting
platform 26. The operator then removes the tied compacted formed cardboard 50
from the
baler completing the working cycle of the baler.
Conclusion
The foregoing has constituted a description of specific embodiments showing
how
the invention may be applied and put into use. These embodiments are only
exemplary.
The invention in its broadest and more specific aspects is further described
and defined in
the claims which now follow.
These claims, and the language used therein, are to be understood in terms of
the
variants of the invention which have been described. They are not to be
restricted to such
variants, but are to be read as covering the full scope of the invention as is
implicit within
the invention and the disclosure that has been provided herein.
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Representative Drawing