US3584433A - Automated baling press with bale kick-out carton holding means and sequencing controls - Google Patents

Abstract

An automated baling press especially adapted for baling fibrous materials and enclosing it in a two part carton such as a kraft board box. The apparatus includes automatic controls to cause the press to move through its several motions such as movement to a position whereby the parts of the carton may be placed in the press box, the charging motion, the compaction stroke, and the holding position for placing ties or other securing means about the bale. The press includes means automatically responsive upon downward movement of the platen to hold the lower part of the carton on the platen for downward travel therewith. Means is provided to hold the upper part of the carton in the box pending closing of the press box doors. An automatic bale ejection means tilts the wrapped bale out the open door upon downward movement of the platen after the bale is tied out.

Description

United States Patent [72] lnventors Donald W. Van Doorn;

William C. Pease, 111; Jack L. Colquett, all of Columbus, Ga.

[211 App]. No. 758,916

[22] Filed Sept. 10, 1968 [45] Patented June 15, 1971 [73] Assignee Lummus Cotton Gin Company [54] AUTOMATED BALING PRESS WITH BALE KICK- OUT CARTON HOLDING MEANS AND SEQUENCING CONTROLS 3 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 53/52, 53/124 [51] Int. Cl B65b 57/00, B65b 1/24, B65b 63/02 [50] Field of Search 53/124, 24, 52

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,406,495 10/1968 Beninger 93/36 MM 3,451,185 6/1969 Tezuka 53/22 3,451,190 6/1969 Tezuka 53/124 3,511,019 5/1970 Neitzel 53/52 1,948,615 2/1934 Clark l 53/24 3,307,320 3/1967 Harriss 53/24 3,315,435 4/1967 Gunyou...... 53/24 Primary Examiner-Wayne A. Morse, Jr. Attorney-Jennings, Carter and Thompson ABSTRACT: An automated baling press especially adapted for baling fibrous materials and enclosing it in a two part carton such as a kraft board box. The apparatus includes automatic controls to cause the press to move through its several motions such as movement to a position whereby the parts of the carton may be placed in the press box, the charging motion, the compaction stroke, and the holding position for placing ties or other securing means about the bale. The press includes means automatically responsive upon downward movement of the platen to hold the lower part of the carton on the platen for downward travel therewith. Means is provided to hold the upper part of the carton in the box pending closing of the press box doors. An automatic bale ejection means tilts the wrapped bale out the open door upon downward movement of the platen after the bale is tied out.

PATENTEU JUHI 519m 3,584,433

sum 2 BF 4 AUTOMATED BALING PRESS WI'II-I BALE KICK-OUT CARTON HOLDING MEANS AND SEQUENCING CONTROLS This invention relates to baling presses particularly adapted for baling fibers such as cotton, manmade fibers and similar materials in a two part, kraft boardlike carton.

Our invention contemplates a baling press of the character designated in which the carton parts are supported respectively in the top portion of the press box and on the platen. Means is provided to secure the lower part of the box to the platen so that as the platen lowers into the charging box to receive fiber, the carton effectively follows the platen to the bottom of its stroke, without becoming dislodged and sticking in the charging box.

Our invention further contemplates means to hold the upper part of the carton accurately in place ready for the lower portion of the carton with the fiber therein and between the upper, open bottom upper part of the carton to telescope therein upon upward movement of the platen.

Our invention further contemplates apparatus of the character designated in which the press is provided with dogs automatically effective, when the doors of the press box are open, to underlie the rearmost portion of the bale of fiber and, upon lowering of the platen, to discharge the bale through the open door by tilting it about its lower forward edge.

Our invention also contemplates means automatically effective to initiate the operation of the press on its complete cycle upon insertion of the lower portion of the carton, permitting the upper portion to be inserted in the press box while the platen carrying the lower portion is moving on its downward stroke for receiving a new charge of fiber. Such controls also cause the platen to stop in position for placing thereon, and in the upper part of the box, the respective parts of the canon, after the ejection of a finished bale.

In general, our invention contemplates an improved, automated baling press which is simple in construction, troublefree in operation and which may be operated with minimum supervision, the bale being automatically moved from the press on conveyors or the like once it is ejected from the press.

Apparatus illustrating features of our invention is shown in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application in which:

FIG. 1 is a wholly diagrammatic, detail plan view of the press box and the bale conveyors in front thereof, the press box door being shown in open position;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken generally along line II-II of FIG. 1 and showing the press with the platen in the uppermost position and with a bale, in its box, therein, and in dotted line position the bale about to be ejected by tilting the same to cause it to fall out of the open press box;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the lower part of the press box and the upper part of the charging box and showing the platen in position ready to receive the lower half of the wrapping carton;

FIG. 4 is a vertical detail sectional view illustrating the position of the platen and bale kick-out dogs in the uppermost position of the platen, a bale being shown in elevational view;

FIG. 5 is a detail sectional view taken generally along line V-V of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken generally along line VI-VI ofFIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmental detail sectional view through the top portion of the press box and illustrating the construction and arrangement of the means for holding the upper half of the carton in place pending closing of the door and formation of the bale; and

FIG. 8 is a wiring diagram and certain parts of the apparatus in diagrammatic form.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of our invention in FIG. I we show diagrammatically a portion of a press to which our invention may be applied. As will be understood, the press 10 may have a front door 11 which is adapted to be opened when the bale is formed. Also, as is understood, end doors Ila are articulated with the front door so that upon opening the latter the end doors move apart slightly, thus to release the bale. In front of the press we show conveyor means 12 such as rollers to take away the bale after it has been formed, as will be presently explained. In the drawings we show an up-packing press, namely, one in which the ram for actuating the platen is located beneath the floor 13 on which the entire press box proper rests.

As will be understood, the press box itself comprises the usual vertical and horizontal frame members 14 and 16, respectively, it being understood that there are a plurality of the vertically disposed members 14 spaced close enough together to form the back of the press box.

The piston for the ram indicated diagrammatically at 18 in FIG. 8 carries at its upper end a platen 19. The platen I9 is adapted to be moved up and down, as will be understood, into the charging box 21 and upwardly to the bale compressing position as shown in FIG. 2. Further, as will be understood in connection with baling presses of this type, the fiber is supplied to the charging box while the platen is in the lowermost or retracted position.

As will be apparent particularly from FIG. 3 the top of the platen may comprise a plurality of fore and aft extending heavy bars 22 spaced apart as indicated. These bars rest on a plate 23 and a subplate 24. The plates are supported on vertically extending, heavy members 26 from a horizontal plate 27 which issecured by a collar 28 to the top of the ram piston rod 17.

Piv'otally mounted as at 29 between a pair of the members 22, are bars 31. As will presently appear, the bars 31 are adapted, upon lowering of the press after forming the bale, to engage certain members which will presently be described, thereby to tilt the bale B out of the press box, permitting it to fall onto the rollers 12 to be carried away from the press. As is shown in FIG. 2, during the compressing operation the members 31 lie beneath the level of the tops of members 22, out of the way, permitting the platen to function in the normal fashion in compacting the bale.

Mounted at the rear of the press box are a pair of dogs 33. These dogs have forward portions 33a which are adapted to project through slots 34 in the backwall of the press box. The dogs 33 are mounted on a common shaft 36, pivoted in bearings 36a. One of the dogs has an extension 37 extending rearwardly of the press to act as an operator for an electric switch 38 which forms a part of the control circuit as will later appear.

The platen is guided against the walls of the charging box by means of a plurality of rollers 39, these being arranged at the front, rear and sides of the platen. In view of the length of the stroke, these rollers aide in preventing side stresses on the ram piston rod, and assure accurate centering of the platen as it moves up and down.

As before stated, an object of our invention is to be able to dress the platen while in the upper position, by placing thereon the lower half of a kraftboard carton. The lower half is indicated by the numeral 41. In order to pack the material properly in the lower carton part and to have it telescope into the upper half indicated at 42, it is necessary to assure that the carton, during downward movement of the platen, while fitting snugly in the charging box, does not become wedged or hung therein, but continues to follow the platen downwardly to the lower end of its stroke. To this end we pivotally mount as at 43 on the sides of the platen a pair of gripper plates 44. Each plate is provided with a pair of rollers 46 which are adapted, when the carton moves down into the charging box, to engage the inner surfaces thereof, and move the gripper plates to the position shown in FIG. 6. Therefore, with the lower half 41 of the carton simply placed on top of the platen, as soon as the platen enters the charging box the upper ends 44a of the gripper plates move inwardly toward each other, gripping the carton, and holding it so that it moves downwardly with the platen.

It will be noted that the press box is provided with liner plates 45 the upper edges of which are at a height just to sup port the lower, opened end of the upper half 42 of the carton. Further, the plates 45 are formed of material substantially as thick as the thickness of the material from which the cartons are formed. Therefore, when the platen moves upwardly with the lower half of the carton thereon, and moves into the press box, the inner half 41 accurately and surely telescopes into the open end of the upper carton 42, assuring proper mating of these parts. It will be understood that the door 11 also is provided with one of the liner plates 45.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 2 and 7 we show a carton holding member 47 which at its rearward end is pivoted on a pin 48. The pin 48 is mounted in a slot 49 in a pair of plates 53 so that the member 47 may be pulled outwardly and for its forward, hooked end 47a to move also slightly downwardly. A spring 52 urges the member 47 to the rear of the press, or to the right as shown in FIGS. 2 and 7.

It will be noted also that the member 67 is mounted between the spaced, upper members 53 which form the top of the press box so that the force of the material being packed is taken by the members 53.

From what has been so far described it will now be possible to further explain the functioning of the carton holding and bale kick-out mechanisms. Starting with the press empty, and with the platen withdrawn to a position slightly below the door opening, while the ram is descending the lower half of the carton with its open end upwardly is now put in place on the platen. As will later appear, when the lower half is placed on the platen, the carton engages ends 33a of the dogs, moving them from the full to dotted line positions shown in H0. 4. This actuates the ram for lowering the platen. As the platen lowers, the grippers 44a move inwardly, gripping the lower half of the carton, assuring that it stays on the platen during its downward movement. The upper half 42 of the carton, with its bottom uppermost, may be placed in the upper part of the press simply by slipping it under the end 47a of the member 47 with its lower edges resting on the top edge of the liner at the rear of the press box. The spring 52 thus holds the inverted upper half in place, with its open end downward and resting on the liners 45. Also in this position it will be apparent that the members 31 are recessed between the members 22, out of the way. The upper half 42 of the carton is securely held by the end 47a of member 47 while the door 11 is closed. As soon as the platen reaches the bottom of its stroke the carton is fed into the charging box as is customary, over the top of the upwardly open half 41 of the carton. As will later appear in connection with the description of the controls for our press, the ramrod 17 now raises, bringing the load of fiber upwardly, and forming the bale. The liners 45 assure that the inner half 41 of the carton properly telescopes within the open bottom of the portion 42, while the packing is in process. Further, it will be noted that upon upward movement of the platen the dogs 33 are free to pivot outwardly to the position illustrated in the dotted lines, FIG. 4. However, as soon as the platen moves to the position illustrated in FIG. 2, namely, the full, compaction position, the ends 330 of the dogs reenter the press box space. After tying out the bale and opening the press box door and upon again lowering the platen the inner ends 33a of the dogs engage under the free ends of the pivoted members 31. Upon lowering of the platen to a slightly lower position the bale is pivoted as illustrated in dotted lines, FlG. 2, about its front edge, and is tilted from the open door.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 8, we will describe the wiring diagram, and so much of the mechanical portions of our improved press as are necessary for a more full understanding of its operation. At 56 we illustrate an electric motor which drives a hydraulic pump 57. Hydraulic fluid is maintained in a reservoir 58 and the raising and lowering of the ram 17 in response to operation of the pump 57 is under control of a valve 59 which may conveniently be controlled by a solenoid 61.

It will be seen that movable with the platen l9 and, of course the ram 17, is a switch actuating or cam bar 62. This bar actuates a plurality of switches, in certain sequence, as will be explained. Further, the control circuit utilizes control relays which are designated CR1, CR2, and CR3.

First, it will be noted that the switch 38 is mounted so that its switch arm 38a, when dressing the platen with the lower half of the carton, closes this switch. As already explained, when the lower carton part is put in position it engages and rocks the dogs 33 about their pivot point, bringing the extension 37 into contact with the switch arm 38a, closing switch 38.

For the purpose of better illustrating and describing the circuit, we will assume the ram to be in the retracted position, that is, with the cam bar 62 and of course the platen in the lowermost position, ready to receive fiber for the up movement. in this position it will be seen that the switch actuating arm or cam rod 62 will have actuated the following switches: An up" switch 63 will be closed; a two part eject switch 64, closing section ti -"la and opening section 64b; and a bottom limit switch 66, opening the same. With the ram thus lowered the momentary closing of an up" switch 67 energizes relay CR1, which holds itself energized, and simultaneously starts motor 56 which drives the pump. Oil thus flows into the ram casing through the line 68, raising the ram and hence the platen 19. Since the camrod 62 is carried by the ram, as the ram rises so does the camrod. This deactuates, in order, the bottom switch 66, the two part switch 64, and the up" switch 63. As soon as switch 63 again opens, control relay CR1 and motor 56 both deenergize, stopping the upward travel of the ram. The position just described is the compressed position of the bale and the bale is now strapped in this compressed position.

After the bale is strapped the bale eject push switch 71 is momentarily actuated. This energizes control relay CR2 which locks itself in. Also, since the *eject" limit switch 64 is not at this time actuated, the solenoid valve 61 will also be energized. 0n energizing valve 61, oil from the casing is permitted to flow back to the tank 58 through the line 68, it being recalled that the solenoid 61 controls valve 59. The ram continues to lower until the camrod actuates switch 64. This deenergizes the solenoid valve 61, stopping the flow of oil from the casing and therefore stopping the downward movement of the ram. During this initial downward portion of the travel of the bale, the kick-out sleds or pivoted members 31 engage upon the projecting ends 33a of the dogs 33, thus causing the bale to be tilted outwardly, it being understood that the front door has been opened prior to lowering the bale. in this position of the ram the bale has been ejected from the press and the ram follow block is in a position opening below the kick-out dogs and with the kick-out dog limit switch 38 in a deactuated position. With the parts in this position the bottom half or section of the carton is placed on the platen. When it engages against the kick-out dogs, and pivots them, they in turn close the switch 38. Since the switch 64 is actuated of course its section Ma also is closed. Recalling now that CR2 is still energized, this allows control relay CR3 to energize and lock itself in. This also reenergizes the solenoid valve 61, allowing the ram to descend by opening valve 59 to a position to return fluid from the bottom of the ram through the line 68 to the reservoir 58. When the ram descends to the bottom or retracted position the bottom limit switch is actuated, thereby deenergizing CR2, CR3 and the solenoid valve 61. This completes one cycle of the ram.

it will be understood that while the ram was descending the upper portion or part of the carton was placed in the baling chamber and the door was closed.

In order to provide a safety feature, we provide a down" switch 72 which when depressed stops the upward travel of the ram and energizes the solenoid 6] to allow the ram to descend. Also included is a stop" pushbutton 73 which when depressed deenergizes all power to the ram allowing it to stop in whatever position it may be at the time this switch is opened.

In view of the foregoing it will be apparent that we have devised an improved, automatic baling press for fibers. Our invention is characterized by its simplicity and positiveness in operation and by the fact that we assure proper baling of each bale of fibers during the cycle of the press. The automatic kick-out feature wherein the completed bale is tilted out of the open door, and the ram automatically stops in position for dressing the platen, affords a great saving of time in the complete cycle. Further, being able to place the upper half of the carton in the press box while the ram is moving downwardly also aids in eliminating the time required for an overall cycle.

While we have shown our invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.

What we claim is:

l. The combination with fiber baling apparatus embodying a press box having a rear wall and a front door together with a reciprocable platen movable into and out of the press box to compact the fibers, of:

a. means to eject a finished bale from the press comprising at least one dog movably mounted adjacent the rear wall of the press box and disposed upon final compaction of a bale therein for a portion thereof to underlie the bale along its rear under edge,

b. means biasing the dog inwardly of the press box and which also permits the dog to move out of the press box on the packing stroke of the platen, and

c. a lever recessed into the top surface of the platen and pivoted to the platen adjacent the edge thereof adjacent said door, said dog being disposed to rest under the free or nonpivoted end of the lever when the bale is compacted, whereby lowering the platen causes the free end of the lever to move upwardly, thereby ejecting the bale through the door.

2. In a fiber baling press wherein the fiber is baled in a twopart wrapping carbon such as a kraft board box, and embodying a press box and a platen movable into and out of the press box, the improvement comprising:

a. means on the platen temporarily to secure thereto the lower part of the carton whereby it may be carried by the platen downwardly into a fiber charging box located beneath the press box, said means comprising front and rear sets of grippers pivotally mounted on the platen whereby as the platen lowers into the fiber charging box beneath the press box the upper ends of the grippers move toward each other, thereby squeezing between them the lower part of the wrapping carton resting on the platen,

b. means adjacent the top of the press box temporarily to secure therein the upper part of the carton in position to mate with the up-moving lower part with the fibers to be baled being moved upwardly by the platen, said means comprising:

1. an arm having a downturned outer end disposed to engage against the outer surface of the carton half, and

2. means resiliently urging the arm rearwardly of the press box, whereby a carton part engaged between the downturned outer end of the arm is thereby pressed against the rear wall of the press box and frictionally held in place to be mated with the up-moving part of the carton and to receive fiber being moved upwardly with said lower part,

c. a liner in the press box substantially the height of the lower part of the carton and of a thickness at least as great as the wall thickness of the material from which the upper part of the carton is made, whereby said carton parts may be telescoped with the lower part entering the upper part, and whereby the rear open edge of the upper part of the carton, while being held by said arm, rests on the top of said liner pending closing of the press box and filling the same, and I d. means responsive to lowering the platen, with the press open, to eject the wrapped bale by tilting the bale about its lower front edge.

3. ln apparatus for baling fibers in which the same is to be enclosed in a two part, kraft boardlike carton and embodying a press box and a platen carried by a ram movable from packing to fiber receiving positions, the improvement comprising:

a. control means for the ram effective when energized to cause the ram to move on its packing stroke,

b. other control means effective when energized to cause the ram and hence the platen to move partially to retracted position after having compressed a bale of said fiber,

c. other control means effective to cause said ram to stop with the platen carried thereby in a position for placing thereon one half of said two part carton,

(1. other control means effective to cause the ram to move to fully retracted position from the position set forth in (c) above upon placing said one-half of the carton on the platen,

e. a dog having a portion removably projecting into the press box and located to be engaged by and shifted upon placement of the said one-half of the carton, whereby, upon so placing said one-half of the carton, the control means recited in (d) above cause the ram and platen to move toward fully retracted position with the carton half on the platen,

f. grippers mounted on the platen disposed upon movement of the platen from carton receiving position toward fully retracted position to grip the carton half and thereby secure it to the platen during retraction of the platen, and

g. means responsive to lowering the platen, with the press open, to eject the wrapped bale by tilting the bale about its lower front edge.

Claims (4)

1. The combination with fiber baling apparatus embodying a press box having a rear wall and a front door together with a reciprocable platen movable into and out of the press box to compact the fibers, of: a. means to eject a finished bale from the press comprising at least one dog mOvably mounted adjacent the rear wall of the press box and disposed upon final compaction of a bale therein for a portion thereof to underlie the bale along its rear under edge, b. means biasing the dog inwardly of the press box and which also permits the dog to move out of the press box on the packing stroke of the platen, and c. a lever recessed into the top surface of the platen and pivoted to the platen adjacent the edge thereof adjacent said door, said dog being disposed to rest under the free or nonpivoted end of the lever when the bale is compacted, whereby lowering the platen causes the free end of the lever to move upwardly, thereby ejecting the bale through the door.

2. means resiliently urging the arm rearwardly of the press box, whereby a carton part engaged between the downturned outer end of the arm is thereby pressed against the rear wall of the press box and frictionally held in place to be mated with the up-moving part of the carton and to receive fiber being moved upwardly with said lower part, c. a liner in the press box substantially the height of the lower part of the carton and of a thickness at least as great as the wall thickness of the material from which the upper part of the carton is made, whereby said carton parts may be telescoped with the lower part entering the upper part, and whereby the rear open edge of the upper part of the carton, while being held by said arm, rests on the top of said liner pending closing of the press box and filling the same, and d. means responsive to lowering the platen, with the press open, to eject the wrapped bale by tilting the bale about its lower front edge.

2. In a fiber baling press wherein the fiber is baled in a two-part wrapping carbon such as a kraft board box, and embodying a press box and a platen movable into and out of the press box, the improvement comprising: a. means on the platen temporarily to secure thereto the lower part of the carton whereby it may be carried by the platen downwardly into a fiber charging box located beneath the press box, said means comprising front and rear sets of grippers pivotally mounted on the platen whereby as the platen lowers into the fiber charging box beneath the press box the upper ends of the grippers move toward each other, thereby squeezing between them the lower part of the wrapping carton resting on the platen, b. means adjacent the top of the press box temporarily to secure therein the upper part of the carton in position to mate with the up-moving lower part with the fibers to be baled being moved upwardly by the platen, said means comprising:

3. In apparatus for baling fibers in which the same is to be enclosed in a two part, kraft boardlike carton and embodying a press box and a platen carried by a ram movable from packing to fiber receiving positions, the improvement comprising: a. control means for the ram effective when energized to cause the ram to move on its packing stroke, b. other control means effective when energized to cause the ram and hence the platen to move partially to retracted position after having compressed a bale of said fiber, c. other control means effective to cause said ram to stop with the platen carried thereby in a position for placing thereon one half of said two part carton, d. other control means effective to cause the ram to move to fully retracted position from the position set forth in (c) above upon placing said one-half of the carton on the platen, e. a dog having a portion removably projecting into the press box and located to be engaged by and shifted upon placement of the said one-half of the carton, whereby, upon so placing said one-half of the carton, the control means recited in (d) above cause the ram and platen to move toward fully retracted position with the carton half on the platen, f. grippers mounted on the platen Disposed upon movement of the platen from carton receiving position toward fully retracted position to grip the carton half and thereby secure it to the platen during retraction of the platen, and g. means responsive to lowering the platen, with the press open, to eject the wrapped bale by tilting the bale about its lower front edge.

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