Compressing apparatus

Claim 2

A fibrous material compacting machine of the type having a plurality of circumferentially spaced rollers defining a coreforming channel having a transverse material inlet and an axial discharge, means for rotating said rollers in a common direction, means for feeding fibrous material into said inlet for forming a compressed core within the channel, means for imparTing an axial movement to the core toward the axial discharge as the rollers form the core in the channel, the improvement comprising valve means adjacent the discharge of the channel for imposing a force on the core resisting said axial movement of the core through the discharge without producing a counter torque on the core, said valve including radially movable core engaging means, and biasing means for resilient urging said core engaging means against said core.

Claim 3

The machine of claim 1 said valve means including means for rotating the core engaging means at the same angular velocity as the angular velocity of the core.

Claim 4

The machine of claim 2 said radially movable core engaging means having an entrance adjacent the discharge of the channel of greater diameter than said channel discharge for accommodating unusually large diameter cores and converging to an exit of a diameter smaller than the diameter of the discharge of the channel to assure contact by a smaller diameter core.

Claim 5

The machine of claim 3 said radially movable core engaging means including a plurality of circumferentially closely spaced leaf springs connected at said entrance and extending to said smaller diameter exit, and said biasing means including a plurality of coil springs circumscribing the exit ends of said leaf springs.

Claim 6

The machine of claim 2 including a cutter positioned closely adjacent the exit of the valve for cutting the core and imposing a counter torque on the core in opposition to the torque imposed by the rollers whereby the core receives a supplementary rotational torque by said valve rotation to offset the counter torque imposed by the cutter.

Claim 7

The machine of claim 4 said valve including means for adjusting said coil springs for varying the magnitude of the axial resistance force.

Claim 8

A fibrous material compacting machine of the type forming a compressed material core and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced cylindrical rollers skewed at one end defining a variable diameter core-forming channel having a transverse material inlet and an axial discharge, the improvement comprising elongated longitudinal protrusions secured to the periphery of each roller and circumferentially spaced therearound, said protrusions extending a substantial length along the roller whereby the torque transfer of the roller to the core is increased, said protrusions being rigid whereby substantial bending of the fibrous material occurs at the edges of adjacent protrusions to reduce the elasticity of the fibrous material and make the rollers self-cleaning, and said protrusions having greater radial thicknesses at their ends than at the midsection of the roller to maintain a constant angular velocity ratio between the rollers and the core throughout the channel.

Claim 9

A fibrous material compacting machine of the type forming a compressed material core and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced cylindrical rollers skewed at one end defining a variable diameter core-forming channel having a transverse material inlet and an axial discharge, the improvement comprising elongated longitudinal protrusions secured to the periphery of each roller and circumferentially spaced therearound, said protrusions extending a substantial length along the roller whereby the torque transfer of the roller to the core is increased, said protrusions being rigid whereby substantial bending of the fibrous material occurs at the edges of adjacent protrusions to reduce the elasticity of the fibrous material and make the rollers self-cleaning, and said protrusions having greater radial thicknesses at their ends than at the midsection of the roller to maintain a constant angular velocity ratio between the rollers and the core throughout the channel.

Claim 10

The machine of claim 7 said spaced protrusions defining longitudinal liquid passages for removing from the channel liquid squeezed from the material by the rigid protrusions.

Claim 11

A fibrous material compacting machine of the type having a plurality of circumferentially spaced rollers defining a channel having a transverse inlet and an axial discharge, means for feeding fibrous material into the channel, means for rotating the rollers for wrapping the material into a compressed core, and means for moving the compressed core through said axial discharge, the improvement comprising cutting means for cutting the core into lengths of predetermined size, metering means having a rotary sensing device engageable with the core for actuating the cutting means when said predetermined length is attained, said cutting means including at least two blades movable axially with the axially moving core, means for alternately moving the blades radially from an initial position into the core to sever it to form the cut length, while the other blade can return to its initial position, and means for supporting the core radially as it is being severed.

Claim 12

A fibrous material compacting machine of the type having a plurality of circumferentially spaced rollers defining a channel having a transverse inlet and an axial discharge, means for feeding fibrous material into the channel, means for rotating the rollers for wrapping the material into a compressed core, and means for moving the compressed core through said axial discharge, the improvement comprising cutting means for cutting the core into lengths of predetermined size, metering means having a rotary sensing device engageable with the core for actuating the cutting means when said predetermined length is attained, said cutting means including at least two blades movable axially with the axially moving core, means for alternately moving the blades radially from an initial position into the core to sever it to form the cut length, while the other blade can return to its initial position, and means for supporting the core radially as it is being severed.

Claim 13

The machine of claim 9 said means for supporting the core including a ring having an iNterior surface engageable with the core and supported for free rotational movement therewith.

Claim 14

The machine of claim 9 including valve means engaging the core adjacent the cutting blade, said valve means including means for imposing a torque on the core at the same direction and angular velocity as the core.

Claim 15

The machine of claim 9 said cutting means including spaced parallel bars slidably receiving the blades, means on said bars for urging the cutting blades in a direction opposite to the axial movement of said core, said means for moving the blades radially through the core including a rotatably mounted common shaft fixed to said parallel rods, a clutch secured to said common shaft, said metering means including means for actuating said clutch for intermittent 180* revolutions whereby each cutting blade is rotated into said core and slides axially along said bar with the second blade returned in the opposite axial direction by the urging means.

Claim 16

The machine of claim 9 said rotary sensing device including a wheel having circumferentially spaced peripheral ribs engageable with the core within said channel for rotating the wheel prior to the core receiving its final rolling, a shaft secured to the wheel, signalling means for intermittently signalling when a predetermined length of core has been discharged including a disc secured to said shaft and having switch actuators evenly spaced circumferentially therearound, switch means engageable with said switch actuators for causing said signal, and means responsive to said signal for actuating the cutting means.

Claim 17

The machine of claim 13 said cutting means including two cutting blades spaced 180* apart and selectively rotatably powered to slice the core, said cutting means including a power source, a clutch between the power source and the cutting blades, and said means for actuating the cutting means including two position stop means for engaging the clutch and then disengaging the clutch after 180* of rotation of the clutch to selectively move one of the cutting blades through the core.

Claim 18

A mobile agricultural machine of the type having a plurality of circumferentially spaced rollers defining a core-forming channel with a transverse intake between two adjacent rollers and an axial discharge for forming a fibrous material crop into a cylindrical core the combination comprising first and second generally axially aligned, transverse roller sets each defining a core-forming channel, means for driving said rollers of each set to compress the crop into an axially discharged core, means for cutting the axially discharged core into predetermined lengths, and means for removing the cut lengths from the machine, said roller driving means including central transmission means positioned between said roller-sets, coupling means secured to each of the rollers, said central transmission means being secured in common to generally axially aligned coupling means of the respective sets for reducing the width of the machine and providing ease of assembling, and means connecting said central transmission means to a power source.

Claim 19

A mobile agricultural machine of the type having a plurality of circumferentially spaced rollers defining a core-forming channel with a transverse intake between two adjacent rollers and an axial discharge for forming a fibrous material crop into a cylindrical core the combination comprising first and second generally axially aligned, transverse roller sets each defining a core-forming channel, means for driving said rollers of each set to compress the crop into an axially discharged core, means for cutting the axially discharged core into predetermined lengths, and means for removing the cut lengths from the machine, said roller driving means including central transmission means positioned between said roller-sets, coupling means secured to each of the rollers, said central transmission means being secured in common to generally axially aligned coupling means of the respective sets for reducing the width of the machine and providing ease of assembling, and means connecting said central transmission means to a power source.

Claim 20

The machine of claim 15 said roller-sets each including four rollers, said central transmission means including a plurality of driven gears one coupled to each of the generally axially aligned coupling means of said roller-sets, and power distribution means including a first drive gear meshing with two adjacent driven gears, and a second central drive gear meshing with all four driven gears to transmit power from said first two adjacent driven gears to the remaining two.

Claim 21

The machine of claim 15 said central transmission means including a plurality of transmission shafts, said rollers including roller supporting means each having a coupling end, said coupling means including a socket secured to said coupling end of said roller shaft and having an internal bearing surface, two diametrically opposed slots in said socket, a bearing collar secured to the end of sAid transmission shaft, said collar having a circumferential external spherical segment bearing surface positioned to abut said internal bearing surface of said socket, two diametrically opposed cam followers protruding outwardly from said collar and received in said slots whereby regardless of the relative axial alignments of said rollers and said transmission shafts radial forces can be transmitted between said roller and said transmission shaft and said transmission shaft can transmit torque to said roller shaft.

Claim 22

The machine of claim 17 said socket also including an internal radial bearing wall and each of said transmission shafts having a rounded end of the same curvature as said external bearing surface forming a continuation of said spherical segment bearing surface abutting said bearing wall whereby axial thrust forces from said rollers will be imposed on said transmission shaft and in part will be balanced by the axially aligned roller of said other set.

Claim 23

A fibrous material core-forming machine of the type having a plurality of circumferentially spaced skewed rollers defining a core-forming channel with a transverse intake between two adjacent rollers and an axial discharge the combination comprising first and second generally axially aligned, transverse roller sets each defining a core-forming channel, means for driving said rollers of each set to compress the fibrous material into an axially discharged core, means for cutting the axially discharged core into predetermined lengths, and means for removing the cut lengths from the machine, said roller driving means including central transmission means positioned between said roller-sets, coupling means secured to each of the rollers, said central transmission means being secured in common to generally axially aligned coupling means of the respective sets, said central transmission means including a plurality of transmission shafts, said rollers including supporting means having a coupling end and a free end, said coupling means including a socket secured to said coupling end of said roller supporting means and having an internal bearing surface and two diametrically opposed slots, a bearing collar secured to the end of said transmission shaft, said collar having an external partially spherical bearing surface positioned against said internal bearing surface of said socket, two diametrically opposed cam followers protruding outwardly from said collar and received in said slots whereby, regardless of the relative axial alignments of said roller and said transmission shaft, radial forces can be transmitted between said roller and said transmission shaft and said transmission shaft can transmit torque to said roller.

Claim 24

A fibrous material core-forming machine of the type having a plurality of circumferentially spaced skewed rollers defining a core-forming channel with a transverse intake between two adjacent rollers and an axial discharge the combination comprising first and second generally axially aligned, transverse roller sets each defining a core-forming channel, means for driving said rollers of each set to compress the fibrous material into an axially discharged core, means for cutting the axially discharged core into predetermined lengths, and means for removing the cut lengths from the machine, said roller driving means including central transmission means positioned between said roller-sets, coupling means secured to each of the rollers, said central transmission means being secured in common to generally axially aligned coupling means of the respective sets, said central transmission means including a plurality of transmission shafts, said rollers including supporting means having a coupling end and a free end, said coupling means including a socket secured to said coupling end of said roller supporting means and having an internal bearing surface and two diametrically opposed slots, a bearing collar secured to the end of said transmission shaft, said collar having an external partially spherical bearing surface positioned against said internal bearing surface of said socket, two diametrically opposed cam followers protruding outwardly from said collar and received in said slots whereby, regardless of the relative axial alignments of said roller and said transmission shaft, radial forces can be transmitted between said roller and said transmission shaft and said transmission shaft can transmit torque to said roller.

Claim 25

The machine of claim 19 said socket also including an internal radial bearing wall and each of said transmission shafts having a rounded end of an arc equal to said spherical bearing surface and abutting said bearing wall whereby axial thrust forces from end rollers are passed to said transmission shaft.

Claim 26

In a fibrous material compacting machine of the type comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced rollers each having a roller body and roller supporting means, including a coupling end and a free end, and defining a core-forming channel having a transverse material inlet and an axial discharge, roller suspension apparatus for carrying the rollers between frame members of the machine comprising, bearing means mounting said free end of said roller supporting means on a frame member, a transmission shaft, and means coupling said transmission shaft and said coupling end for transmitting torque to the coupling end when said free end is skewed about the circumference of the channel or is moved radially of the channel and for counteracting radial forces between the roller and the transmission shaft, said coupling means including a socket secured to said coupling end and having an internal circumferential bearing surface and two diametrically opposed axial slots, a bearing collar fixed to sAid transmission shaft and having an external bearing surface in the form of a spherical segment received within said socket with said collar external bearing surface abutting said socket bearing surface whereby radial forces imposed on said roller body by the compressed core in the core-forming channel will be transmitted between the socket and collar bearing surface to said transmission shaft regardless of the relative axial alignments of the transmission shaft and roller, and two diametrically opposed protruding cam followers on said bearing collar received within said slots for transmitting torque between said collar and socket.

Claim 27

In a fibrous material compacting machine of the type comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced rollers each having a roller body and roller supporting means, including a coupling end and a free end, and defining a core-forming channel having a transverse material inlet and an axial discharge, roller suspension apparatus for carrying the rollers between frame members of the machine comprising, bearing means mounting said free end of said roller supporting means on a frame member, a transmission shaft, and means coupling said transmission shaft and said coupling end for transmitting torque to the coupling end when said free end is skewed about the circumference of the channel or is moved radially of the channel and for counteracting radial forces between the roller and the transmission shaft, said coupling means including a socket secured to said coupling end and having an internal circumferential bearing surface and two diametrically opposed axial slots, a bearing collar fixed to sAid transmission shaft and having an external bearing surface in the form of a spherical segment received within said socket with said collar external bearing surface abutting said socket bearing surface whereby radial forces imposed on said roller body by the compressed core in the core-forming channel will be transmitted between the socket and collar bearing surface to said transmission shaft regardless of the relative axial alignments of the transmission shaft and roller, and two diametrically opposed protruding cam followers on said bearing collar received within said slots for transmitting torque between said collar and socket.

Claim 28

The machine of claim 21 said coupling means also including axial thrust counteracting means including an internal radial bearing wall on said socket, and a rounded end on said transmission shaft in the spherical plane of the spherical segment bearing surface of said collar and engaging said bearing wall whereby the axial forces imposed on said roller body by the compressed core will be passed from said coupling end through said coupling to said transmission shaft regardless of the relative axial alignment of the transmission and roller.

Claim 29

The machine of claim 22 said coupling means including a retaining ring for closing the end of said socket around said collar to prevent axial movement of the roller relative the transmission shaft in a direction toward said roller supporting means free end and to seal the space within said socket against ingress of foreign matter, said roller body extending axially beyond said socket to shield said socket from the fibrous material to prevent wrapping of the fibrous material on said socket.

Claim 30

A fibrous material compacting machine of the type having a plurality of circumferentially spaced rollers defining a channel having a transverse inlet and an axial discharge, means for feeding fibrous material into the channel, means for rotating the rollers for wrapping the material into a compressed core, and means for moving the compressed core through said axial discharge, the improvement comprising cutting means for cutting the core into lengths of predetermined size, said cutting means including at least two blades independently movable axially with the axially moving core so that one blade can be cutting and moving with the core while the other is returning to an initial position preparatory to initiating another cut into the core, means for alternately moving the blades radially from said initial position into the core to sever it to form the cut lengths while the other blade is returning to its initial position, and means for supporting the core radially as it is being severed.

Claim 31

A fibrous material compacting machine of the type having a plurality of circumferentially spaced rollers defining a channel having a transverse inlet and an axial discharge, means for feeding fibrous material into the channel, means for rotating the rollers for wrapping the material into a compressed core, and means for moving the compressed core through said axial discharge, the improvement comprising cutting means for cutting the core into lengths of predetermined size, said cutting means including at least two blades independently movable axially with the axially moving core so that one blade can be cutting and moving with the core while the other is returning to an initial position preparatory to initiating another cut into the core, means for alternately moving the blades radially from said initial position into the core to sever it to form the cut lengths while the other blade is returning to its initial position, and means for supporting the core radially as it is being severed.

Claim 32

The machine of claim 24, said means for supporting the core including a ring having an interior surface engageable with the core and supported for free rotational movement therewith.

Claim 33

The machine of claim 24, said cutting means including spaced parallel bars slidably receiving the blades, means on said bars for urging the cutting blades in a direction opposite to the axial movement of said core, said means for moving the blades radially through the core including a rotatably mounted common shaft fixed to said parallel rods, a clutch secured to said common shaft, means for actuating said clutch for intermittent 180* revolutions whereby each cutting blade is rotated into said core and slides axially along said bar with the second blade returned in the opposite axial direction by the urging means.