Baler

Claim 2

In a baler, a material baling chamber open at the top, a press platen vertically reciprocable through the open top of the chamber and having an upper position spaced at one side above an upper edge of the chamber providing an access opening for deposit of material into the chamber, a safety gate vertically shiftable across said access opening between an open position above the opening and a closed position covering the opening, means coupling the gate to the platen for vertical movement therewith and in advance of the platen during descent, said means including a lost motion coupling allowing descent of the platen relative to the gate and lifting of the gate during ascent of the platen, and control means responsive to descent of the platen relative to the gate prior to full closure of the gate to interrupt descent of the platen, characterized in that said control means includes a first element actuated by full closure of the gate and a second element actuated by a predetermined descent of the platen relative to the gate with such means interrupting platen descent upon actuation of the second element before actuation of the first element.

Claim 3

The invention defined in claim 1 characterized by a second safety gate vertically shiftable across said access opening adjacent the first mentioned safety gate on the side thereof remote said chamber; and means for shifting said second gate between an open position above the opening for deposit of material and a closed position covering said opening.

Claim 4

The invention defined in claim 2 characterized by counterweight means normally retaining said second safety gate in said open position, and latch means engageable with said second gate to releasably lock it in said closed position.

Claim 5

The invention defined in claim 2 characterized in that said control means includes a part actuated in response to complete closure of said second safety gate for preventing platen movement in the absence of part actuation.

Claim 6

In a baler, a material baling chamber open at the top, a press platen vertically reciprocable through the open top of the chamber and having an upper position spaced at one side above an upper edge of the chamber providing an access opening for deposit of material into the chamber, a safety gate vertically shiftable across said access opening between an open position above the opening and a closed position covering the opening, means coupling the gate to the platen for vertical movement therewith and in advance of the platen during descent, said means including a lost motion coupling allowing descent of the platen relative to the gate and lifting of the gate during ascent of the platen, and control means responsive to descent of the platen relative to the gate prior to full closure of the gate to interrupt descent of the platen, characterized in that said control means includes an electric control circuit for controlling ascent and descent of the platen and including a pair of electric switches to effect descent with one responsive to relative movement between the platen and safety gate to cause ascent of the platen and the other responsive to full closure of the safety gate to render said one ineffective.

Claim 7

In a baler, a material baling chamber open at the top, a press platen vertically reciprocable through the open top of the chamber and having an upper position spaced at one side above an upper edge of the chamber providing an access opening for deposit of material into the chamber, a safety gate vertically shiftable across said access opening between an open position above the opening and a closed position covering the opening, means coupling the gate to the platen for vertical movement therewith and in advance of the platen during descent, said means including a lost motion coupling allowing descent of the platen relative to the gate and lifting of the gate during ascent of the platen, and control means responsive to descent of the platen relative to the gate prior to full closure of the gate to interrupt descent of the platen, characterized in that said control means includes an electric control circuit for controlling ascent and descent of the platen and including a pair of electric switches to effect descent with one responsive to relative movement between the platen and safety gate to cause ascent of the platen and the other responsive to full closure of the safety gate to render said one ineffective.

Claim 8

The invention defined in claim 5 characterized in that said baling chamber includes a side opening door for removal of a formed bale and means for locking the door closed, and said control circuit includes a third switch responsive to failure of the door to be completely closEd to prevent descent of the platen.

Claim 9

The invention defined in claim 6 further characterized in that said control circuit includes a programming switch operable to render ineffective said pair of switches and said third switch, and said control circuit including a manually operable fourth switch for causing manually controlled determined ascent and descent of the platen irrespective of the position of the baling chamber door or relative movement between gate and platen.

Claim 10

In a baler, a material baling chamber open at the top, a press platen vertically reciprocable through the open top of the chamber and having an upper position spaced at one side above an upper edge of the chamber providing an access opening for deposit of material into the chamber, a safety gate vertically shiftable across said access opening between an open position above the opening and a closed position covering the opening, a side opening door on said baling chamber for removal of a formed bale, a control circuit for controlling descent and ascent of the platen through a cycle of operation from the said upper position to a lowered position compacting material back to said upper position, said control circuit including switch means responsive to an obstruction preventing full closure of said gate to interrupt said cycle of operation and return the platen to said upper position, said circuit including a second switch means responsive to a failure to completely close said door to render inoperative said cycle of operation, and said circuit including manually operable switch means for raising and lowering the platen determined increments irrespective of gate or door position.

Claim 11

In a baler, a material baling chamber open at the top, a press platen vertically reciprocable through the open top of the chamber and having an upper position spaced at one side above an upper edge of the chamber providing an access opening for deposit of material into the chamber, a safety gate vertically shiftable across said access opening between an open position above the opening and a closed position covering the opening, a side opening door on said baling chamber for removal of a formed bale, a control circuit for controlling descent and ascent of the platen through a cycle of operation from the said upper position to a lowered position compacting material back to said upper position, said control circuit including switch means responsive to an obstruction preventing full closure of said gate to interrupt said cycle of operation and return the platen to said upper position, said circuit including a second switch means responsive to a failure to completely close said door to render inoperative said cycle of operation, and said circuit including manually operable switch means for raising and lowering the platen determined increments irrespective of gate or door position.