Bale ejection system

Claim 2

A baling apparatus particularly adapted for reducing a volume of solid waste material, such as cardboard and the like, to a substantially smaller volume by packing such material, under pressure, into compacted bales, including frame means defining a compacting chamber therein, a ram mounted for vertical reciprocal movement within said frame means relative to said compacting chamber to exert the pressure on the waste material placed in said compacting chamber required to pack such material into a compacted bale, closure means mounted on said frame means and movable to provide access to said compacting chamber to allow removal of the compacted bale from said chamber subsequent to compaction, and bale ejection means to provide easy, controlled ejection of the compacted bale from said chamber including support means extending through elongated vertical openings in a side of said frame, said support means being pivotally mounted on said frame means and movable adjacent the compacted bale to support the bale during the ejection of the bale from said compacting chamber, and bale lift means pivotally mounted on said bale support means external to said compacting chamber, said bale lift means having catch means disposed on an upper portion thereof, said catch means being selectively insertable through said vertical openings, said bale lift means being movable on said bale support means relative to said frame means, when ejection of said bale is desired, from a first non-operating position to a second position where said bale lift means are disposed for engagement with said ram by said catch means being inserted through said vertical openings, said ram moving upwardly within said frame means, said ram engaging said catch means on said lift means to move said lift Means upwardly relative to said frame means thereby causing said bale support means to be pivoted relative to said frame means to move the compact bale and eject it from the baling apparatus.

Claim 3

The baling apparatus of claim 1 additionally including guide means mounted on said ram and disposed about at least a portion of the periphery of said ram, said guide means being formed to extend outwardly therefrom into said elongated vertical openings in the side wall of said frame means, said guide means traveling in said openings along said wall as said ram is moved reciprocally within said frame thereby guiding the movement of said ram and preventing movement of waste materials from the compacting chamber between the ram and said frame or to top of said ram.

Claim 4

The baling apparatus of claim 1 wherein said closure means includes a door movably mounted on said frame and defining at least one side of said compacting chamber, said door providing access to said compacting chamber for removal of the compacted bale, and locking means disposed to engage said door in closed position, to securely maintain said door in closed position during compaction, said locking means having an elongated vertical locking member pivotally mounted on said frame for movement relative to said door and said frame, handle means connected to said locking member to move said locking member relative to said door and said frame, and latch means mounted on said door to engage a portion of said handle means to maintain said handle means adjacent said door when said door is in closed position, said locking member being movable to engage said door along a substantial portion of the height thereof when said door is in closed position, to receive stresses exerted on said door during compaction evenly over the length of said elongated locking member thereby to prevent outward movement of said door during compaction.

Claim 5

The baling apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising waste blocking wedges located on the side walls of said compacting chamber.

Claim 6

A baling apparatus particularly adapted for reducing a volume of solid waste material, such as cardboard and the like, to a substantially smaller volume by packing such material, under pressure, into compacted bales, including frame means defining a compacting chamber therein, a ram mounted for vertical reciprocal movement within said frame means relative to said compacting chamber to exert the pressure on the waste material placed in said compacting chamber required to pack such material into a compacted bale, closure means mounted on said frame means and movable to provide access to said compacting chamber to allow removal of the compacted bale from said chamber subsequent to compaction, and bale ejection means to provide easy, controlled ejection of the compacted bale from said chamber including support means pivotally mounted on said frame means and movable adjacent the compacted bale to support the bale during the ejection of the bale from said compacting chamber, and bale lift means pivotally mounted on said bale support means, said bale lift means having catch means disposed on an upper portion thereof, said bale lift means being movable on said bale support means relative to said frame means, when ejection of said bale is desired, from a first non-operating position to a second position where said bale lift means are disposed for engagement with said ram moving upwardly within said frame means, said ram engaging said catch means on said lift means to move said lift means upwardly relative to said frame means thereby causing said bale support means to pivoted relative to said frame means to move the compacted bale and eject it from the baling apparatus, said bale support means including a pair of spaced L-shaped arms, each having a first leg disposed below the compacted bale, and a second leg disposed generally parallel to a side of the compacted bale, said arms being pivotal about an edge of a lower end of said frame means thereby To be brought into intimate supporting contact with the bottom and side of the compact bale, and said lift means includes a pair of elongated members spaced corresponding to said L-shaped arms and connected for unitary movement by transverse bar means, each of said elongated members having a lower portion pivotally mounted on the corresponding L-shaped arm, said catch means disposed on the upper portion of each of said elongated members including hook means extending inwardly toward said frame, said elongated members being movable toward said frame to position said hook means through elongated vertical openings provided in a side of said frame in the path of travel of said ram such that said ram, upon moving upwardly within said frame, will engage said hook means to lift said elongated members upwardly relative to said frame to thereby pivot said bale support means and the compacted bale supported thereby relative to said frame to eject the bale.

Claim 7

A baling apparatus particularly adapted for reducing a volume of solid waste material, such as cardboard and the like, to a substantially smaller volume by packing such material, under pressure, into compacted bales, including frame means defining a compacting chamber therein, a ram mounted for vertical reciprocal movement within said frame means relative to said compacting chamber to exert the pressure on the waste material placed in said compacting chamber required to pack such material into a compacted bale, closure means mounted on said frame means and movable to provide access to said compacting chamber to allow removal of the compacted bale from said chamber subsequent to compaction, and bale ejection means to provide easy, controlled ejection of the compacted bale from said chamber including support means pivotally mounted on said frame means and movable adjacent the compacted bale to support the bale during the ejection of the bale from said compacting chamber, and bale lift means pivotally mounted on said bale support means, said bale lift means having catch means disposed on an upper portion thereof, said bale lift means being movable on said bale support means relative to said frame means, when ejection of said bale is desired, from a first non-operating position to a second position where said bale lift means are disposed for engagement with said ram moving upwardly within said frame means, said ram engaging said catch means on said lift means to move said lift means upwardly relative to said frame means thereby causing said bale support means to pivoted relative to said frame means to move the compacted bale and eject it from the baling apparatus, said bale support means including a pair of spaced L-shaped arms, each having a first leg disposed below the compacted bale, and a second leg disposed generally parallel to a side of the compacted bale, said arms being pivotal about an edge of a lower end of said frame means thereby To be brought into intimate supporting contact with the bottom and side of the compact bale, and said lift means includes a pair of elongated members spaced corresponding to said L-shaped arms and connected for unitary movement by transverse bar means, each of said elongated members having a lower portion pivotally mounted on the corresponding L-shaped arm, said catch means disposed on the upper portion of each of said elongated members including hook means extending inwardly toward said frame, said elongated members being movable toward said frame to position said hook means through elongated vertical openings provided in a side of said frame in the path of travel of said ram such that said ram, upon moving upwardly within said frame, will engage said hook means to lift said elongated members upwardly relative to said frame to thereby pivot said bale support means and the compacted bale supported thereby relative to said frame to eject the bale.

Claim 8

In a baling apparatus particularly adapted for reducing a volume of solid waste material, such as cardboard and the like, to a substantially smaller volume by packing such material, under pressure, into compacted bales, including frame means defining a compacting chamber having side walls and a bottom wall therein, a ram mounted for reciprocal movement along and within said frame means relative to said compacting chamber to exert the pressure on the waste material placed in said compacting chamber required to pack such material into a compacted bale, and closure means mounted on said frame means and forming at least one side of said compacting chamber, said closure means movable to provide access to said compacting chamber to allow removal of the compacted bale, the improvement including bale ejection support means disposed along the bottom and at least one side wall of said compacting chamber, the side of said support means being recessed in a side wall of said compacting chamber and the bottom of said support means being recessed in the bottom wall of said compacting chamber during compacting of the waste material, the bottom of said bale ejection support means having one end extending through elongated vertical openings in a side wall of said compacting chamber, the other end thereof being pivotally mounted on said frame means for movement of said support means adjacent the bottom and side of the compacted bale to support the bale during its ejection from said compacting chamber, and bale lift means pivotally mounted on said bale ejection support means external to said compacting chamber, said bale lift means having catch means disposed on an upper portion thereof, and selectively insertable through said vertical openings, said bale lift means being movable on said bale support means relative to said frame means when ejection of said bale from said compacting chamber is desired from a first non-operating position to a second position wherein said bale lift means is disposed for engagement with said ram by insertion of said catch means through said vertical openings, said ram moving upwardly within said frame means, said ram engaging said catch means on said lift means to move said lift means upwardly relative to said frame means thereby causing said bale ejection support means to be pivoted relative to said frame means to move the compacted bale and eject it from said compacting chamber of said baling apparatus.

Claim 9

In a baling apparatus particularly adapted for reducing a volume of solid waste material, such as cardboard and the like, to a substantially smaller volume by packing such material, under pressure, into compacted bales, including frame means defining a compacting chamber having side walls and a bottom wall therein, a ram mounted for reciprocal movement along and within said frame means relative to said compacting chamber to exert the pressure on the waste material placed in said compacting chamber required to pack such material into a compacted bale, and closure means mounted on said frame means and forming at least one side of said compacting chamber, said closure means movable to provide access to said compacting chamber to allow removal of the compacted bale, the improvement including bale ejection support means disposed along the bottom and at least one side wall of said compacting chamber, the side of said support means being recessed in a side wall of said compacting chamber and the bottom of said support means being recessed in the bottom wall of said compacting chamber during compacting of the waste material, the bottom of said bale ejection support means having one end extending through elongated vertical openings in a side wall of said compacting chamber, the other end thereof being pivotally mounted on said frame means for movement of said support means adjacent the bottom and side of the compacted bale to support the bale during its ejection from said compacting chamber, and bale lift means pivotally mounted on said bale ejection support means external to said compacting chamber, said bale lift means having catch means disposed on an upper portion thereof, and selectively insertable through said vertical openings, said bale lift means being movable on said bale support means relative to said frame means when ejection of said bale from said compacting chamber is desired from a first non-operating position to a second position wherein said bale lift means is disposed for engagement with said ram by insertion of said catch means through said vertical openings, said ram moving upwardly within said frame means, said ram engaging said catch means on said lift means to move said lift means upwardly relative to said frame means thereby causing said bale ejection support means to be pivoted relative to said frame means to move the compacted bale and eject it from said compacting chamber of said baling apparatus.

Claim 10

The improvement set forth in claim 6 wherein said bale ejection support means includes a pair of spaced L-shaped arms, each having a first leg disposed below the compacted bale, and a second leg disposed generally parallel to a side of the compacted bale, said arms pivotal about an edge of a lower end of said frame means thereby to be brought into intimate supporting contact with the bottom and side of the compacted bale, and said lift means includes a pair of elongated members spaced corresponding to said L-shaped arms and connected for unitary movement by transverse bar means, each of said elongated Members having a lower portion pivotally mounted on the corresponding L-shaped arm, said catch means disposed on the upper portion of each of said elongated members including hook means extending inwardly toward said frame, said elongated members being movable toward said frame to position said hook means through openings provided in a side of said frame in the path of travel of said ram such that said ram, upon moving upwardly within said frame, will engage said hook means to lift said elongated members upwardly relative to said frame to thereby pivot said bale support means and the compacted bale supported thereby relative to said frame to eject the bale.

Claim 11

The improvement set forth in claim 6 additionally including guide means mounted on said ram and disposed about at least a portion of the periphery of said ram, said guide means being formed to extend outwardly therefrom into said elongated vertical openings in the side wall of said frame means, said guide means traveling in said openings along said wall as said ram is moved reciprocally within said frame thereby guiding the movement of said ram and preventing movement of waste materials from the compacting chamber between the ram and said frame or to the top of said ram.

Claim 12

The improvement set forth in claim 6 wherein said closure means includes a door movably mounted on said frame and defining at least one side of said compacting chamber, said door providing access to said compacting chamber for removal of the compacted bale, and the improvement comprising locking means disposed to engage said door in closed position, to securely maintain said door in closed position during compaction, said locking means having an elongated vertical locking member pivotally mounted on said frame for movement relative to said door and said frame, handle means connected to said locking member to move said locking member relative to said door and said frame, and latch means mounted on said door to engage a portion of said handle means to maintain said handle means adjacent said door when said door is in closed position, said locking member being movable to engage said door along a substantial portion of the height thereof when said door is in closed position, to receive stresses exerted on said door during compaction evenly over the length of said locking member thereby to prevent outward movement of said door during compaction.

Claim 13

The improvement set forth in claim 6 wherein said bale lift means is positioned for engagement by said ram by movement of actuation means operatively engaging said lift means, said actuation means being mounted on said frame means and being urged forwardly toward said closure means by resilient means, said actuation means having a forward handle portion engaging said closure means in a closed position, and a shaft portion, connected to said handle portion at its forward end and extending rearwardly along a side of said frame means to engage said lift means at its opposite, rearward end, said actuation means being thereby laterally immovable when said closure means is in closed position and, therefore inoperable to permit movement of said bale lift means, and alternatively, when said closure means is in open position, being urged forward to allow said bale lift means to be moved forward to engage said ram.

Claim 14

The improvement set forth in claim 6 and further comprising door blocking tabs on the bottom of said support means to engage said closure means to prevent movement of said support means when said closure means is closed and to prevent closing of said closure means unless the bottom of said support means is properly recessed in the bottom wall of said compacting chamber.

Claim 15

A baling apparatus particularly adapted for reducing a volume of solid waste material, such as cardboard and the like, to a substantially smaller volume by packing such material, under pressure, into compacted bales, including frame means defining a compacting chamber therein, a ram mounted for vertical Reciprocal movement within said frame means relative to said compacting chamber to exert the pressure on the waste material placed in said compacting chamber required to pack such material into a compacted bale, closure means mounted on said frame means and movable to provide access to said compacting chamber to allow removal of the compacted bale from said chamber subsequent to compaction, and bale ejection means to provide easy, controlled ejection of the compacted bale from said chamber including support means pivotally mounted on said frame means and movable adjacent the compacted bale to support the bale during the ejection of the bale from said compacting chamber, and bale lift means pivotally mounted on said bale support means, said bale lift means having catch means disposed on an upper portion thereof, said bale lift means being movable on said bale support means relative to said frame means, when ejection of said bale is desired, from a first non-operating position to a second position where said bale lift means are disposed for engagement with said ram moving upwardly within said frame means, said ram engaging said catch means on said lift means to move said lift means upwardly relative to said frame means thereby causing said bale support means to be pivoted relative to said frame means to move the compacted bale and eject it from the baling apparatus, and safety means cooperating with said closure means to prevent operation of said bale ejection means when said closure means is in a closed position relative to said frame means.

Claim 16

A baling apparatus particularly adapted for reducing a volume of solid waste material, such as cardboard and the like, to a substantially smaller volume by packing such material, under pressure, into compacted bales, including frame means defining a compacting chamber therein, a ram mounted for vertical Reciprocal movement within said frame means relative to said compacting chamber to exert the pressure on the waste material placed in said compacting chamber required to pack such material into a compacted bale, closure means mounted on said frame means and movable to provide access to said compacting chamber to allow removal of the compacted bale from said chamber subsequent to compaction, and bale ejection means to provide easy, controlled ejection of the compacted bale from said chamber including support means pivotally mounted on said frame means and movable adjacent the compacted bale to support the bale during the ejection of the bale from said compacting chamber, and bale lift means pivotally mounted on said bale support means, said bale lift means having catch means disposed on an upper portion thereof, said bale lift means being movable on said bale support means relative to said frame means, when ejection of said bale is desired, from a first non-operating position to a second position where said bale lift means are disposed for engagement with said ram moving upwardly within said frame means, said ram engaging said catch means on said lift means to move said lift means upwardly relative to said frame means thereby causing said bale support means to be pivoted relative to said frame means to move the compacted bale and eject it from the baling apparatus, and safety means cooperating with said closure means to prevent operation of said bale ejection means when said closure means is in a closed position relative to said frame means.

Claim 17

The baling apparatus of claim 12 wherein said safety means comprises actuation means operatively engaging said bale lift means, said actuation means being mounted on said frame means and being urged forwardly toward said closure means by resilient means, said actuation means having a forward handle portion engaging said closure means in a closed position, and a shaft portion, connected to said handle portion at its forward end and extending rearwardly along a side of said frame means to engage said lift means at its opposite, rearward end, said actuation means being thereby laterally immovable when said closure means is in closed position and, therefore inoperable to permit movement of said bale lift means, and alternatively, when said closure means is in open position, being urged forward to allow said bale lift means to be moved forward to engage said ram.