Metal baling machines

Abstract

 A side table and clamp is provided for a metal baler of the type having a co-operating baling box and lid forming a shear such that large pieces of sheet may be readily held and cut in a series of operations the cut pieces being pressed into the box of the metal baler by the hydraulic lid. The clamp may be operated independently of the main lid closure thereby giving safe operation for the baler.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to metal baling machines and more particularly to metal baling machines incorporating a metal shear.

[0002] A known metal baler includes a hydraulically controlled hinged lid which is used to press metal down into a baling box wherein a hydraulic ram is operative to compress the metal into a bale. The upper edges of the sides of the box and the edges of the lid form co-operating cutting edges thereby allowing oversize material to be placed on the top of the box the material being cut off when the lid is hydraulically lowered. The portion "within" the box is thereby ready to be compressed and by separated operations large metal sheets or long lengths can be cut up and forced down into the box.

[0003] A disadvantage with the known baler is that the above procedure can be dangerous since the portion of large sheet or long length not within the box may fly off when the rest is cut. With the enormous shearing forces used, often in excess of 100 tons, this can be very dangerous. With thin sheets such as for example the body panels of large lorries the sheet may not cut cleanly but only partially cut through. The operator therefore has to repeat the operation thus wasting time due to the inefficient operation of the machine.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved metal baler which is safer and more efficient in operation.

[0005] According to the present invention there is provided a metal baler including a box, a hinged lid for the box the hinged lid having means for crushing in a downward direction material placed in or on top of the box, the box having at least one movable side which has means for crushing the material within the box when the lid is in a closed position and including clamp means attached to the box for clamping material to be crushed by the hinged lid.

[0006] Preferably the clamp means includes a clamping table rigidly attached to the box and a clamping arm rotatably mounted on the baler to co-operate with the clamping table to clamp material overlapping the top of the box.

[0007] Preferably the clamping arm is hydraulically controlled. The arm may be controlled in sequence with the hinged lid.

[0008] The arm is preferably mounted on the same hinge axis as the hinged lid the hinge axle being extended on one side of the box to accommodate the clamping arm.

[0009] The arm is preferably provided with a serrated surface on the side co-operating with the clamping table.

[0010] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 shows a metal baler having means for cutting oversize material;

Figure 2 shows diagrammatically in side elevation the baler of Figure 1 with clamping means according to the present inventionlr2

Figure 3 shows diagrammatically a portion of the front of the baler of Figure 2 in front elevation illustrating the clamp table according to the present invention; and

Figure 4 shows diagrammatically a front elevation of a portion of the baler of Figure 2 illustrating the clamp arm.

[0011] With reference now to Figure 1 the baler 10 comprises a box 12 with a rotatably mounted lid 14. The lid 14 is mounted on a massive hinge pin or axle 16 and is moved by a hydraulic ram 18 controlled by controls 20. Compressors 22, 24 provide the power for the hydraulic rams, the second ram (not shown) being operable in known manner when the lid 14 is closed on box 12 to push the end of box 12 opposite to the end 26 towards the end 26 to form the bale. The end 26 forms a door which may be lifted by rams 28, 30 after formation of the bale to enable the bale to be ejected. A guard 32 is provided to protect the operator from being injured when the lid 14 is descending. Wheels 33 etc. are provided to allow the baler to be moved to a desired location.

[0012] The lid 14 is, in the present invention, provided with cutting edges 40, 42, 44 which, when the lid closes, mate with co-operating cutting edges 46, 48, 50 on the upper edge of box 12. Edge 50 is "V" shaped to provide commencement at point 52 of the cutting of any large sheet which overlaps this front edge. Edges 46, 48 may be provided with upstanding serrations 54, 56 to prevent tubes rolling along the edges and to assist in initial trapping of larger pieces of material.

[0013] It is possible therefore, to place very large sheet of material such as aluminium or steel plate across the top of box 12 and to "nibble" away at them by repeated operations of lid 14. A number of problems arise however when handling large sheets or long tubes etc. Firstly, if the sheet is very large, it tends to fall off the baler thereby not being cut or only partially cut. Thus, a second operator is required to hold the sheet and this can be dangerous because the sheet may suddenly jerk when being cut thereby possibly injuring the operator. For large thin sheets, especially with a baler which is getting worn the cutting edges 40, 42, 44 and 46, 48, 50 may not cut the thin metal cleanly, leaving a jagged partly cut edge pushed down into the box 12. The operator may have difficulty in re-arranging the sheet for the next cut and may be cut by any jagged edges.

[0014] Thus, though the baler of Figure 1 is improved over known balers, having the ability to cut a sheet on three edges, this leads to the above problems and the improvement to the machine as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4 seeks to overcome these problems.

[0015] With reference now to Figures 2, 3 and 4 the improvement comprises a clamping system for clamping the material to be baled. The clamping system includes a clamping arm 60 and a clamping table 62. The clamping arm 60 is preferably operated by a hydraulic ram 64 and is pivoted about the main hinge axle 16 to be able to press down onto the top surface of table 62. The pivot point 65 for the hydraulic ram 64 and arm 60 is arranged to provide adequate leverage such that the arm 60 exerts a desired pressure onto the table 62. The advantage of using the same hinge axles 16 as the lid 14 is that the axle 16 is .0 very strong since it has to provide the support for the lid 14 and therefore it can readily provide the support for the arm 60.

[0016] The arm 60 may be operated by a lever and ratchet system to allow quick hand operation but this is not preferred. Since most balers have hydraulic rams to perform the baling operations, it is preferred to use hydraulics for the clamping arm 60.

[0017] With reference to Figure 3 the clamp table 62 is made fairly wide relative to the width of the clamp arm and thereby gives additional support for the material to be cut. The table top 62 is supported by a number of bracket plates 66 which are preferably welded to the table and to the body of the box 14 as indicated at 68 and 70. The plates 66 are of thick plate therefore table top 60 is capable of withstanding large pressure from the clamp arm 60. A clearance gap 67 is preferably provided between the top of table 62 and the side of box 14.

[0018] With reference now to Figure 4 the hydraulic cylinder acts on pivot 65 which is a short axle mounted between a first plate 72 and the leverage portion 74 of clamp arm 60. This provides a balanced turning moment for the arm 60.

[0019] The arm 60 may be provided with teeth 61 to produce a greater gripping action for material laid on table 62. These teeth are preferably shaped as shown to provide, when clamp arm 60 is lowered, a series of vertical stops 80 which prevents material such as round tubes from rolling away from the lid 14. The upstanding serrations 54, 56 may be dispensed with or if retained will provide additional gripping of the material to be baled.

[0020] The clamping arm 60 may be sequentially controlled such that it descends just prior to lid 14, the control lever for lid 14 serving to firstly operate hydraulic ram 64. This enables the operator to clamp and cut by a single operation. Alternatively hydraulic ram 64 may be separately controlled which may be beneficial for positioning of the material to be cut prior to lid 14 being operated. This may lead to more efficient operation of the baler by the operative. Also as referred to above for a simple clamp hydraulic ram 64 may be replaced by a mechanical lever and ratchet or peg arrangement (not shown) to provide a relatively simple clamp which may be adquate for small balers.

[0021] Whichever clamping arrangement is used, the clamp arm 60 will hold the material to be cut allowing the operator to retire behind guard 32 before operating the main ram 18. Thus, any pieces of metal which fly off will not injure the operator. Thus, an efficient cutting and baling operation may be carried out in safety.

[0022] In a practical embodiment the baling box was constructed from 2.5 inch and 4 inch thick metal steel plate with the shearing blades on the box and lid being replaceable and being made of hardened steel. The clamp arm was also of 2.5 inch mild steel and the table top and bracket plates being of 1 inch metal steel plate.

Claims

1. A metal baler including a box, a hinged lid for the box the hinged lid having means for crushing in a downward direction material placed in or on top of the box, the box having at least one movable side which has means for crushing the material within the box when the lid is in a closed position and including clamp means attached to the box for clamping material to be crushed by the hinged lid.

2. A metal baler as claimed in Claim 1 in which the clamp means includes a clamping table rigidly attached to the box and a clamping arm rotatably mounted on the baler to co-operate with the clamping table to clamp material overlapping the top of the box.

3. A metal baler as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the clamping arm is hydraulically controlled.

4. A metal baler as claimed in Claim 3 in which the arm is controlled in sequence with the hinged lid.

5. A metal baler as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4 in which the arm is mounted on the same hinge axis as the hinged lid the hinge axle being extended on one side of the box to accommodate the clamping arm.

6. A metal baler as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5 in which the arm is provided with a serrated surface on the side co-operating with the clamping table.

7. A metal baler as claimed in Claim 2 in which the clamping table has an upper surface substantially level with the top surface of the box and in which a clearance gap is provided between the edge of the table nearest to the box and the box to enable loose material to fall away.

8. A metal baler as claimed in Claim 3 in which the clamping arm hydraulic control is mounted on the side of the box substantially underneath the clamping table to thereby be partially protected by the clamping table.

9. A metal baler as claimed in Claim 8 in which the hydraulic control comprises a hydraulic ram acting on a crank extension to the arm which forms a leverage for the clamping action thereby allowing free access to the top of the box when the clamping arm is raised.

10. A metal baler substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Drawing