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(11) | EP 3 536 621 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | PACKAGING DEVICE AND METHOD |
| (57) The invention relates to a device (1) and method for packaging compost containing
straw and moisture, particularly compost of horse manure with straw. The method comprises
of receiving unpackaged compost in a receiving unit (2), compressing a quantity of
unpackaged, moisture-containing compost in at least one direction with a pressing
unit (3) for the purpose of forming a block of compressed compost, wherein the pressing
pressure of the pressing unit is sufficiently high to press at least some of the moisture
from the moisture-containing compost, discharging the moisture pressed from the moisture-containing
compost, and packaging the compressed and dehydrated compost block in packaging material.
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[0001] The invention relates to a device and method for packaging straw-containing compost, particularly compost of horse manure with straw.
[0002] Manure generally consists of animal excreta which have decomposed to greater or lesser extent and which may or may not be mixed with straw. The animal excreta provide a mixture of water, minerals and organic matter. Manure can be divided into a number of types of manure. One of these manure types is so-called farmyard manure. Farmyard manure comprises a mixture of solid substances (faeces) and liquid substances (urine), in combination with straw. Farmyard manure can for instance be horse manure, cattle manure, pig manure or chicken manure. Horse manure is an important type of farmyard manure and is often used for mushroom cultivation.
[0003] In winter there is often an excess of horse manure. The horses are then in horse stables and the horse manure produced therein has to be stored until summer in some way so that the winter excess of horse manure can be used to set off the shortage of horse manure in summer. The horse manure collected in horse stables is often stored in a pit on the land for a period of several months. Although the horse manure is compressed to some extent and stored in compressed state in the pit, the amount of air and/or moisture remaining in the horse manure generally remains so great that rotting of the manure occurs relatively quickly. The horse manure further has a composition such that it tends to fall apart immediately. In order to prevent or lessen the rotting process of wet horse manure it is known to roll horse manure into cylindrical bales, to then arrange means for holding the bale together such as a rope, wire and/or cable (for instance PET wire, steel wire or the like) around the bales in order to hold the horse manure together, and to transport the bales to a packaging machine, for instance with a trailer. Once the bales have arrived at the packaging machine, the ropes or wires have to be removed, after which the packaging material can be arranged around the bale.
[0004] Arranging ropes/wires for holding together the manure, transporting the manure and then removing the ropes/wires is labour-intensive and expensive. A further drawback is that remnants of rope or wire which may remain behind in the manure can be detrimental to the operation of the machines with which the manure may be processed.
[0005] It is an object of the invention to provide a device and method in which at least one of the above stated drawbacks is obviated.
[0006] It is also an object to provide a device and method with which compost, particularly horse manure, can be packaged in rapid and efficient manner.
[0007] It is also an object to provide a device and method with which compost, particularly horse manure, is processed in a manner such that the risk of damage to a packaging machine can be reduced.
[0008] It is a further object to provide a device and method in which the rotting process of compost, particularly horse manure, is prevented or even halted.
[0009] According to a first aspect of the invention, at least one of these objectives is achieved in a device of the type stated in the preamble, comprising:
- a receiving unit for receiving unpackaged compost;
- at least one pressing unit, comprising:
- a pressing chamber connected to the receiving unit, wherein the pressing chamber also comprises a discharge mouth;
- a press displaceable in the pressing chamber for compressing a quantity of unpackaged compost in the pressing chamber for the purpose of forming a block of compressed compost, wherein the pressing pressure of the press is sufficiently high to press at least some of the air from the compost;
- a pushing member displaceable in the pressing chamber for pushing the block of compressed compost via the discharge mouth out of the pressing chamber;
- a packaging unit for packaging the unpackaged, compressed compost block which has been pushed at least partially via the discharge mouth out of the pressing chamber in packaging material, wherein the packaging unit comprises a wrapping machine configured to wrap the unpackaged compost block with packaging material, particularly one or more strips of plastic film. Compressing the compost with the pressing unit removes the moisture and the oxygen from the compost at least partially. The removed moisture is then discharged. This has the result that the moisture content of the compost greatly decreases and the risk of rotting of the compost is reduced.
[0010] Because the oxygen is already partially removed from the compost during pressing and possible excess moisture is also at least partially removed, the compost can be stored for a long period, essentially without experiencing loss of quality, at least with less loss of quality than would result from rotting.
[0011] The compressed and optionally dehydrated compost is further packaged directly (i.e. in unpackaged state and without the compost being held together by external means for holding the compost together such as a rope, wire or cable). Compression of the compost and the presence of the straw in the compost has given the compost so much internal cohesion that the compressed compost block is able to stand independently, or falls apart less easily.
[0012] In an embodiment the device is embodied to have the pushing member push at least the front outer end of the compost block to a position in the packaging unit. No additional displacing means are thus necessary.
[0013] In a determined embodiment the pushing member is configured to displace the compost block in axial direction, wherein the lengths in axial direction of the pressing chamber and discharge mouth are such that when the front outer end of the compost block has left the discharge mouth and has already reached the packaging unit, the rear outer end is still being held in the discharge mouth. This means that when the front outer end of the compost block has reached the packaging unit or has even been arranged therein already, the rear part of the same compost block is still being held. This means that the compost block itself cannot fall apart.
[0014] In determined embodiments the compost block is still in the discharge mouth and optionally even still partially in the pressing chamber when the compost block has reached the packaging unit and this unit can start wrapping the (front outer end of the) compost block. In other words, the device can be embodied to start the wrapping of the compost block while the compost block is still being held in the discharge mouth. When the compost block is pushed further and the rear outer end of the compost block has optionally also been wholly removed from the pressing unit, the already wrapped front outer end ensures that the compost block is still unable to fall apart. The holding function of the discharge mouth is thus taken on by the packaging. Arranging of the above stated, optionally temporary means for holding the compost together such as rope, wire or cable and subsequent removal thereof can thus be dispensed with.
[0015] In an embodiment of the invention the discharge mouth has a dimension in a direction transversely of the axial direction which is equal to a corresponding dimension of the compost block. In other words, in this embodiment the width of the discharge mouth can correspond to the width of the compost block so that, when the outermost end of the block is still present in the discharge mouth and the front outer end has already been pushed out, the discharge mouth prevents the compost block from beginning to fall apart.
[0016] The compost is preferably supplied in bulk (so unpackaged, and not held together in any other way either). The compost supplied in bulk can for instance be received in a receiving funnel which emerges onto the pressing chamber.
[0017] The pressing unit preferably comprises a single press and a single pushing member. The latter stated device is also referred to as a two ram baler. It is important that the compost is sufficiently de-aerated and/or dehydrated by compressing it sufficiently and removing the air and/or the moisture from the pressing chamber. More generally, in a determined embodiment the pressing unit can be configured to displace a quantity of compost in a transverse direction transversely of the axial direction for the purpose of forming a compost block, and the pushing member can be configured to displace the compost block in axial direction toward the packaging unit. The pressing unit can further be configured to compress a quantity of compost supplied via the receiving unit two or more times for the purpose of forming two or more slabs of compost, wherein the slabs of compost together form a compost block. When the press pushes in each case in horizontal direction, two or more upright slabs of compressed compost are thus formed. These slabs are in turn also pushed together so as to form a single compost block. Such a compost block thus consists of a number of upright slabs of compost. These upright slabs of compost remain upright against each other for a short time, but after some time they tend to fall over. When this happens, they no longer form a neat block together. In order to prevent these slabs from falling over prematurely (i.e. before having been wholly or partially packaged) the discharge mouth is embodied and the packaging unit is positioned at a short distance from the pressing unit such that the discharge mouth holds the rear part of the slabs of compost and thereby prevents the compost block from falling apart due to one or more slabs falling over sideways.
[0018] Once the compost block has been packaged it can be discharged, for instance via a discharge conveyor, such as an endless conveyor belt arranged in line with the packaging unit.
[0019] In an embodiment of the invention the pressing unit is configured to reduce the volume of the compost to less than 80%, preferably to less than 60% or even to less than 50% of the original volume by the pressing.
[0020] In determined embodiments of the invention the unpackaged compost block is compressed such (i.e. the pressing pressure is so high) that the compost block retains its original shape, at least until the compost block has reached the packaging unit. In determined embodiments the compost block is compressed so tightly that it can remain upright independently on a ground surface (for instance the bottom of the pressing chamber, the transport surface and the like), without this requiring further auxiliary means. When the distance between the pressing unit and packaging unit is small and the speed of displacement of the compost from the pressing chamber to the packaging unit is high, the compost block will retain its original shape before and during packaging. In other embodiments the compost block may fall apart (for instance when one or more of the above stated slabs of compost fall over sideways), but the block is still held in its shape by the discharge mouth.
[0021] In a determined embodiment said distance between the pressing unit and the packaging unit is smaller than the dimensions in axial direction of the compost block, for instance less than 1 m, preferably less than 50 cm, but a wrapping machine connected directly to the pressing chamber is also possible. In these embodiments packaging of the compost block can be started substantially immediately after pressing.
[0022] In an embodiment the device also comprises a discharge conveyor for discharging a packaged compost block. The packaging unit is here arranged between the pressing unit and the discharge conveyor. The discharge conveyor is here preferably positioned such that the distance (a) in axial direction is smaller than the dimensions in axial direction of the compost block. In this way the compost block is always supported, by the (discharge mouth of the) pressing unit, the discharge conveyor or by both the pressing unit and the discharge conveyor.
[0023] In embodiments of the invention the pressing chamber has a substantially rectangular, for instance a square, cross-section. The pressing chamber and the associated one or more presses are more particularly embodied to give the compost block the shape of a beam, particularly the shape of a cube. Such beam-shaped compost blocks can be easily stacked and take up relatively little space in stacked state.
[0024] As stated above, the pressing unit can have one single press for compressing the compost and a separate pushing member for pushing out the compost block. In other embodiments the press and the pushing member are however combined. The press can here first compress the compost (for instance against an openable hatch in the pressing chamber) and then (when the hatch is open) push the compost out via the discharge mouth. A device provided with such a combination of press and pushing member is also referred to in the field as a single ram baler.
[0025] In other embodiments the pressing unit can comprise two presses, wherein the presses are preferably positioned at right angles relative to each other. As stated above, a device provided with two presses can also be referred to in the field as a two ram baler. In a particular embodiment of such a device the pressing unit can comprise a first press displaceable in a first direction and a second press displaceable in a second direction, transversely of the first direction, wherein the second press is embodied to displace the unpackaged, compressed and optionally dehydrated compost block to a position in the packaging unit. The first direction can here be the transverse direction, the second direction the axial direction. The second press here functions as transport means for arranging the compost block in the packaging unit.
[0026] The packaging unit comprises a wrapping machine. The wrapping machine is configured to wrap the unpackaged compost block with packaging material, particularly one or more strips of plastic film. The plastic film can for instance be made available on a roll, wherein the compost block is displaced relative to the roll, the roll is displaced relative to the compost block or wherein both the roll and the compost block are displaced. In this way a rapid and efficient sealing of the compost block relative to the outside world can be realized.
[0027] In a particularly advantageous embodiment the wrapping machine comprises:
- an annular track, at least one carrier displaceable along the annular track and a drive for displacing the at least one displaceable carrier along the annular track;
[0028] According to an embodiment, the moisture discharge can comprise one or more moisture discharge openings, preferably discharge openings in the bottom of the pressing chamber, so that the moisture from the compost can be discharged quickly.
[0029] According to another aspect of the invention, a method is provided for packaging straw-containing compost, particularly compost of horse manure with straw, the method comprising of:
- receiving unpackaged compost in a receiving unit;
- arranging a quantity of compost from the receiving unit in a pressing chamber of a pressing unit;
- compressing the unpackaged, moisture-containing compost in the pressing chamber for the purpose of forming a block of compressed compost, wherein the pressing pressure of the pressing unit is sufficiently high to press at least some of the air from the compost;
- pushing the block of compressed compost out of the pressing chamber;
- packaging the unpackaged, compressed compost block which has been pushed at least partially out of the pressing chamber in packaging material by wrapping the unpackaged compost block with packaging material, particularly with one or more strips of plastic film.
[0030] When the compost also contains moisture, the method comprises of compressing the quantity of unpackaged and moisture-containing compost in the pressing chamber such that, besides at least some of the air, at least some of the moisture is also pressed from the moisture-containing compost. The method can further comprise of discharging the released moisture via a moisture discharge.
[0031] In an embodiment the method comprises of starting the wrapping of a front outer end of the compost block while the rear outer end is still situated in the pressing unit. In this way the packaging can take over the role of holding the compost block from the pressing unit, and the compost block thus retains its shape. The method particularly comprises of holding the rear outer end of the compost block in the pressing unit, particularly in a discharge mouth thereof, while the front outer end of the compost block is already being wrapped.
[0032] In an embodiment the method comprises of displacing a quantity of compost in a transverse direction transversely of the axial direction for the purpose of forming a compost block and then displacing the compost block in the axial direction toward a packaging unit. In this way an efficient and compact compression and discharge of the compost is realized.
[0033] In determined embodiments the method comprises of compressing a quantity of compost supplied via the receiving unit two or more times for the purpose of forming two or more slabs of compost. The slabs here lie against each other and together form a compost block. When the compost block is not being held together, and after some time tends to fall apart, this falling apart will generally start with at least one of the two slabs situated on the sides tilting sideways. By now keeping hold of the slabs at their rear outer end (i.e. the outer end directed toward the pressing unit) the compost block will not have a tendency to fall apart, not even when the slabs are clear (i.e. are not being held) at their front outer end (i.e. the outer end directed toward the packaging unit).
[0034] The method preferably comprises of reducing the volume of the compost to less than 20% of the original volume by the pressing.
[0035] In embodiments of the invention the compost is compressed such that the compressed compost block retains its original shape, at least until the compost block has reached the packaging unit. In other embodiments the compost block is held until the packaging begins.
[0036] The method preferably comprises of compressing the moist compost in a block-shaped pressing chamber, removing the moisture from the compost and the pressing chamber and discharging the dehydrated compost block in axial direction via a discharge opening in the pressing chamber.
[0037] In embodiments of the invention the method comprises of packaging the dehydrated compost block within a time interval of 1 minute or within 5 minutes after pressing. By carrying out the packaging immediately, or at least very soon after pressing, the compost will still be in the compressed form. In this way the packaging can be facilitated.
[0038] In an embodiment of the invention the method comprises of displacing a press in a first direction for the purpose of compressing the compost into a compressed compost block and then displacing a pushing member in a second direction, transversely of the first direction, for the purpose of displacing the compressed and dehydrated compost block to a position in the packaging unit.
[0039] Packaging comprises of wrapping the unpackaged compost block with packaging material, particularly one or more strips of plastic film. The plastic film is preferably a stretch film. The stretch film (also referred to as stretch wrap) is used to wrap the compost block up tightly without this requiring additional auxiliary means. An example of stretch film is a film of LDPE plastic.
[0040] Further details, features and properties of the invention will be elucidated on the basis of the following description of several embodiments thereof. Reference is made in the description to the figures, in which:
Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the device according to the invention;
Figures 2-3, 5-7 show respective schematic views of a further embodiment of the invention in different stages of the compost processing process;
Figures 4A-4C show a number of cross-sections through the pressing chamber of the embodiment of the foregoing figures, which demonstrate how forming of a compost block is realized.
[0041] Referring to the figures, an embodiment is shown of a device 1 for packaging moisture-containing compost, such as horse manure, supplied in bulk (and thus unpackaged). Device 1 comprises a receiving unit 2 formed by a funnel-like channel for receiving (P1) the compost and carrying the supplied compost under the influence of the force of gravity (P2, figure 2) to a pressing chamber 10 of a pressing unit 3. Pressing unit 3 is configured to displace with hydraulic cylinders 16, 17 in two orthogonal directions (i.e. a transverse direction or cross direction P3 and an axial direction P4) a corresponding press 4 and pushing member 5. Pressing unit 3 is configured to compress a quantity of the unpackaged, moisture-containing compost received via receiving unit 2. Operation of the pressing unit and the packaging unit is controlled by a control unit 29, for instance a computer or microcontroller.
[0042] Press 4 (i.e. the flat pressing side thereof) firstly presses a first quantity of compost (M) supplied via receiving unit 2 against a flat side wall 11 so that the compost is compressed. During compression a large amount of moisture (v) can be released, which moisture can be discharged via openings 13 (figures 4A-4C) in the flat bottom 12 of pressing chamber 10. Also released is an amount of oxygen, which is for instance discharged via the upper side of pressing chamber 10 (Paf, figure 4B). Figures 2, 3, 4A and 4B clearly show that the first quantity of compost is compressed into a first slab 18 of compost material. Press 4 is then pulled back and a second quantity of compost is carried via receiving unit 2 into pressing chamber 10. Press 4 presses this quantity of (loose) compost material against the first layer or slab 18 of compost and forms a second slab 18' against first slab 18. This process can be repeated once (see figure 4C) or multiple times, until a compost block consisting of a number of vertical slabs of compost has been realized.
[0043] In determined embodiments press 4 can compress the compost such that the volume of the compost is reduced to less than 20% of the original volume. The remaining compost consists for the greater part of solid substances (faeces) mixed with straw. The compressed compost remains in the compressed block shape (in the case of a pressing chamber with a rectangular longitudinal and cross-section a beam shape or even a cube shape) and does not fall apart, not even when the compost is pushed away in axial direction (P4) by pushing member 5, as is shown schematically in figure 5. Pushing member 5 then presses further against the compressed compost block (b) so that it is displaced in axial direction (direction P4) over the bottom of a discharge mouth 22 connected to the axial discharge opening in the wall of pressing chamber 10, toward a packaging unit 6. In packaging unit 6 the compost block (b) is wrapped with strips of plastic film and then discharged (direction P5) via a discharge conveyor 7 (for instance a discharge conveyor of the endless belt type).
[0044] Referring to figures 5 and 6, the distance (a) in axial direction between the free outer end of (discharge mouth 22 of) pressing chamber 10 and the start of discharge conveyor 7 is smaller than the dimensions in axial direction of the compost block (b) so that the compost block always remains supported. There is however an intermediate space between the free outer end of (discharge mouth 22 of) pressing chamber 10 and packaging unit 6 in order to provide the option of also arranging the packaging on the underside of the compost block. More particularly, it must also be possible to wrap the strip of plastic film around the compost block from below.
[0045] Figure 5 shows the situation when the compost block (b) (consisting of several slabs 18, 18', 18", .. of compost) has already been pushed slightly beyond the outer end of the discharge mouth 22 of pressing chamber 10. In this situation the front (free) outer end 20 of the compost block (b) is already situated outside the pressing unit, but the opposite, rear outer end 21 is still situated inside the pressing unit. More particularly, slabs 18, 18', etc. of the compost block (b) are held by the side walls 23, 23' of discharge mouth 22 in the sense that they are not able to collapse sideways. The compost block thus remains intact hereby, despite the fact that front outer end 20 is no longer being supported. Figure 5 shows that the outer end 20 of the compost block can already be partially or wholly wrapped with (packaging) film 25 while this is not yet the case for the rest of the compost block.
[0046] In the shown embodiment arranging of packaging material takes place by wrapping film 25 in effect around the compost block in all directions. The compost block is firstly wrapped in vertical direction. Packaging unit 6 comprises for this purpose an annular track 30, one or more carriers 31 displaceable along annular track 30 (in the shown embodiment two carriers, although this number can also be greater or smaller), and a drive (not shown) for displacing the one or more carriers 31 along the annular track. Arranged on each of the carriers is a packaging material dispensing unit 26, extending rearward in axial direction, for dispensing one or more strips of plastic film 25 during displacement of the relevant carrier 31 along the annular track. In the shown embodiment dispensing unit 26 comprises a film roll onto which film has been wound beforehand. By having the carrier(s) 31 rotate (figure 5, rotation direction R, rotation around an imaginary, axially extending axis in the centre of annular track 30), dispensing units 26 rotate around the compost block in a manner such that the film is wrapped around the compost block (more particularly, wrapped around the compost block in vertical direction, as seen from the side).
[0047] While pushing member 5 then pushes the compost block further, it will also be possible for the middle portion of the compost block (i.e. the portion between front outer end 20 and rear outer end 21) and eventually also the rear outer end 21 of the compost block (b) to be wrapped, as shown in figures 6 and 7. In the situation shown in figure 7 the compost block has been wrapped and can be discharged as desired. Finally, pushing member 5 is pulled back again (direction P6, figure 7) until it is once again in the starting position and a subsequent compost block can be made and packaged.
[0048] In the shown embodiment discharge conveyor 7 is disposed fixedly on a ground surface and dispensing units 26 extend between annular track 30 and discharge mouth 22. In another embodiment, which is not shown, the dispensing units extend on the other side of annular track 30. In this embodiment they thus point forward in axial direction. As long as the discharge conveyor and the pressing unit are placed close enough together (i.e. when distance (a) is small enough), the compost block can be wrapped in the same manner in this embodiment. In yet another embodiment, which is not shown, discharge conveyor 7 is however disposed rotatably relative to the ground surface. In this embodiment the discharge conveyor can be rotated around an
[0049] (imaginary) vertical axis by controlling one or more drive motors (not shown). The (imaginary) vertical axis preferably extends at a position where the middle of the compost block (b) is also situated after being wrapped with plastic film vertically in the manner described above. By then rotating the discharge conveyor, the compost block will essentially rotate around its own axis, and the film will now be wrapped around the compost block in horizontal direction. This horizontal wrapping provides for an especially good sealing of the compost block relative to the outside world.
[0050] In the shown construction it is possible immediately after pressing of the compost block to proceed with packaging thereof, without additional operations, such as arranging a wire or rope around the compost block in order to prevent falling apart thereof, being necessary.
[0051] The material of the film stated herein can consist of a strip of plastic material wound onto a rotatable roll, which roll is arranged rotatably on the carrier. The film can for instance consist of a foil or silage film, but can also consist of a net wrapping.
[0052] Device 1 is suitable for manufacturing a package compost block, preferably a beam-shaped or cube-shaped compost block, with a relatively great mass. This is because the compost block need not be lifted during wrapping. The mass of the compost blocks can for instance be as much as 200 kg or more, for instance between 300 kg and 4000 kg.
[0053] According to an embodiment of the invention, a device according to one or more of the following clauses is provided.
Clause 1: Device for packaging straw-containing compost, particularly compost of horse manure with straw, the device comprising:
- a receiving unit for receiving unpackaged compost;
- at least one pressing unit, comprising:
- a pressing chamber connected to the receiving unit, wherein the pressing chamber also comprises a discharge mouth;
- a press displaceable in the pressing chamber for compressing a quantity of unpackaged compost in the pressing chamber for the purpose of forming a block of compressed compost, wherein the pressing pressure of the press is sufficiently high to press at least some of the air from the compost;
- a pushing member displaceable in the pressing chamber for pushing the block of compressed compost via the discharge mouth out of the pressing chamber;
- a packaging unit for packaging the unpackaged, compressed compost block which has been pushed at least partially via the discharge mouth out of the pressing chamber in packaging material,
Clause 2: Device according to clause 1, wherein the compost also contains moisture, wherein the pressing unit is configured to compress the quantity of unpackaged and moisture-containing compost in the pressing chamber such that, besides at least some of the air, at least some of the moisture is also pressed from the moisture-containing compost, and wherein the device comprises a moisture discharge for discharging the moisture pressed from the moisture-containing compost.
Clause 3: Device according to clause 1 or 2, wherein the pushing member is configured to displace the compost block in axial direction and wherein the lengths in axial direction of the pressing chamber and discharge mouth are such that when the front outer end of the compost block has left the discharge mouth and has already reached the packaging unit, the rear outer end is still being held in the discharge mouth.
Clause 4: Device according to clause 3, wherein the packaging unit is configured to start the wrapping of the compost block while the compost block is still being held in the discharge mouth.
Clause 5: Device according to any one of the foregoing clauses, wherein the discharge mouth has a dimension in a direction transversely of the axial direction which is equal to a corresponding dimension of the compost block.
Clause 6: Device according to any one of the foregoing clauses, wherein the packaging unit is configured to package the unpackaged compost block substantially airtightly.
Clause 7: Device according to any one of the foregoing clauses, wherein the pressing unit is configured to reduce the volume of the compost to less than 80%, preferably to less than 60% or even to less than 50% of the original volume by the pressing.
Clause 8: Device according to any one of the foregoing clauses, wherein the compressed, unpackaged compost block is compressed such that the compost block retains its original shape, at least until the compost block has reached the packaging unit.
Clause 9: Device according to any one of the foregoing clauses, comprising a discharge conveyor for discharging a packaged compost block, wherein the discharge conveyor is positioned at a short distance (a) relative to the free outer end of the discharge mouth in axial direction, wherein the short distance is preferably smaller than the dimensions in axial direction of the compost block.
Clause 10: Device according to any one of the foregoing clauses, wherein the pressing chamber has a substantially rectangular cross-section for the purpose of forming a beam-shaped compost block, particularly a cube-shaped compost block.
Clause 11: Device according to any one of the foregoing clauses, wherein the wrapping machine comprises:
- an annular track, at least one carrier displaceable along the annular track and a drive for displacing the at least one displaceable carrier along the annular track;
Clause 12: Device according to any one of the foregoing clauses, wherein the moisture discharge comprises one or more moisture discharge openings.
Clause 13: Device according to any one of the foregoing clauses, wherein the device is embodied to manufacture a packaged compost block with a mass of between 300 and 4000 kg.
Clause 14: Device according to any one of the foregoing clauses, wherein the device is configured to package compost supplied in bulk.
Clause 15: Use of a device according to any one of the foregoing clauses.
According to embodiments of the invention, a method according to one or more of the
following clauses is provided.
Clause 16: Method for packaging straw-containing compost, particularly compost of horse manure with straw, the method comprising of:
- receiving unpackaged compost in a receiving unit;
- arranging a quantity of compost from the receiving unit in a pressing chamber of a pressing unit;
- compressing the unpackaged, moisture-containing compost in the pressing chamber for the purpose of forming a block of compressed compost, wherein the pressing pressure of the pressing unit is sufficiently high to press at least some of the air from the compost;
- pushing the block of compressed compost out of the pressing chamber;
- packaging the unpackaged, compressed compost block which has been pushed at least partially out of the pressing chamber in packaging material by wrapping the unpackaged compost block with packaging material, particularly with one or more strips of plastic film.
Clause 17: Method according to clause 16, comprising of compressing the quantity of unpackaged and moisture-containing compost in the pressing chamber such that, besides at least some of the air, at least some of the moisture is also pressed from the moisture-containing compost, the method also comprising of discharging the released moisture via a moisture discharge.
Clause 18: Method according to clause 16 or 17, comprising of starting the wrapping of a front outer end of the compost block while the rear outer end is still situated in the pressing unit.
Clause 19: Method according to any one of the clauses 16-18, comprising of holding the rear outer end of the compost block in the pressing unit, particularly in a discharge mouth thereof, while the front outer end of the compost block is already being wrapped.
Clause 20: Method according to any one of the clauses 16-19, comprising of displacing a quantity of compost in a transverse direction transversely of the axial direction for the purpose of forming a compost block and then displacing the compost block in the axial direction toward a packaging unit.
Clause 21: Method according to any one of the clauses 16-20, comprising of compressing a quantity of compost supplied via the receiving unit two or more times for the purpose of forming two or more slabs of compost, wherein the slabs of compost together form a compost block.
Clause 22: Method according to any one of the clauses 16-21, comprising of reducing the volume of the compost to less than 80%, preferably to less than 60% or even to less than 50% of the original volume by the pressing.
Clause 23: Method according to any one of the clauses 16-22, comprising of compressing the compost such that the compressed compost block retains its original shape, at least until the compost block has reached the packaging unit.
Clause 24: Method according to any one of the clauses 16-23, comprising of compressing the moist compost in a block-shaped pressing chamber, removing the moisture from the compost and the pressing chamber and discharging the dehydrated compost block in axial direction via a discharge mouth in the pressing chamber.
Clause 25: Method according to any one of the clauses 16-24, comprising of packaging the dehydrated compost block within a time interval of 1-5 minutes after pressing.
Clause 26: Method according to any one of the clauses 16-25, comprising of displacing a press in a first direction for the purpose of compressing the compost into a compressed compost block and then displacing a pushing member in a second direction, transversely of the first direction, for the purpose of displacing the compressed and dehydrated compost block to a position in the packaging unit.
Clause 27: Method according to any one of the clauses 16-26, wherein a device according to any one of the clauses 1-14 is applied.
Clause 28: Device or method according to any one of the foregoing clauses, wherein the plastic film is stretch film.
- receiving unpackaged compost in a receiving unit;
- arranging a quantity of compost from the receiving unit in a pressing chamber of a pressing unit;
- compressing the unpackaged, moisture-containing compost in the pressing chamber for the purpose of forming a block of compressed compost, wherein the pressing pressure of the pressing unit is sufficiently high to press at least some of the air from the compost;
- pushing the block of compressed compost out of the pressing chamber;
- packaging the unpackaged, compressed compost block which has been pushed at least partially out of the pressing chamber in packaging material by wrapping the unpackaged compost block with packaging material, particularly with one or more strips of plastic film;
wherein the method also comprises of compressing a quantity of compost supplied via the receiving unit two or more times for the purpose of forming two or more slabs of compost, wherein the slabs of compost together form a compost block.- a receiving unit for receiving unpackaged compost;
- at least one pressing unit, comprising:
- a pressing chamber connected to the receiving unit, wherein the pressing chamber also comprises a discharge mouth;
- a press displaceable in the pressing chamber for compressing a quantity of unpackaged compost in the pressing chamber for the purpose of forming a block of compressed compost, wherein the pressing pressure of the press is sufficiently high to press at least some of the air from the compost; and
- a pushing member displaceable in the pressing chamber for pushing the block of compressed compost via the discharge mouth out of the pressing chamber;
- a packaging unit for packaging the unpackaged, compressed compost block which has been pushed at least partially via the discharge mouth out of the pressing chamber in packaging material, wherein the packaging unit comprises a wrapping machine configured to wrap the unpackaged compost block with packaging material, particularly one or more strips of plastic film,
wherein the pressing unit is configured to compress a quantity of compost supplied via the receiving unit two or more times for the purpose of forming two or more slabs of compost, wherein the slabs of compost together form a compost block and wherein the pressing unit is further configured to push the compost block consisting of slabs of compost via the discharge mouth out of the pressing chamber.- an annular track, at least one carrier displaceable along the annular track and a drive for displacing the at least one displaceable carrier along the annular track;
wherein a packaging material dispensing unit is arranged on each carrier for the purpose of dispensing one or more strips of plastic film during the displacement of the at least one carrier along the annular track.