Device for pressing and tying bales of recyclable material and method for tying bales of recyclable material with such a device

Abstract

A device (1) for pressing and tying bales of recyclable material (2) with tying means (3) is presented, comprising a pressing channel (4) and a pressing piston (5) mounted translationally in the pressing channel (4) for pressing the recyclable material bales, which for tying the pressed recyclable material bales (2) has on its bale-side end face for guiding each vertically movable tying tool (6) transporting each tying means (3), wherein each tying means (3) is guided below the pressing channel (4) around at least one deflecting means (7) and over the guide contour (8) of each guide element (9).The solution according to the invention consists in the device (1) having at least one pivot arm (11) rotatably mounted along a linear guide or about a rotational axis (10), which in normal operation of the device (1) is in a guide position in which the lacing elements (3) supplied by a tube (12) or a slot are guided sliding along the at least one deflection element (7) associated with the guide contour (8) of the guide element (9) and over the guide contour (8) of the guide element (9), wherein each pivot arm (11) has a gripping device (13) on the lacing element side for the automated fixing of a free end of a torn lacing element (3). Furthermore, a method for tying up bales of recyclable material (2) with such a device is described.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for pressing and tying bales of recyclable material and a method for tying bales of recyclable material with such a device.

[0002] A device for compressing and tying bales of recyclable material with binding agents is already known from EP 1 254 840 B1, comprising a compression channel and a compression piston mounted for translational movement within the compression channel. The materials to be processed can vary considerably. For example, the bales of recyclable material can consist of waste materials, waste paper, but also of metals or mixed materials, which are compacted within the compression channel under the high compression pressure of the compression piston. For tying the compressed bales of recyclable material, the compression piston has a channel on its bale-side end face for guiding a tying tool, which transports a binding agent and is movable vertically, or in some embodiments also or additionally horizontally.These channels in the press piston align with wall openings in the press channel, through which the tying tool can be guided in a defined pressing position of the press piston to create ties around the bale of recyclable material held in the pressing position by the press piston. Thus, the ties can be closed with a ties loop guided behind the bale of recyclable material through the press piston. The ties, usually supplied from a roll, are guided over at least one deflection element. In the known design, rotatably mounted rollers are used as deflection elements. Such a solution is also described in JP H06-179418 A, DE 10 2016 121 981 A1, and DE 20 2006 015 617 U1.

[0003] For guiding the lacing elements, it is known, for example, from EP 3 333 089 B1, to guide the lacing elements through grooves, while DE 25 40 452 A1 provides for guidance in grooves. Rollers are currently used as deflection devices. An example of such a solution is shown in DE 10 2020 121 898 A1.

[0004] The individual components of such devices, as well as the lacing material used, are subject to considerable stress caused by impurities and the significant pressures exerted during the processing of recyclables into bales. In practice, it is therefore frequently observed that individual strands of lacing material break, preventing the recyclables from being properly wrapped. EP 1 683 408 B1 describes a solution for detecting such lacing material breaks, whereby tension is applied to the lacing material by means of a weight package attached to the lacing material and a thread brake. A proximity sensor, referred to in the publication as a "breakage sensor," detects a lacing material break by registering the falling weight package.However, if the lacing element breaks, the machine must always be stopped, halting the processing cycle so the defective element can be manually replaced. This task is not only unpleasant and time-consuming for the operator, but also poses a significant risk of injury, as the lacing elements are guided inside or below the machine bed.

[0005] The invention is based on the objective of replacing a torn-off tying element in a device for pressing and tying bales of recyclable materials as automatically as possible. Furthermore, a method for replacing the tying element with such a device is to be specified.

[0006] The invention solves this problem with the features of independent claims 1 and 12. Further embodiments of the invention are the subject of the respective dependent claims.

[0007] A device for pressing and tying bales of recyclable material with ties, wherein the device for pressing the bales of recyclable material comprises a pressing channel and a pressing piston mounted translationally movable in the pressing channel, which, for tying the pressed bales of recyclable material, has on its bale-side end face for guiding each vertically movable tying tool, each carrying a tying element, a channel designed for this purpose, wherein each tying element is guided below the pressing channel around at least one deflecting element and over the guide contour of each guide element, has been further developed according to the invention in such a way that the device has at least one pivot arm rotatably mounted along a linear guide or about an axis of rotation, which, in normal operation of the device, is in a guide position in which the ties supplied by each tube or slot are guided on the at least one,The deflecting means associated with the guide contour of the guide element and are guided sliding along the surface of the associated guide element, each pivot arm having a gripping device on the lacing center side for the automated fixing of a free end of a torn lacing element.

[0008] The special feature of the invention lies in the fact that, when a tie breaks, each of the existing gripping devices automatically grasps the replacement tie supplied via the tube or slot and moves it into a position that allows the tying of the material bales to continue. Interruptions to the continuous production of the material bales can thus be minimized, since the end of the tie following the broken tie is immediately grasped by the gripping device and is therefore available for further processing. The entire process is thus largely automated and therefore eliminates the need for a time-consuming and labor-intensive manual replacement of the broken tie.

[0009] According to a first embodiment of the invention, it is proposed that several synchronously moving pivot arms form a pivoting unit that can be pivoted along the linear guide or about a common axis. In other words, not just a single pivot arm is moved, but all pivot arms move simultaneously if one of the existing binding elements breaks. The pivot arms are preferably mounted to rotate about a common axis of rotation. By forming a pivoting unit, the control of the entire device can be simplified because each of the pivot arms does not need to be controlled separately. This also results in a reduced effort for the required mechanics and hydraulics, thus providing a significant improvement over known devices for pressing and tying bales of recyclable materials.

[0010] According to a highly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the gripping device of each swivel arm has a clamping jaw pivotably mounted about an axis. The clamping surface of this jaw is pressurized against the underside of the guide element, which forms a pressure surface and is opposite the guide contour for guiding the lacing element, by activating the gripping device by means of an extendable piston of a piston-cylinder unit or an electromagnet. Consequently, the gripping device of each swivel arm consists of a piston-cylinder unit, the clamping jaw with its clamping surface, and the guide element with the pressure surface corresponding to the clamping surface, which is formed on the underside of the guide element. The gripping device thus forms a type of pliers contour capable of grasping and fixing a free end of a lacing element.

[0011] It is of particular importance that, if a lacing element breaks, the pivoting unit is moved from its original guide position to a clamping position. In this position, the pivoting arms assume a position in which the intact lacing elements continue to be guided under preload over the surface of the guide elements, and the lacing element fed via the tube or slot is clamped between the pressure surface on the underside of the guide element and the clamping surface of the clamping jaw. In this way, the normal operation of the unbroken lacing elements can continue or be maintained, while the newly fed lacing element is gripped by the gripping device and secured by clamping.

[0012] Following the previously described fixing of the replacement lacing material, the end of the newly fed lacing material, secured by the gripping device, is moved from the clamping position back to the guide position by means of the swivel arm and initially held in the guide position. In this state, the lacing material spans a gap, enabling the lacing tool to grasp the lacing material and feed it to a knotting or twisting device, where it is knotted or twisted, allowing the device to resume normal operation immediately afterward.

[0013] For the design of the gripping device, it is of particular importance that the underside of the guide element has a pressure surface complementary to the clamping surface of the clamping jaw. This results in a positive fit between the pressure surface on the underside of the guide element and the clamping surface of the clamping jaw, which secures the lacing material. This positive fit allows the lacing material to be optimally and reliably fixed.

[0014] Devices according to the invention for pressing and wrapping bales of recyclable materials are used, as already explained, for example, for the production of recyclable material bales from waste. This can result in significant contamination in the area of ​​the pressing channel and below the machine bed due to falling remnants of the recyclable materials or escaping moisture. Therefore, a highly advantageous embodiment of the invention is that the pivot arms are protected from contamination by a protective plate. The protective plate can, in a particularly preferred manner, be designed as a single piece and thus protect the entire pivoting unit. Naturally, it is also in line with the invention that each individual pivot arm is protected from contamination by its own protective plate.

[0015] To facilitate the feeding of the lacing material that replaces the torn lacing material, it is advantageous to have a guide device for feeding the lacing material at the outlet of the tube or slot supplying it. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the guide device should taper conically towards the pivot arms, or more generally, have a tapered profile. This allows the supplied lacing material to be guided precisely into the area of ​​the gripping device, which significantly reduces the time required for lacing material replacement and facilitates the gripping device's handling of the lacing material.

[0016] The inventive method for tying bales of recyclable material with a previously described device is characterized in that, in the event of a tear-off of at least one tying element, the pivot arms of the pivoting unit, which are in a guide position during normal operation of the device, are synchronously moved from the guide position to the clamping position, in which the undamaged tying elements continue to be guided over the surface of the guide element under pretension, while the replacement tying element is grasped and clamped in the clamping position by activation of the gripping device between the pressure surface on the underside of the guide element and the clamping surface of the clamping jaw, and a subsequent return movement of the pivoting unit to the guide position spans a free space for this tying element.so that the lacing tool, through a vertical lifting motion, grasps the replaced lacing material and directs it to a knot or twist.

[0017] The inventive method allows a broken tie to be replaced easily and almost completely automatically with only a minor interruption or even during operation of the device. This results in a significant reduction in downtime and prevents defective bales of recyclable material. Complex sensors or mechanical components are not required. The inventive method makes the device for pressing and tying recyclable material bales very simple and therefore also cost-effective.

[0018] By capturing the newly supplied lacing material as a replacement for the torn-off lacing material, a residue is created which, according to a further development measure of the process, is cut off after the knotting or twisting, so that the normal operation of the device can then be continued.

[0019] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The illustrated embodiment does not represent a limitation to the depicted variant, but merely serves to illustrate a principle of the invention.

[0020] Identical or similar components are always designated with the same reference numerals. To illustrate the functionality according to the invention, the figures show only highly simplified schematic representations, omitting components that are not essential to the invention. However, this does not mean that such components are not present in a solution according to the invention.

[0021] It shows: Fig. 1: A schematic diagram of a device for pressing and tying bales of recyclable material, Fig. 2: a view of the underside of the machine bed of a device according to the illustration in the direction of arrow II in Fig. 1, Fig. 3: the guidance of an intact lacing device in normal operation of the device without a torn lacing device, Fig. 4: the guidance of an intact lacing device, while an unspecified lacing device has torn off, Fig. 5: the position of a swivel arm in the case of a torn lacing device with an open gripping device, Fig. 6: the position of a swivel arm in the event of a torn lacing device with the gripping device closed, Fig. 7: Returning the swivel arm to the guide position, Fig. 8: the space spanned by the lacing device with the lacing tool lowered, Fig. 9: the movement of the lacing tool to knot or twist the laces and Fig. 10: the release of the lacing agent by the gripping device for further processing of the bales of recyclable material.

[0022] First, the Fig. Figure 1 is a general schematic representation of a known device 1 for pressing and tying bales of recyclable material 2 with a tying device 3, in which the special feature of the invention is not apparent in detail. Such devices 1 have a pressing channel 4 in which a pressing piston 5 is movably guided in the longitudinal direction, i.e., translationally. The pressing piston 5 is driven by a suitable hydraulic device and generates a pressing pressure that compacts the recyclable material supplied to the pressing channel 4 via the filling chute 23 and moves it in the direction of arrow A. The entire device 1 has a machine bed 25 which is supported on the ground by a suitable support structure.For tying the compressed bales of recyclable material 2, the press piston 5 has a channel on its bale-side end face for guiding each vertically movable tying tool 6, each of which carries a tying element 3. Each tying element 3 is guided below the press channel 4 around at least one deflection element 7 and over the guide contour 8 of a guide element 9. The tying element 3, supplied from a supply roll 24, is gripped by a barb 26 on the tying tool 6 and is guided by a vertical movement in the direction of arrow B to form a knot or twist.

[0023] Based on the one in the Fig. The basic structure of a device 1 for pressing and tying bales of recyclable material 2, as is known per se, as illustrated in Figure 1, allows the Fig. 2 a look in the direction of arrow II from Fig. 1 on the underside of the machine bed 25 of a device 1 according to the invention. A special feature is already apparent here, which in this case consists in the fact that several coaxially arranged pivot arms 11, i.e., arranged on a common axis of rotation 10, are rotatably and pivotably mounted about the axis of rotation 10 by a common hydraulic unit 27 with a piston 28. The piston 28 of the hydraulic unit 27 is moved back and forth in the direction of the double arrow C to move the pivot arms 11. To protect the bearings and the hydraulic unit 27, the pivoting unit formed by the pivot arms 11 has a protective plate 20.

[0024] From the Fig. Figure 3 illustrates the normal operation of the device 1 by showing the guidance of an intact lacing device 3, i.e., without a torn lacing device 3. One of the existing pivot arms 11 of the pivoting unit is shown in a side view. The special feature according to the invention is that the pivot arm 11, which is rotatably mounted about the axis of rotation 10, has a gripping device 13. This gripping device consists of a piston-cylinder unit 18 with an extendable piston 17 that engages a clamping jaw 15 and moves it about an axis 14. The clamping jaw 15 is thus pivoted about the axis 14 by the extension or retraction of the piston 17 of the piston-cylinder unit 18. The clamping jaw 15 also has a clamping surface 16.Opposite the clamping surface 16 of the clamping jaw 15, a guide element 9 is provided on the swivel arm 11, the upper side of which forms a guide contour 8 along which the lacing element 3 is guided. In the in . Fig. In the guide position of the pivot arm 11 shown in Figure 3, the lacing element 3 consequently slides along the guide contour 8 and is additionally guided past at least one deflection element 7, whereby several deflection elements 7 may preferably be used here, for example to achieve tension on the lacing element 3. Furthermore, the guide contour 8 of the guide element 9 lies in the position shown in Figure 3. Fig. The guide position of the swivel arm 11, as shown in Figure 3, is connected to a corresponding abutment 29 of the device 1 with a predominant part of the guide contour 8. The abutment 29 is a fixed component of the device 1. On the underside of the guide element 9, opposite the guide contour 8, a pressure surface 19 is formed, which has a geometry complementary to the corresponding clamping surface 16 of the clamping jaw 15. Thus, a positive fit is established between the clamping surface 16 of the clamping jaw 15 and the corresponding pressure surface 19 of the guide element 9, allowing the elements of the gripping device 13 to interlock. In this embodiment, the lacing material 3, supplied from a supply roll 24, is... Fig. 3 is supplied via a tube 12. If the lacing device 3 breaks, it is necessary to supply a replacement lacing device 3 via the tube 12, which is why it is a considerable advantage to provide a guide device 21 in the transition area between the end of the tube 12 and the first deflecting device 7, the conical or tapered shape of which guides the lacing device 3 directly onto the surface of the deflecting device 7.

[0025] In the Fig. Figure 4 again shows the guidance of an intact lacing device 3, the special feature here being that another lacing device 3, not shown, has already broken off. This illustration serves only to clarify the construction of the device 1, since the remaining lacing devices 3, in the case of a single broken lacing device 3, are under a preload of the pivot arm 11, which, as can be seen from the Fig. As shown in Figure 4, the pivot arm 11 has been pivoted from its guide position in the direction of arrow D into a clamping position in order to exert the aforementioned pretension on the intact lacing elements 3. The gripping device 13 is open, i.e., not activated, in this clamping position of the pivot arm 11 and with the intact lacing element 3.

[0026] From the depictions of Fig. Figures 5-10 show how the gripping device 13 according to the invention functions when a lacing element 3 has torn off. Thus, the Fig. 5 initially, the swivel arm 11 is still in the clamping position described previously. However, the illustration in Fig. 5 around the swivel arm 11, where the lacing element 3 has broken off. A replacement lacing element 3 is supplied via the tube 12, the free end of which has already been inserted in a first step via the guide device 21 and the deflection element 7 into the space of the gripping device 13, i.e., between the clamping jaw 15 and the pressure surface 19 of the guide element 9. The gripping device 13 is still open in this state, meaning that there is a gap between the clamping jaw 15 and the associated guide element 9.

[0027] A further step in replacing the torn lacing element 3 is shown in the illustration of the Fig. 6 illustrates. Fig. Figure 6 shows the clamping position of a pivoting arm 11 with a torn lacing element 3 and a closed gripping device 13. This means that the gripping device 13 was activated in this step, and thus the piston 17 of the piston-cylinder unit 18 was moved in the direction of arrow E, i.e., extended, so that the clamping jaw 15 of the gripping device 13 was pivoted about the axis 14 in the direction of arrow F. As a result, the clamping surface 16 of the clamping jaw 15 comes into contact with the corresponding pressure surface 19 of the guide element 9, whereby the supplied end of the lacing element 3 is clamped and thus fixed between the pressure surface 19 and the clamping surface 16.

[0028] As in the next step from the Fig. As can be seen in Figure 7, the swivel arm 11 is then returned to its guide position, whereby this movement of the swivel arm 11 in the direction of arrow G carries along the end of the lacing device 3 clamped in the gripping device 13, so that it spans a free space 22 between the deflecting device 7 and the guide position now assumed by the swivel arm 11.

[0029] In a subsequent step, which takes place in the Fig. As shown in Figure 8, a lacing tool 6, which is a so-called lacing needle, is moved vertically downwards in the direction of arrow H, so that the barb 26 on the lacing tool 6 is located below the lacing device 3, while the gripping device 13 still fixes the free end of the lacing device 3 in the guide position of the swivel arm 11.

[0030] As can be clearly seen from the presentation of the Fig. As shown in Figure 9, the lacing tool 6 is then moved vertically upwards in the direction of arrow J, so that the lacing element 3 is taken along in a loop by means of the barb 26 on the lacing tool 6 and is thus fed to a suitable knotting or twisting device for knotting or twisting the lacing element 3, which is located in the Fig. However, number 9 is not shown, as it is already known.

[0031] Finally, the Fig.10. The release of the tying element 3 by the gripping device 13 for further processing of the recyclable material bales 2 and for continuing the process of tying the recyclable material bales 2. Prior to this, the piston 17 of the piston-cylinder unit 18 was moved in the direction of arrow K, so that the clamping jaw 15 of the gripping device 13 was pivoted about the axis 14 in the direction of arrow L, which leads to the release of the gripping device 13 and thus to the release of the end of the tying element 3. The remaining piece of the tying element 3 is then cut off and disposed of. REFERENCE MARK LIST: 1 Device for pressing and tying bales of recyclable material 2 bales of recyclable material 3 lacing devices 4 Press channel 5 piston presses 6 lacing tools 7 Deflection devices 8 Leadership contour 9 Guide element 10 Rotation axis 11 Swivel arm 12 Pipe or slot 13 Gripping device 14 axle 15 clamping jaws 16 clamping surface 17 pistons 18 piston-cylinder unit 19 pressure surface 20 mudguard 21 Control device 22 Free space 23 Filling shaft 24 storage rolls 25 machine bed 26 barbs 27 Hydraulic unit 28 pistons 29 abutments

Claims

[1] Device (1) for pressing and tying bales of recyclable material (2) with tying means (3), wherein the device (1) for pressing the bales of recyclable material comprises a pressing channel (4) and a pressing piston (5) mounted so as to be translationally movable in the pressing channel (4), which pressing piston has a channel designed for this purpose on its bale-side end face for guiding a vertically movable tying tool (6) each transporting a tying means (3), wherein each tying means (3) is guided below the pressing channel (4) around at least one deflection means (7) and over the guide contour (8) of a guide element (9), characterized byin that the device (1) has at least one pivoting arm (11) which is movable along a linear guide or mounted so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis (10), which, during normal operation of the device (1), is in a guide position in which the lacing means (3) supplied through a respective tube (12) or a slot are guided in a sliding manner along the at least one deflection means (7) assigned to the guide contour (8) of the guide element (9) and over the guide contour (8) of the guide element (9), each pivoting arm (11) having a gripping device (13) on the lacing means side for the automated fixing of a free end of a torn-off lacing means (3). [2] Device according to claim 1, characterized by that several synchronously moved swivel arms (11) form a swivel unit which can be swiveled along the linear guide or about a common axis (10). [3] Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the gripping device (13) of each pivoting arm (11) has a clamping jaw (15) which is pivotably mounted about an axis (14), the clamping surface (16) of which, by activation of the gripping device (13) by means of an extendable piston (17) of a piston-cylinder unit (18) or an electromagnet, bears under pressure on the underside of the guide element (9) which is opposite the guide contour (8) for guiding the lacing means (3) and forms a pressure surface (19). [4] Device according to claim 3, characterized bythat when a lacing means (3) breaks off, the pivoting unit is transferred from the guide position into a clamping position in which the pivoting arms (11) assume a position in which the intact lacing means (3) are guided under pre-tension over the guide contour (8) of the guide elements (9) and the tracked replacement lacing means (13) is clamped between the pressure surface (19) on the underside of the guide element (9) and the clamping surface (16) of the clamping jaw (15). [5] Device according to claim 4, characterized by that the end of the lacing means (3) fed via the tube (12) or the slot, which end is fixed by the gripping device (13), is transferred from the tensioning position back into the guide position by means of the pivoting arm (11) and can be grasped in the guide position by means of the lacing tool (6). [6] Device according to claim 5, characterized bythat the end of the lacing means (3) gripped by the lacing tool (6) can be twisted or knotted by a twisting or knotting device. [7] Device according to one of claims 3 to 6, characterized by that the pressure surface (19) on the underside of the guide element (9) has a contour complementary to the clamping surface (16) of the clamping jaw (15). [8] Device according to one of claims 3 to 7, characterized by that between the pressure surface (19) on the underside of the guide element (9) and the clamping surface (16) of the clamping jaw (15) there is a positive connection which receives the lacing means (3). [9] Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the swivel arms (11) are protected from contamination by a protective plate (20). [10] Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat at the outlet of the tube (12) or slot feeding the lacing means (3), a guide device (21) for feeding the lacing means (3) for renewing the torn-off lacing means (3) is arranged between the clamping jaw (15) and the guide element (9). [11] Device according to claim 10, characterized by that the guide device (21) has a conical or tapering course in the direction of the pivot arms (11). [12] Method for tying bales of valuable materials (2) with a device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that -the swivel arms (11) of the swivel unit, which are in a guide position during normal operation of the device (1), are synchronously transferred from the guide position to the clamping position in the event of a breakage of at least one lacing means (3), in which position the undamaged lacing means (3) continue to be guided under pretension over the guide contour (8) of the guide elements (9), while the tracked replacement lacing means (3) is grasped and clamped in the clamping position by activation of the gripping device (13) between the pressure surface (19) on the underside of the guide element (9) and the clamping surface (16) of the clamping jaw (15), -by a subsequent return movement of the pivoting unit into the guide position, the lacing means (3) spans a free space (22) so that the lacing tool (6) grasps the replaced lacing means (3) by a vertical lifting movement and supplies it to a knotting or twisting process. [13] Method according to claim 12, characterized by that following the knotting or twisting, the protruding remainder of the lacing means (3) is cut off and the normal operation of the device (1) is continued.

Images