Abstract: The present invention provides improved throughput in cotton baling machines by utilizing an electronically actuated apparatus for reliably, efficiently and precisely moving a chute frame into and out of position adjacent to a compressed cotton bale. Embodiments of the invention may include an electronic actuator that may be operated using a programmable logic control (PLC), and a control shaft having at least three distinct stops corresponding to raised, lowered and intermediate positions of the chute frame. Embodiments of the invention may be used to replace existing pneumatic apparatus, and may include an adapter for installing an electronic actuator to the mounts of the replaced pneumatic piston.

Abstract: A lumber stacking and strapping system can provide a single-station solution for both lumber stacking and package strapping. In addition, the package strapping system may apply multiple straps simultaneously to the package. For example, a package stacking and strapping system can provide not only a mechanism for formulating a package of lumber one layer at a time, but also a mechanism for lowering a completed package directly into a compression and strapping station, such as using the lumber stacker package accumulation hoist. The stacking and strapping system can then simultaneously apply strapping around the package in multiple positions along the length of the package, with bottom battens and top corner protectors further supplied and strapped into place as desired. A method for stacking and strapping a package in a single location is also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for storing and transporting a load (12) of goods, having been treated or fumigated for insects. The apparatus comprises a bag (10) and a sealing means (14) that seals bag once load (12) is inserted. All or a portion of bag 10 is made with netting, screen, or other porous material (13) that keep insects out of bag (10) but allow for sufficient ventilation of load (12). Bag (10) may be a single piece or multiple pieces and the location of porous material (13) on bag (10) may vary depending on the type of goods contained in load (12). The apparatus may also contain securement means (24) that help hold load (12) in place. The method comprises loading, sealing, transporting, and unloading goods using the described apparatus.

Abstract: The disclosure provides an S-shaped folding pet dining table, which includes a tabletop made from a plastic material and two pairs of table legs mounted at bottoms of left and right ends of the tabletop respectively, wherein top of the tabletop is lying on a horizontal plane, the tabletop is bent in an S shape in plan view, and at least two feeding bowl placement holes are formed in a staggering manner according to bending of the S shape of the tabletop; and the two pairs of table legs are both positioned outside front and rear side edges of the tabletop after being oppositely folded, and the two pairs of table legs are staggered according to the bending of the S shape of the tabletop. The dining table reaches a height comfortable for a large/medium dog, the height may be maximized by virtue of a finite space, the structure is simple, and convenience for operation is achieved.

Abstract: A system and method of using a combination strapping machine including a wire tying system and a plastic tying system is provided. Embodiments of the strapping machine include a common frame coupled to a wire strapping system, a single wire track, a plastic strapping system, and a single plastic track. Some embodiments of the combination strapping machine include a strapping machine frame having a common track perimeter. Further, the strapping machine includes a plastic tying system configured to apply a plastic strap to a baled material, and a wire tying system configured to apply a wire strap to the baled material. Some embodiments of the strapping machine include a common track for the wire tying system and plastic tying system. Other embodiments of the combination strapping machine are controlled by a common control system that coordinates both plastic and wire strapping according to a predetermined order of strap application.

Abstract: A supported strap twist device reorients a strap along a strap path. The device includes an inlet, an outlet and a reorienting section. The reorienting section includes a body having entrance and exit ends and a transition section therebetween. The transition section has a through-bore having a varying cross-sectional shape defining a race. The race has, at a first end, an opposed inwardly pinched circular profile defining a gap. The circular profile thins along the race toward an hourglass profile, and has, at a second end, an elongated shape. The gap has a substantially constant width along the race. The strap enters the first end at an angle relative to the second end and is reoriented to a desired orientation at the second end. The strap is supported by the race as it traverses therethrough.

Abstract: A compactor/baler for compacting materials includes a frame defining a compacting chamber, a platen movably mounted to the frame, a loading gate movably mounted to the frame and a control panel including a biometric reader having a biometric scanner. The platen is movable within the compacting chamber and the loading gate is movable from a closed position blocking access to the compacting chamber and an open position exposing the compacting chamber. The control panel is actuable between a locked configuration and an operational configuration. The biometric reader is designed to accept a biometric attribute of a user and to actuate the controller between the locked and operational configurations. The biometric reader actuates the controller to the operational configuration if the biometric attribute matches a stored biometric attribute. The control panel prevents the loading gate from moving to the open position when the controller is in the locked configuration.

Abstract: A strap forming assembly for a strapping machine includes a first forming wheel having a circumferential groove formed in a rim thereof and a second forming wheel cooperating with the first forming wheel and having a mating a circumferential crown extending therefrom. The first and second forming wheels cooperate to define a forming wheel nip therebetween. The forming wheel nip is non-planar. Strapping material fed into the forming wheel nip is permanently, longitudinally deformed.

Abstract: A strap forming assembly for a strapping machine includes a first forming wheel having a circumferential groove formed in a rim thereof and a second forming wheel cooperating with the first forming wheel and having a mating a circumferential crown extending therefrom. The first and second forming wheels cooperate to define a forming wheel nip therebetween. The forming wheel nip is non-planar. Strapping material fed into the forming wheel nip is permanently, longitudinally deformed.

Abstract: A machine for wrapping a strap in one or two loops around a package has a support frame and first and second upright generally annular strap-guiding channels. The channels each have confronting ends defining a respective gap that are immediately adjacent each other, and the package is engageable within the annular channels. A single-loop guide fittable in the gap of the first channel has a guide groove extending in a single-loop mode between the ends of the first channel. A double-loop guide fittable in a dual-loop mode in the gaps of the first and second channels has first and second crossing guide grooves that extend between one of the ends of the first channel and one of the ends of the second channel and the second guide groove extending between the other of the ends of the first channel and the other of the ends of the second channel.

Abstract: A baler tie feed apparatus is provided having a compaction chamber, a platen and a door, wherein aligned channels are defined within the top and bottom of the compaction chamber, the platen and the door so as to define a plurality of continuous open channels surrounding a bale of compacted material having horizontal top and bottom portions and vertical front and rear portions. A tie feed apparatus is provided which comprises a plurality of elongate tie engaging members, each of which engages tying media inserted through the top and rear portions of the channels and is advanced to thread the tying media through the bottom portion of the channels.

Abstract: Apparatus for strapping articles, wherein the band channel (28) of the band guiding frame (13) is covered by profile strips, which consist of an elastic material, preferably an elastically curing polyurethane elastomer casting mass, into which are embedded wear and/or sliding elements in the form of metal helical spring elements (34), the helical spring axes of which run essentially parallel to the band channel (28), and the coils of which project a little bit from the elastic material into the interior (28) of the band channel and form curved sliding surfaces (35) running essentially transversely to the band channel, so that the strapping band essentially only comes into contact with the metallic sliding surfaces of the spring elements during the exit from the band channel, and thereby does not damage the elastic material of the profile strips.

Abstract: A welding head for a strap binding machine includes a strap guide element that can be moved into and out of a strap guide path, a welding device that can be moved into and out of the strap guide path and that is for fusing strap segments of overlapping strap ends that are to be welded, and a pressing device for pressing the fused strap segments against a pressure part, the strap guide element and the welding device being pivotably borne and both being directly or indirectly motion-coupled to the longitudinally movable pressing device such that they can be moved into and out of the strap guide path depending on the movement of the pressing device.

Abstract: An automatic band conveying device includes a band transmitting device employed to pass a band into a band rail, and a pressing rail device composed of an electromagnetic valve, a connecting rod and a pressing plate. As the electromagnetic valve is electrified, it can generate magnetic force to enable a movable member pivotally formed on its top to be moved, so that the connecting rod can be driven by the movable member to push a pressing side of the pressing plate to press on the band rail. Thus the automatic band conveying device is simply structured and easy to operate.

Abstract: A harness board fixture with improved mounting features enables better positioning and securing of an automatic cable tie tool to the fixture. The mounting features may be provided on the same side or on opposite sides of an arcuate wire bundle support surface of the fixture. When provided on a same side, multiple mounting or locating features may be located near each other. The opposite side, forming a front of the fixture, may be open to define a readily accessible wire bundle entrance and exit path. The fixture preferably includes a mounting structure for reliably receiving and releaseably holding a push mount by snap-fit and oriented substantially perpendicular to the fixture base or at an angle.

Abstract: A trash compactor is provided with a channel in the cavity of the trash compactor for allowing string to pass behind and below the compacted trash in the cavity of the trash compactor making it easy to secure the compacted trash in bales before removing the bale from the cavity of the trash compactor. The channels are inside of the bottom and back walls of the cavity and allow a strap therein to draw a string from the top back wall of the cavity to the front of the bottom wall of the cavity. The string can then be extended to circumnavigate the bale and be tied off before removing the bale from the cavity. The straps can be reinserted in the channels ready to pull string around the back and underneath the next bale.

Abstract: A flexible strap guide for an overhead strapper having a feed head for feeding the strapping material from a supply to a strapping head being mounted to a movable platen. The guide includes an elongated flexible spine formed from a plurality of hinged elements. Each of the elements is hingedly connected to and independently movable relative to each adjacent element. The elements define a central channel therein defined by a contiguous inner periphery. A hollow tubular element is positioned within the flexible spine and is flexible with the spine. The tubular element defines a pathway for movement of the strapping material therethrough between feed head and the strapping head. The guide is flexible at points between the feed head and the strapping head and is configured to permit movement of the strapping head upward and downward and to retain the hollow tubular element in an unobstructed condition as the strapping head moves upward and downward.

Abstract: A tying device and method of assembling same is disclosed. The tying device has a wire guide member adapted for mounting on an upper platen of a baling press. The wire guide member includes a top wall and side walls depending laterally from the top wall to form a channel. A door is pivotally mounted to one of the side walls, and the door having an inner, forward edge extending generally perpendicular to the side walls for guiding the wire tie into the channel. A removable wear insert is mounted to one of the side walls and has a cutout adapted to receive a portion of the door.

Abstract: A guide track for a strap with which to bind a bale of bulk material. The guide track includes a convex portion and a restraining portion. Two lateral guide track halves are biased together. On their internal faces the guide track section halves have channels. The baling strap or baling wire is driven through the channels and guided around the material to be baled. The channels widen from a small diameter to a wide aperture at the receiving end of the guide track sections for receiving a lead end of a wire or strap that is propelled across a gap from a preceding guide track section. A partition is positioned within the wide aperture to provide multiple receptacles for the lead end of a wire or strap.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for banding fence posts are disclosed. The apparatus includes a pair of vertically disposed conveyor systems with U-shaped cradles for delivering the fence posts in a horizontal disposition to a pair of stationary strapping machines. Opposite the strapping machines are horizontally movable guide elements for directing banding material dispensed from the strapping machines around the fence posts. The strapping machines tighten the bands and connect the bands to themselves. The vertically disposed conveyor systems then move the banded fence posts to an exiting horizontally disposed conveyor system.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for banding fence posts are disclosed. The apparatus includes a pair of vertically disposed conveyor systems with U-shaped cradles for delivering the fence posts in a horizontal disposition to a pair of stationary strapping machines. Opposite the strapping machines are horizontally movable guide elements for directing banding material dispensed from the strapping machines around the fence posts. The strapping machines tighten the bands and connect the bands to themselves. The vertically disposed conveyor systems then move the banded fence posts to an exiting horizontally disposed conveyor system.

Abstract: A compactor according to the invention comprises a bowl (2) for receiving the matter that is to be compacted, a crushing head (1) comprising at least one shredding roll (11) that is mounted to rotate on itself and to move upon the surface of the matter when the compacting head is in an active position inside the bowl, and a pressing device comprising a pressure plate (3) for pressing the matter onto a bottom of said bowl when it is in an active position inside the bowl. Configuration means are further provided to move said crushing head and said pressing device, each in turn, into its active position inside the bowl while the other is in an inactive position outside the bowl.

Abstract: A banding fixture including a body having a horizontal opening therein, a carriage movable into and out of the horizontal opening, a recess in the carriage, and the carriage with the recess therein movable into the horizontal opening with a surface in the carriage in underlying near contiguous relationship to an undersurface of a plate on the body. A method of banding a workpiece including the steps of pressing a workpiece overlying a band into a recess in a member, and moving the member relative to a surface so that the ends of the band which extend beyond the workpiece are pressed together in overlapping relationship as the member passes in contiguous relationship to the surface.

Abstract: Described is a device for strapping packages having a tape supply for a tape-like strapping means, a tape guide channel for passage of the strapping means and a sealing unit for sealing the loop formed by the strapping means and surrounding the package, the tape guide channel being arranged on a frame that consists of two curved frame parts, which are movable out of a rest position below a supporting surface for the packages into a closed position above the supporting surface and back. Such an arrangement simplifies the drive and the guide for the frame parts. This is achieved since each of the two frame parts is guided moveably along its curved centerline below the supporting surface by at least one guiding device.

Abstract: A banding fixture including a body having a horizontal opening therein, a carriage movable into and out of the horizontal opening, a recess in the carriage, the carriage with the recess therein movable into the horizontal opening with an upper surface on the carriage in underlying near contiguous relationship to an undersurface of a plate on the body, and a workpiece-receiving slot in the body above the horizontal opening. A method of banding a workpiece including the steps of placing a band into spaced slots having sides, pressing a workpiece overlying a central portion of the band which is not in the slots into a recess in a member, and moving the member relative to a surface so that the ends of the band which extend beyond the workpiece are pressed together in overlapping relationship as the member passes in contiguous relationship to the surface.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for banding fence posts are disclosed. The apparatus includes a pair of vertically disposed conveyor systems with U-shaped cradles for delivering the fence posts in a horizontal disposition to a pair of stationary strapping machines. Opposite the strapping machines are horizontally movable guide elements for directing banding material dispensed from the strapping machines around the fence posts. The strapping machines tighten the bands and connect the bands to themselves. The vertically disposed conveyor systems then move the banded fence posts to an exiting horizontally disposed conveyor system.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for banding fence posts are disclosed. The apparatus includes a pair of vertically disposed conveyor systems with U-shaped cradles for delivering the fence posts in a horizontal disposition to a pair of stationary strapping machines. Opposite the strapping machines are horizontally movable guide elements for directing banding material dispensed from the strapping machines around the fence posts. The strapping machines tighten the bands and connect the bands to themselves. The vertically disposed conveyor systems then move the banded fence posts to an exiting horizontally disposed conveyor system.

Abstract: An apparatus for binding a transportable wire core including a binding table comprised of sections in spaced relation sufficient to allow passage between them of a binding wire, and a collapsible carrying spool having base members being in spaced relation sufficient to allow passage between them of a binding wires. The spool is positionable on the table such that the base members of the spool and the sections of the table are aligned in operative cooperation. Guide tracks have first sections attached to the table and in operative alignment between the spool base members and the table sections. Guide track second sections are translatable between a removed position that allows a wire core on a spool to be positioned on the binding tables and an engaged position that operatively engages the binding wire guide track first sections. The second guide track sections operatively align between the sections of the table and the base members of the spool.

Abstract: An arch type strapping machine suitable for a quick strapping operation and having a long service life is presented. A sealing mechanism 17 for a strapping band is constituted by a right gripper 45, a left gripper 61 and a compression head 63, wherein the right gripper 45 is operated by a solenoid plunger for fixing 41, and the left gripper 61 and the compression head 63 are operated by the rotation of a cam for fixing 65 and a cam for bonding 67 which are attached to a shaft for sealing 59.

Abstract: With a conventional baling machine, for tying an article resting on a pallet with a band, the article resting on the pallet is required to be placed in a frame of an arch guide. To solve this problem, the present invention provides a baling machine including a main body having a band feeding mechanism, a band bonding mechanism, and a band cutting mechanism; a vertical table (3) to be aligned with an article resting on a pallet; a band guide (7) provided to be drawn out from under the vertical table (3) in a horizontal direction; a support mechanism for supporting the band guide (7) inside the main body allowing it to slide; and wheels (17) provided to the main body, wherein the band guide (7) slides above the ground contact face of the wheels (17).

Abstract: A banding fixture including a body having a horizontal opening therein, a carriage movable into and out of the horizontal opening, a recess in the carriage, and the carriage with the recess therein movable into the horizontal opening with a surface in the carriage in underlying near contiguous relationship to an undersurface of a plate on the body. A method of banding a workpiece including the steps of pressing a workpiece overlying a band into a recess in a member, and moving the member relative to a surface so that the ends of the band which extend beyond the workpiece are pressed together in overlapping relationship as the member passes in contiguous relationship to the surface.

Abstract: A device for the placement of bale ties, to effect repair of cotton bales which have been damaged as a result of bale tie failures. The device, which allows placement of multiple ties without individual bale movement, includes a base frame structure, an upper platen transversely locatable upon said base frame structure for paired contraposition with a lower platen, and a lower platen base attached to said base frame structure containing a plurality of lower platens mounted thereon that are able to reversibly recede therein when not needed for application of a localized compressive force. The platens are mounted on the structure for relative intraplanar movement toward and away from one another with the compression surfaces disposed in substantial parallelism. The platens are positioned for compressing a damaged cotton bale therebetween as the upper platen moves, by means of a reciprocating drive mechanism, toward its aligned opposite.

Abstract: A tying device and method of using same wherein the tying device has a wire guide member adapted to be mounted on an upper platen of a baling press. The wire guide member includes a top wall and side walls depending laterally from the top wall to form an elongated, longitudinally extending generally U-shaped channel within the wire guide member. The tying device further has a bottom wall intersecting one of the side walls to form a longitudinally extending wire discharge passage contiguous with the channel. A door is pivotally mounted proximate the one of the side walls at the forward end of the channel, and the door in a closed position has an unobstructed, flat inner surface substantially parallel to the top wall and extending across the discharge passage to form a portion of the bottom wall. The door has an inner, forward edge extending generally perpendicular to the side walls for guiding the wire tie into the channel.

Abstract: A feeding device for a strapping machine comprises a feed guide mounted to a frame to receive a nylon strap from a feed coil. The feed guide comprises a housing having a triangular cross-section and an apertured transition member mounted therein which receives the strap feed and directs the strap onto a flat exit portion of the frame. The exit portion includes a pivotal cam lock which engages the flat strap to prevent recoil thereof. The feed guide includes a predetermined internal taper which directs the strap onto a flat portion of the frame despite the angle of the incoming feed strap thereby eliminating problems with shredding of the strap which occur in the strapping head.

Abstract: A method and apparatus automatically process currency documents. A stack of loose bank documents are placed on a feeder having a feeder arm which pushes the documents toward a continuous vacuum belt. The feeder arm is controlled by a lever arm connected to a potentiometer. The vacuum belt pulls documents from the stack, and moves the documents past a vacuum separator head and to a transport conveyor. The vacuum belt and the vacuum separator head are connected to the same vacuum supply. The transport conveyor moves the documents through inspection and sorting stations, and to various stacking units which stack the documents on platens. A strapping tape is curved to bend in a direction transverse to its length, and then a terminal end portion of the strapping tape is pushed through connected channels to direct the terminal end portion around three sides of a stack of the documents.

Abstract: A device for placement of bale ties to effect repair of cotton bales which have been damaged as a result of bale tie failure, includes a base frame structure and a pair of compression platens provided with elongated, generally longitudinally extending bale contacting and compressing surfaces. The platens are mounted on the structure for relative intraplanar movement toward and away from one another, with the compression surfaces disposed in substantial parallelism. The platens are positioned for compressing a damaged cotton bale therebetween as the platens move toward one another. The compression surfaces of the platens have a width which is sufficiently small to compress a damaged cotton bale only in close proximity to a position where a single replacement bale tie is to be placed. A drive mechanism is coupled to the platens for moving the latter relatively toward one another to effect bale compression.

Abstract: A baler for compression and baling of waste including a ram and a reinforced vertically sliding bale chamber door at one end of a baler chamber. Tab and slot construction provide for interlocking of heavy wall components and associated members and for component self-alignment and location during fabrication. Extensive support by heavy gauge interlocking cross stringers, longitudinal stringers, and other interlocking support members, provides for operational and geometric stability of the mechanical chamber, the charge or gather chamber, the bale chamber, and the vertically sliding bale chamber door during compression and ejection of waste.

Abstract: A bale wire tying apparatus is provided to be used in conjunction with a baling press for tying looped ends of lengths of bale wire together around a compressed bale. The bale wire tying apparatus is formed by an elongated generally U-shaped channel member. The channel member generally includes an open wire releasing slot and a knot release opening which may be closed off by a knot release door. A loop securing element and various inner sloped wire loop guide surfaces are provided for guiding the looped ends into tying engagement. Methods for tying pre-formed looped ends of lengths of bale wire using such a bale wire tying apparatus are also provided.

Abstract: A method of and a device for manually tying bales of cardboard, foils and similar used packaging materials produced in waste material presses predominantly of upright construction, i.e., with a vertically acting pressure ram. The method includes the steps of separating the free end of the binding wire from the point where it is secured to the front side of the base and pulling out a free length of wire slightly exceeding the length of the dimensions of bale height plus bale depth, grasping the binding wire extending in a vertical groove in the rear wall of the press by means of the hook-shaped free end of the pulling needle, pulling the loop of binding wire formed in this manner by means of the pulling needle through the groove in the bottom of the pressure ram into a position located in front of the finished bale, separating the wire loop in the pulled-out position, and swinging upwardly the remaining length of wire at the bottom and tying together the two free ends of the binding wire.

Abstract: A tying device is provided for mounting on a down-packer type baling press in which cotton is boxed for baling at a loading side of a substantially horizontal rotating turntable, the tying device for tying a plurality of wires having pre-formed interlocking ends around a bale formed in the press. The device includes a base plate provided as the floor of the press chamber in which the bale is formed and a pair of wire bend assemblies pivotally mounted on opposite sides of the base plate. A wire closer assembly is mounted on the press ram above the bale and provides the top surface of the baling chamber. The wire bend assemblies pivot from a first fully retracted to a second partially extended load position and to a fully extended position so as to bend the pre-formed interlocking ends of the wires around the bale and to insert the interlocking ends into the wire closers where the interlocking ends are joined together to form a knot.

Abstract: A bale tying apparatus for use with a baling press distinguished from the prior art mechanisms in that the articulated arms which shape wire ties about a bale also incorporate elements on the ends thereof to effect the tying of the wires without engagement of the wires with positioning surfaces in the follow block of the press. Thus the tying function is made more reliable and is independent of the follow block precise positioning. A wire loop on at least one end of the wire tie remains in contact with the arm mechanism until the wire knot is made up. The apparatus may use wire loop holding devices at the ends of both arms or may use a housing carried on the end of one arm with an opening for insertion of the other end by the other arm.

Abstract: In a machine for strapping a skid and a supported load by the use of a strap passing through aligned openings in the skid runners, a conveyor is provided for conveying the skid through a feeding zone. A turntable including powered rollers is provided for receiving the skid and the supported load from the conveyor, for positioning same within a strapping zone, and for rotating same within. A vertical scanner comprising a vertical array of photoelectric transmitters spaced from one another, on one side of the feeding zone, and a vertical array of photoelectric receivers spaced from one another, on the other side of the feeding zone, is provided for scanning the skid being conveyed. Two horizontal scanners, each comprising a single photoelectric transmitter and a single photoelectric receiver on each side of the strapping zone, are provided for scanning the skid being conveyed after it has been scanned by the vertical arrays.

Abstract: A strap-guiding mechanism is disclosed for guiding a strap through aligned openings in spaced stringers of a shipping pallet. A supporting beam defines a longitudinal track, along which a carriage is arranged to be longitudinally moved. An elongate channel is supported by the carriage, from the proximal end of the channel, as a cantilever. The channel has a base and two upstanding sides. Each side has an upper, generally tubular portion defining an axis. Two tensioning members are employed, preferably steel bars. Each member extends through the generally tubular portion of the upper side of the channel and is tensioned so as to impart axial compression to the generally tubular portion thereof, and so to counteract tendencies of the distal end of the channel to be downwardly deflected by gravity when the channel is supported as a cantilever. A motor is arranged to drive the carriage along the track via a chain and sprocket drive. Two longitudinal series of strap gates in side-by-side relation are employed.

Abstract: A horizontal baler has a longitudinally extending generally rectangular frame assembly defining a receiving chamber and an adjacent aligned compaction chamber. Each of the chambers has a top, a bottom, and sides. A ram is mounted for reciprocation within the receiving chamber so that material therein may be transferred to the compaction chamber and compacted therein by reciprocation thereof. A first cylinder and piston assembly is longitudinally disposed within the frame assembly and is operably associated with the ram for causing reciprocation thereof. A door defines one of the sides of the compaction chamber. The door is selectively securable and movable relative to an opening communicating with the compaction chamber. A support defines a portion of the bottom of the compaction chamber. The support is reciprocable transverse to the first cylinder and piston assembly and is aligned with the door for moving compacted material through the opening.

Abstract: A machine for compacting a row of tires in side-by-side relationship comprises a support housing containing a dual action hydraulic cylinder. A first compactor plate, contacting a first tire of the row is mounted on the support housing. An extended piston rod carrying a suitably dimensioned sleeve forms a probe that passes out of the support housing, through the first compactor plate and extends through the uncompacted row of tires, defining an external segment of the probe which varies in length as the piston is extended and retracted. A second compactor plate, mountable on the probe, contacts the last tire of the row. Thus the row of tires is compacted between the first compactor plate and the second compactor plate when the probe is retracted and the external segment is shortened. The probe is fully retractable through the first compactor plate to easily release the compacted row of tires therefrom.

Abstract: A horizontal baler has a longitudinally extending generally rectangular frame assembly defining a receiving chamber and an adjacent aligned compaction chamber. Each of the chambers has a top, a bottom, and sides. A ram is mounted for reciprocation within the receiving chamber so that material therein may be transferred to the compaction chamber and compacted therein by reciprocation thereof. A first cylinder and piston assembly is longitudinally disposed within the frame assembly and is operably associated with the ram for causing reciprocation thereof. A door defines one of the sides of the compaction chamber. The door is selectively securable and movable relative to an opening communicating with the compaction chamber. A support defines a portion of the bottom of the compaction chamber. The support is reciprocable transverse to the first cylinder and piston assembly and is aligned with the door for moving compacted material through the opening.

Abstract: This invention is directed to bundling and banding machine that forms and bands bundles of firewood into the shape of a stable wood pile that can be easily removed from the machine, transported as a banded bundle and when deposited at its final destination and the bands are removed it will stand as a stable wood pile, with a minimum of distortion or need of restacking.

Abstract: A tying machine for packaging articles in stack form comprises a band guide (12) limiting the extension of the loop and having a sliding surface (16). During the advance and after the end position has been reached, a winding band (18) is maintained by pneumatic means in a loop form determined essentially by the sliding surface (16), during the band pull-back is drawn out of the band guide (12) without the movement of any mechanical parts and is laid round the packaging articles.The band guide (12) with the sliding surface (16) and lateral guides (36, 38) for maintaining the winding band (18) in a loop form has exclusively pneumatic means.

Abstract: A binding machine, such as a strapping machine, for binding a bundle of newspapers or magazines by applying crossed straps around the bundle. Means are provided for conveying the bundle into and from a strapping zone. Means including a strapping head for each strap are provided for applying a transverse strap and a longitudinal strap around the bundle. A transverse chute is provided, which receives the transverse strap, which guides the transverse strap around the bundle, and which releases the transverse strap when the transverse strap is applied. A longitudinal chute is provided, which receives the longitudinal strap, which guides the longitudinal strap around the bundle, and which releases the longitudinal strap when the longitudinal strap is applied. The transverse chute arches from a given side of the strapping zone to its other side.

Abstract: Method to bind bundles of rolled, extruded and drawn products or sections, the bundles having a desired, defined geometric section, the binding being obtained with a binding machine comprising at least a twister means (11), a gripper (12) to grip the end of a wire, a shears (13), possible straightening means (14), an assembly (15) to draw the wire and a stationary sector (19) with one or more guide grooves (25), in which method the wire, after being inserted in the guide grooves (25), is tensioned and, leaving the guide grooves (25), is positioned about a plurality of rollers (22-122) borne on a rotary sector (21), the rollers (22-122) being positioned on about 300.degree. of the perimeter of the rotary sector (21), the wire (16) being deposited on the bundle (20) by the rotation of the rotary sector (21) while the assembly (15) to draw the wire takes up the excess wire (16) continuously.