Abstract: A manual baler for compressing thin plastic sheeting for efficient recycling including downwardly extending fingers on the compression plate that serve to gather and retain the plastic sheeting during compression and a latch and twine threading system for holding the bale in compression while allowing ties to be wrapped around the bale to retain it in a compressed state.

Abstract: A biomass baler having a baling chamber adapted to receive tall grass biomass material and a compression system adapted to compact the tall grass biomass material into a parallelepiped bale in the chamber, wherein the baling chamber has a front wall consisting essentially of a reciprocating compression platen corresponding in dimensions to the width W and height H of the bale, opposing upper and lower walls corresponding in dimensions to the length L and either of the W and H of the bale, and opposing sidewalls corresponding in dimensions to the L and the other of the W and H of the bale, and wherein the compression system is adjustable by conventional controls to apply at least one operator-selectable compression platen pressure of between 22 psi and 30 psi to the tall grass biomass material in the chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus for baling loose materials includes a housing defining a charging passage and a compaction chamber. The baling apparatus also includes a compacting ram platen which moves through the charging passage to compact loose materials into a bale in the compaction chamber. In one embodiment, the baling apparatus includes a reinforcing frame disposed generally circumferentially about at least portion of the housing to provide structural reinforcement. The reinforcing frame defines an aperture through which the floor panel and the first and second opposed side panels of the housing are typically extended during the fabrication of the baling apparatus so as to be supported in a predetermined positional relationship. In another embodiment, the baling apparatus includes a knife assembly including a frame member, such as the reinforcing frame, mounted to the housing and a second cutting edge mounted to the frame member for controlled movement relative thereto.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for baling loose materials, such as waste material, includes a controllably moveable door assembly. In one embodiment, the door is adapted to open from an initial position to a final position such that the compacted bale can be ejected from the compaction chamber through the opening defined by the open door. In this embodiment, the leading edge portion of the door is moved to a final position in general alignment with the compacting ram platen such that bales of various sizes, including oversized bales, can be readily ejected from the baling apparatus. For example, the leading edge portion of the door can be moved into alignment with or rearward of the compacting ram platen. In another embodiment, the baling apparatus operates in a plug bale mode and includes a door which is urged against an at least partially ejected bale so as to securely hold the plug bale within the opening defined to the compaction chamber during the compaction of a succeeding bale.

Abstract: A waste disposal system is disclosed wherein the fullness of a plurality of trash collection units equipped with industrial compactors can be monitored at or by a central processing unit. The invention recognizes that the compaction cycle of an industrial compactor exerts a force against the trash being compacted, which force translates into a strain on components of the compaction assembly. The stress exerted against the compaction assembly when it is compacting trash is determined by an electronic sensing device. This strain measurement correlates to the amount of trash in the receptacle and, accordingly, is utilized to determine whether the receptacle is in fact full and in need of being emptied. The stress measurement is obtained by electronically measuring the strain exerted against a component of the compaction assembly as a result of the trash compacting action.

Abstract: An improved oil filter crusher unit is provided for use in recovering used motor oil from an oil filter of the type used in automotive vehicles and for reducing the volumetric size of an oil filter prior to disposal with other trash in a landfill or the like. The crusher unit includes a crushing piston assembly having a pneumatic piston connected via a bearingless piston shaft to a filter crushing head. An air circuit system provides pressurized air to the piston assembly to advance the crushing head into engagement with an oil filter disposed within a crushing chamber. A control lever on the outside of the unit mechanically interlocks with a safety door to prevent access to the crushing chamber during unit operation. In addition, the geometry of the crushing head incorporates one or more protrusions which initiate filter crushing by crimping localized areas of the filter and thereby weaken the filter so that crushing can be accomplished with relatively low peak crush forces.

Abstract: Pressing apparatus comprising a die made up of a number of segments defining a cavity in which metal swarf is compacted to form a billet. The die segments are held together by one or more sleeves housed in a housing which is mounted on a pedestal which pivots between a first position in which the cavity is aligned with one or more rams which are advanced into the cavity to compact the swarf, and a second position in which the cavity is aligned with gripping devices which grip the ends of the die segments and separate them radially to release the billet after a jacking device mounted on the housing is actuated to move the sleeves in the axial direction and release the die segments. One of the gripping devices may comprise a cylindrical bore through which an empty tube can be fed into the cavity and the other gripping device may similarly comprise a cylindrical bore through which the billet can be fed after it has been ejected from the die cavity.

Abstract: A compactor for use in compacting at least two separate classes of material comprises a charging box, a storage container and a packer ram. The charging box is internally, longitudinally divided into at least first and second charging chambers, each charging chamber having a charging opening and a discharging opening. The storage container is internally divided into at least first and second storage chambers and each chamber has a material receiving opening in communication with a respective discharging opening of the charging box. The storage container is releasably fixed relative to the charging box.

Abstract: A bulk material such as garbage is introduced into a hopper inlet (14) of a compactor (12). A piston (18) in the compactor moves the bulk material out from the compactor (12) into a vault (26). In the vault (26) the material is compacted against a barrier wall (66) until an initial body of compacted material is formed between the inlet and the barrier wall (64). Then, the barrier wall (64) is retracted up into a position substantially within the plane of the top wall (32). Then, the compactor (12) is operated to compact additional bulk material (24) into the vault (26), and at the same time move the material (24) lengthwise through the vault (26). When the vault (26) is sufficiently full of compacted material (24), the vault (26) is expanded for the purpose of enlargening the cross sectional dimension of its inner space. A cargo receiving compartment (30) of a road vehicle (10) is positioned in registry with the outlet of the vault (26).

Abstract: A bulk material such as garbage is introduced into a hopper inlet (14) of a comparator (12). A piston (18) in the comparator moves the bulk material out from the comparator (12) into the vault (26). In the vault (26) the material is compacted against a barrier wall (66) until an initial body of compacted material is formed between the inlet and the barrier wall (64). Then, the barrier wall (64) is retracted up into a position substantially within the plane of the top wall (32). Then, the comparator (12) is operated to compact additional bulk material (24) into the vault (26), and at the same time move the material (24) lengthwise through the vault (26). When the vault (26) is sufficiently full of compacted material (24), the vault (26) is expanded for the purpose of enlargening the cross sectional dimension of its inner space. A cargo receiving compartment (30) of a road vehicle (10) is positioned in registry with the outlet of the vault (26).

Abstract: An extension is provided for a compacting device of the type adapted to be inserted into a container and having a plurality of compacting plates adapted to press loose material into the container and engage the compacting device to prevent expansion of the compacted material. The extension is adapted to sit on the upper end of the compacting device and extends above the container to hold excess loose material prior to compaction by the compacting plates. Smooth guide rods are provided on the inner surface of the extension for guiding the compacting plates into engagement with aligned threaded rods in the compacting device.

Abstract: A compression apparatus for solid waste includes a precompression device and main compression device. A precompression device includes a precompression sleeve for receiving therein a cylindrical vessel filled with the solid waste and a press ram arranged above said precompression sleeve and movable upward and downward for compressing, at high pressure, the cylindrical vessel in the precompression sleeve. The compression sleeve includes an upper straight large diameter portion, and an intermediate tapered portion, thereby compressing the cylindrical vessel and reducing its volume in three dimensional directions by compressing the vessel radially inwardly at the tapered inner surface of the intermediate tapered portion. The main compression device includes a main compression press ram and a main compression sleeve having an inner diameter no more than the inner diameter of a lowermost end of the intermediate tapered portion.

Abstract: A molding machine for making bricks, etc. having a mold open on both ends and opposed plungers for cooperation with the mold, the mold and plungers being removable and replaceable as a set.

Abstract: A baling machine is disclosed having a single ram means horizontally spaced from the baling chamber to reduce the overall height of the baling machine, while avoiding the complications of two side-mounted ram means. The baling machine includes a vertically movable platen which is supported on a sleeve which is mounted around and supported on a vertically extending support column horizontally spaced from the baling chamber. The ram means is preferably located between the support column and the baling chamber in a position which extends substantially below the top of the baling chamber.

Abstract: A filter press plate for layer and settling filters having an open frame of stainless steel and at least one partition plate of corrosion resistance material detachably supported within the frame by means of cooperating lugs and recesses on the mutually facing edges of the at least one partition plate and frame, sufficient clearance space being provided between the peripheral edge of the at least one partition plate and the adjacent frame edges as to accommodate any difference in the heat expansions thereof at the maximum temperature to which the filter press plate is to be exposed. The frame includes exteriorly projecting hollow eyes which define manifolds for supplying and removing the liquid to be filtered when a plurality of the elements are stacked together in use. The at least one partition plate is profiled on its opposite side faces to form channels for the liquid being filtered.