Abstract: An improvement in a commercial, pick-up type, portable refuse bin--such as commonly in use outdoors at restaurants, stores, apartment houses, and other establishments--which has a normally-closed, releasably-latched lid openable when unlatched to permit deposit of refuse into the bin; the improvement comprising a normally closely underlying compactor blade hinged to the lid for downward swinging therefrom, and power means connected between the lid and compactor blade operative, when the lid is closed and latched, to forcefully swing said compactor blade downwardly into the bin to compact predeposited refuse therein.

Abstract: Each of a series of small groups of cured bricks, each such group to be joined to others to form a completed hack of such bricks, are automatically handled to stabilize the pressure bearing contact surfaces between adjacent vertical and horizontal surfaces of such bricks in the finished hack and are automatically transported, handled and banded to form a stable bound hack, which hack comprises spaced apart voids for engagement by a forklift truck.

Abstract: An automobile tire stacking and strapping machine embodying a stacking station where a predetermined number of tires are upstacked by successive application thereof to the bottom of a stack undergoing erection, and the completed stack is transferred bodily to a strapping station and deposited therein. At the strapping station, lengths of strapping material are passed endwise through the eye of the stack, brought around the outer side thereof in overlapping relationship to provide closed loops, the loops tensioned and the loop overlaps sealed together, the excess strapping severed from the loops, and the thus strapped stack pushed from the machine to a discharge area. The strapping operation is conducted on each stack at the strapping station while a preceding stack of tires is undergoing erection at the stacking station.

Abstract: A palletized load is placed on a support that is straddled by a strap guide frame or yoke. The strap guide frame mounts strap feed and tensioning mechanism as well as an extendable-retractable lance that is extended and docked in the yoke to guide the strap between the decks of the pallet and back into the tensioning mechanism. Strap feed and lance extension are initiated simultaneously and the strap is fed around the guide frame toward the free end of the lance as the lance is being extended. The machine is shut off automatically by a timer relay if the lance has not docked before the leading end of the strap reaches the dock for the free end of the lance. The lance is extended and retracted by an electric motor drive to a friction drive mechanism. A timer shuts the lance drive motor off before the lance has been fully extended so that the lance coasts into its docked position.

Abstract: A device for positioning overlapping ends of a looped band in a working area of an automatic packaging machine. The device includes a first slider on one side of the working area and a second slider on the other side of the working area. A driving mechanism coupled to the slider moves them toward each other up to a predetermined distance corresponding to the width of the band in the working area of the packaging machine.

Abstract: Baling apparatus including a baling chamber and a compression ram mounted for reciprocal movement therein and a bale strapping chamber positioned adjacent the baling chamber. The cycle is started by positioning a strapped bale in the strapping chamber between upper and lower platform members. Bale material such as newspapers and cardboard is introduced into the baling chamber and the compression ram is reciprocated to progressively form a bale against one end of the strapped bale in the strapping chamber. During such bale forming operation the newly formed bale is gradually pushed between the upper and lower platform members to thereby force the strapped bale out from between such platform members on to a take-away conveyor. A pair of pivotally mounted gate members are mounted on opposite sides of the baling chamber at the exit thereof. The take-away conveyor can be tilted to separate the adjacent ends of the unstrapped and strapped bales.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for bundling firewood. Relatively large pieces of wood, preferably first split and cut into convenient lengths, are compressed and while compressed have a strap applied therearound after which the applied pressure is released to form a bundle of firewood that is tightly banded. The apparatus includes a base section having a pair of spaced upwardly opening U-shaped members upon which the pieces of firewood are stacked with the end portions of the firewood supported by the U-shaped members. A pressure platen section is mounted above the base section and includes a second pair of U-shaped members that are downwardly directed and aligned with the U-shaped members of the base section so that, as the pressure platen is moved downwardly, the pieces of wood therebetween are compressed. The pressure platen section is moved upwardly and downwardly by a hydraulic ram and about eight tons of pressure is preferably exerted to compress and contour the wood into a cylindrical bundle.