Patent Application
20150232213
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a combination strapping machine including a wire tying system and a plastic tying system. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to a combination strapping machine for baling recycled materials, having a common frame coupled to both a wire strapping system for applying a wire tying medium, and a plastic strapping system for applying a plastic tying medium.
Traditional bulk-material baling machines incorporate a tying system for wrapping and/or securing the baled material, such as a wire tying system. In forming bales of compressible materials, it is important to surround the baled material with a tying medium having sufficient strength to maintain the form of the compressed bale for shipping and/or storage. At the same time, the tying medium used to secure a bale must be adequately tensioned by the tying system, as well as securely knotted and/or tied around the bale. As the characteristics of each type of tying medium are unique, a single baling machine typically uses a single tying medium with a single tying system coupled to the machine. As such, a baling machine is not able to vary the types of tying media applied to different portions of a single bale.
Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention introduce technology for resolving the above-mentioned issues conventionally experienced when varying the tying medium used for bulk-material baling systems.
In one embodiment of the invention, a combination strapping machine for use on a baler is provided. The strapping machine includes a strapping machine frame having a common track perimeter and a top side; a plastic tying system coupled to the top side of the strapping machine frame, the plastic tying system having a plastic track, wherein the plastic tying system is configured to apply a plastic strap to a baled material; and a wire tying system coupled to the top side of the strapping machine frame, the wire tying system having a wire track, wherein the wire tying system is configured to apply a wire strap to the baled material, wherein the wire track is adjacent the plastic track.
In another illustrative aspect, a combination strapping machine for dynamic strapping of a first tying medium and a second tying medium on a baler includes: a strapping machine frame having a common track perimeter; a first tying system for the first tying medium, the first tying system coupled to a first portion of the strapping machine; and a second tying system for the second tying medium, the second tying system coupled to a second portion of the strapping machine, wherein the first tying system and the second tying system are configured to alternately apply straps to a baled material secured by the combination strapping machine.
According to a third illustrative aspect, embodiments of the invention are directed to a method for strapping a baled material, the method comprising: receiving, by a strapping machine, a material for baling; applying at least one strap of a first tying medium using a first tying assembly coupled to the strapping machine; and applying at least one strap of a second tying medium using a second tying assembly coupled to the strapping machine.
Additional objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description that follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned by practice of the invention.
The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein:
The present invention generally relates to a combination strapping machine for applying two different types of tying materials to a single bale, such as a bale of recycled material. In embodiments, the strapping machine is coupled to two separate tying systems and/or strapper heads for dynamically applying and/or attaching plastic straps or wire ties to a baled material. In one embodiment, both the plastic tying system and the wire tying system are adjacent, and coupled to a common strapping machine frame on a top side and/or surface. As such, the tying systems are oriented along an x axis of the width of a strapping machine, offset with respect to the front side and the rear side of the strapping machine along a y axis corresponding to the front-to-rear depth of the machine.
In embodiments, a common controller is configured to coordinate the alternating straps applied by the strapping machine to one or more bales of material. In further embodiments, the common controller may be utilized to alternately apply a plastic strap from the plastic tying system, and a wire tie from a wire tying system. In one embodiment, both the plastic tying medium and the wire tying medium are strapped around the bale using a common track perimeter of the strapping machine frame. As such, the offset welding mechanism (of the plastic tying system) and knotting mechanism (of the wire tying system) are used to apply both traps utilizing a common track perimeter of the strapping machine having a limited amount of space along the top side/surface.
Accordingly, in one embodiment of the invention, a combination strapping machine for use on a baler is provided. The strapping machine includes a strapping machine frame having a common track perimeter and a top side; a plastic tying system coupled to the top side of the strapping machine frame, the plastic tying system having a plastic track, wherein the plastic tying system is configured to apply a plastic strap to a baled material; and a wire tying system coupled to the top side of the strapping machine frame, the wire tying system having a wire track, wherein the wire tying system is configured to apply a wire strap to the baled material, wherein the wire track is adjacent the plastic track.
In some embodiments, the plastic tying system includes a plurality of bloom plates that surround the common track perimeter. In further embodiments, the bloom plates are coupled to the common track perimeter of the strapping machine frame, and are thereby configured to contact a baled material secured within an opening of the strapping machine. In further embodiments, the plastic tying system is configured to apply the plastic strap to the baled material from a first direction relative to the common track perimeter. In one embodiment, the first direction is clockwise. Additionally, embodiments of the wire tying system are configured to apply the wire strap to the baled material from a second direction relative to the common track perimeter, while in some embodiments, the second direction is counterclockwise.
In another illustrative aspect, a combination strapping machine for dynamic strapping of a first tying medium and a second tying medium on a baler includes: a strapping machine frame having a common track perimeter; a first tying system for the first tying medium, the first tying system coupled to a first portion of the strapping machine; and a second tying system for the second tying medium, the second tying system coupled to a second portion of the strapping machine, wherein the first tying system and the second tying system are configured to apply alternating straps to a baled material secured by the combination strapping machine. In embodiments, the first portion of the strapping machine is adjacent the second portion of the strapping machine on a first side of the strapping machine frame. Additionally, in one embodiment, the common track perimeter comprises a first track for the first tying medium and a second track for the second tying medium. In another embodiment, the first tying system is a plastic tying system positioned at a rear side of the combination strapping machine, while in further embodiments, the plastic tying system is configured to apply a plastic strap to the baled material from a first direction relative to the common track perimeter.
In embodiments, the second tying system is a wire tying system positioned at a front side of the combination strapping machine. As such, in some embodiments, the wire tying system is configured to apply a wire strap to the baled material from a second direction relative to the common track perimeter. Embodiments of the combination strapping machine are configured to apply alternating straps to a baled material secured by the combination strapping machine by applying at least one strap of the first tying medium and at least one strap of the second tying medium to the bale. Embodiments of the combination strapping machine further include an integrated controller for controlling the first tying system and the second tying system. In some embodiments, the integrated controller is configured to alternate tying the baled material with multiple straps of the first tying medium and multiple straps of the second tying medium according to a particular order for applying each strap of the first tying material and each strap of the second tying material.
According to a third illustrative aspect, embodiments of the invention are directed to a method for strapping a baled material, the method comprising: receiving, by a strapping machine, a material for baling; applying at least one strap of a first tying medium using a first tying assembly coupled to the strapping machine; and applying at least one strap of a second tying medium using a second tying assembly coupled to the strapping machine. In embodiments, applying at least one strap of a first tying medium comprises applying at least one strap of plastic tying medium. In further embodiments, applying at least one strap of a second tying medium comprises applying at least one strap of wire tying medium. In one embodiment, at least one strap of the first tying medium is applied to the baled material in a clockwise direction relative to a common track perimeter of the strapping machine, and further wherein the at least one strap of the second tying medium is applied to the baled material in a counterclockwise direction relative to a common track perimeter of the strapping machine.
With reference now to
The exemplary strapping machine 10 also includes a knotter assembly 26 of the wire tying system 14. Embodiments of the invention include a knotter assembly 26 for tying a wire strap around a baled material, such as the knotter assembly described in one or more of the following U.S. patent applications: U.S. application Ser. No. 12/717,616, filed Mar. 4, 2010, entitled “Knotter Assembly,” having attorney docket number LGPL.154618, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,397,632 issued Mar. 19, 2013; U.S. application Ser. No. 13/220,798, filed Aug. 30, 2011, entitled “Knotter Assembly,” having attorney docket number LGPL.163802; and U.S. application Ser. No. 13/753,188, filed Jan. 29, 2013, entitled “Method For Removing A Twist-Module Sub-Assembly In A Knotter Assembly,” having attorney docket number LGPL.180975, the disclosure of each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Additionally, as shown in
As further depicted in
As further shown in the enlarged, perspective view 28 of
Referring next to
Turning next to
With reference to the flow diagram of
Referring finally to the flow diagram of
As such, when using a common strapping machine for tying a first strap of a first material and a second strap of a second material, in some embodiments of the invention, a particular order of application of multiple types of tying media may be executed. As such, a “recipe” for order of application of different types of straps, such as wire straps and plastic straps, may be provided and utilized by a single, common strapping machine. For example, in one embodiment, a recipe for strapping may include a series of commands for applying 1) a wire strap to a first end of a bale, 2) a plastic strap to the middle of the bale, and 3) an additional wire strap at the second end of the bale. Accordingly, in one embodiment, the baled material may be secured by a wire strap at either end of the baled material, with any combination of wire and/or plastic straps on a middle portion of the bale. In further embodiments, beginning, middle, and end portions of a bale for tying using the strapping machine may be identified by the strapping machine control system, and tied accordingly. As such, different characteristics of different portions of a baled material (i.e., along the y axis of the strapping machine) may require a different tying mechanism and/or strapping medium. In embodiments, the common strapping machine dynamically adjusts to apply different tying straps to different portions of a bale, such as applying multiple different plastic straps and wire straps to a single bale.
In one embodiment, the offset positioning of the plastic tying system and wire tying system provides a tying portion of the strapping machine that is configured to alternate between one type of tying medium and another, without adjusting and/or removing a portion of the strapping mechanism. In some embodiments, the wire tying system is positioned in front of and higher than the plastic tying system. As such, in some embodiments, the wire tying system is closer to the front side A of the strapping machine, while the plastic tying system is closer to the rear side B of the strapping machine. Additionally, in some embodiments, a portion of the wire tying system is positioned a particular distance apart from the plastic tying system, when oriented along the same x axis.
From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all the ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with other advantages, which are obvious and inherent to the structure. It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims. Since many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
