Compression packer apparatus having a door

Claim 2

Compression packer apparatus having a frame, first means mounted on the frame for forming a longitudinally elongated loading chamber having a vertical loading opening and ram means mounted by the first means for movement relative thereto for exerting a pressing force against product in the loading chamber, the improvement comprising a door assembly mounted on the first means for progressively closing selected vertical increments of the loading chamber opening.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in that the door assembly comprises several interconnected longitudinally extending first door sections each having a first edge portion, a main body portion joined to the first edge portion and second means joined to the main body portion remote from the first edge portion for movably connecting the main body portion to the first edge portion of the adjacent first door section, and a first terminal door section fixedly mounted on the first means and mounting one of the first door sections that is connected to only one of the other first door sections, and third means mounted on the first means for progressively moving the first door sections one after the other into a loading chamber closing position.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2 further characterized in that the door section first edge portion comprises a longitudinally elongaTed cylindrical portion and that the second means comprises a longitudinally elongated slotted flange portion for mounting the cylindrical portion of the adjacent first door section for limited pivotal movement about a horizontal axis.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 2 further characterized in that the first means comprises a bottom press plate, a first sidewall, a second sidewall substantially parallel to the first sidewall and having a ram opening adjacent the bottom press plate, a backwall assembly and means for mounting the backwall assembly on the frame and selectively moving the backwall assembly transversely a limited amount to vary the effective transverse width of the loading chamber, that said ram means comprises a horizontal ram assembly having a main ram plate extending transversely adjacent the loading chamber opening when the ram means is in a datum position, an extension member extending transversely adjacent the main ram plate, fourth means for mounting the extension member on the main plate to move longitudinally therewith and transversely a limited amount relative thereto, a piston cylinder combination mounted on the frame, extensible into the ram opening and connected to one of the main ram plate and the fourth means for selectively moving the main ram plate longitudinally, and means mounted on the backwall assembly for moving the extension member transversely with and substantially the same distance as the backwall assembly when said backwall assembly moves transversely.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 2 further characterized in that the first means comprises a bottom press plate, a backwall assembly transversely spaced from the loading chamber opening, means for mounting the backwall assembly on the frame for selected transverse movement away from and toward the loading chamber opening to vary the effective width of the loading chamber.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 5 further characterized in that said ram means comprises a vertical ram having a main horizontal ram plate extending transversely adjacent the loading chamber opening, piston cylinder means mounted on the frame and connected to the main ram plate for moving it vertically, a ram extension plate extending transversely between the main ram plate and the backwall assembly, third means for mounting the extension plate on the main ram plate to move the extension plate vertically with the main ram plate and permit the extension plate being moved transversely a limited amount relative the main plate and fourth means connected to at least one of the third means and the extension plate for moving the extension plate transversely substantially the distance as the backwall assembly as the backwall assembly moves transversely.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 2 further characterized in that the first means includes a bottom press plate, the terminal door section being fixedly attached to the bottom press plate.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 7 further characterized in that third means comprises a longitudinally elongated first roller having first door sections extended thereover and depending therefrom on the side of the roller transversely opposite from the terminal door section and fourth means mounted on the frame for moving the roller vertically a select vertical increment for progressively moving the first door sections to a loading chamber closing position as the roller moves vertically upwardly.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 8 further characterized in that one of the first door sections includes a second terminal door section that is remote from the first door terminal section, and that the fourth means comprises a first and a second sprocket respectively mounted at the longitudinal end portions of the roller, a pair of chains each having a first terminal chain end mounted on the second terminal door section, a second terminal end portion mounted on the first means vertically above the first terminal door section adjacent the upper portion of the first means, a first end portion joined integrally to the second tErminal end portion and integrally joined portions extending downwardly from the second terminal end portion, thence reversely bent around the first and second sprockets respectively, next upwardly to a higher elevation than the second terminal chain end, thereafter downwardly to a lower elevation than the first terminal door section and subsequently extending to the first terminal chain end and joined thereto and fifth means for mounting the chain portions and selectively driving the chains to move the door sections.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 8 further characterized in that the bottom press plate has a front edge adjacent the loading chamber opening and that the fifth means includes a longitudinally elongated second roller mounted on the frame at a lower elevation than the press plate front edge and adjacent thereto to have portions of the claims extend at least partially therearound during at least part of the movement of the first door sections to a loading chamber closed position.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 2 further characterized in that the first means comprises a bottom press plate, a first sidewall having a spout opening adjacent the bottom press plate, a second sidewall parallel to the first sidewall and a ram opening adjacent the bottom press plate and longitudinally aligned with the spout opening, a backwall assembly extending longitudinally between said sidewalls and fourth means mounted on the frame for mounting the backwall assembly for limited transverse movement, that said ram means comprises a transversely adjustable horizontal ram, fifth means mounted on the frame and extensible through the ram opening for moving the ram longitudinally from adjacent the second sidewall to adjacent the spout opening for pushing product through the spout opening, and that there is provided a spout assembly, said spout assembly including a spout opening to the spout opening and having a first spout section fixedly mounted on the first wall to be located transversely closely adjacent the loading chamber opening, a second spout section cooperating with the first spout section, sixth means for mounting second spout section for limited transverse movement and seventh means connected to at least one of the sixth means and the second spout section and connected to the backwall assembly for automatically transversely moving the second spout section with the back assembly in the same direction and substantially the same amount to adjust the transverse width of the spout assembly.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 11 further characterized in that the ram comprises a main ram plate, an extensive ram plate extending transversely between the main ram plate and the backwall assembly, eighth means for connecting the extension plate to the main ram plate to move longitudinally with the main ram plate and permit limited transverse movement relative thereto, and means connected to the backwall assembly for moving the extension plate and eighth means transversely further away from the loading chamber opening when the ram is adjacent the second sidewall and the backwall assembly is moved transversely away from the loading chamber opening, the fifth means being connected to at least one of the main ram plates and the eighth means for moving the ram longitudinally.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 11 further characterized in that the sixth means includes longitudinal tracks, means for mounting the tracks on at least one of the first sidewalls and the frame, and eighth means connected to the second spout section for mounting the second spout section for movement on the tracks.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 13 further characterized in that the eighth means includes a piston-cylinder combination having a piston rod connected to the ground to the second spout section for moving the second spout section to partially collapse the spout assembly and a cylinder, ninth means transversely movable on the tracks and mounting the cylinder to move transversely, and means for connecting the ninth means to the baCkwall assembly to move therewith.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 11 further characterized in that the first means includes a vertical ram assembly having a main first press plate, an extension second press plate extending between the first press plate and the backwall assembly, eighth means for mounting the second press plate for vertical movement with the first press plate and limited transverse movement relative thereto, the eighth means including means for automatically transversely moving the second press plate relative the first press plate in the same direction as the backwall assembly as the backwall assembly is moved, and piston cylinder means mounted on the frame and connected to the first press plate for vertically moving the first press plate toward and away from the bottom press plate.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 15 further characterized in that the eighth means includes a transversely extending tubular channel fixedly attached to the first press plate, means telescopically extended into said channel and fixedly attached to the second press plate remote from said channel and means for retaining the second press plate closely adjacent the backwall assembly.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 15 further characterized in that the backwall assembly has a vertical, longitudinally extending plate adjacent the bottom press plate, a plurality of longitudinally spaced uprights secured to the last-mentioned plate, that there is provided a precompression assembly mounted on the frame and having transversely movable precompression fingers extendable between said uprights to a transverse position closely adjacent the door assembly in a loading chamber closed position, and that said horizontal ram includes a main third ram plate, an extension fourth ram plate extending between the third plate and the backwall assembly and means for mounting the fourth plate on the third plate to move longitudinally therewith, permit limited transverse movement of the fourth plate relative the third plate and resiliently retain the fourth plate transversely adjacent the backwall assembly.

Claim 19

Compression packer apparatus comprising a frame, a longitudinally elongated bottom press plate, a first and a second sidewall, a transversely movable backwall assembly, said bottom press plate, sidewalls and backwall assembly being mounted on the frame to form a loading chamber having a vertical loading chamber opening, drive means mounted on the frame for transversely moving said backwall assembly between a retracted position and a position substantially more closely adjacent the loading chamber opening, a door assembly mounted on the frame for selectively closing the loading chamber opening, said door assembly including a plurality of longitudinally elongated first door sections having adjacent lateral edge portions pivotally connected and including a first and a second terminal first door section, first means for mounting said door sections on the frame and selectively moving door sections between loading chamber opening opened and closed positions, each of the sidewalls having an opening opening to the bottom press plate and extending transversely from adjacent the backwall assembly in its retracted position to adjacent the door sections in their closed position, a transversely adjustable horizontal ram assembly mounted on the frame adjacent the first sidewall and having a horizontal ram substantially closing the portion of the first wall opening transversely rearwardly to the backwall assembly and second means for moving the horizontal ram longitudinally from a datum position to a position adjacent the second wall opening for pushing compressed product through the second wall opening, a transversely adjustable spout assembly mounted on the second wall that opens to the second wall opening and a vertical ram assembly mounted on the frame and having a transversely adjustable vertical ram, and power means mounted on the frame for mounting the vertical ram and moving the vertical ram between the sidewalls, the dOor sections in their closed position and the backwall assembly between a retracted datum position and a position more closely adjacent the bottom press plate.

Claim 20

Compression packer apparatus comprising a frame, a longitudinally elongated bottom press plate, a first and a second sidewall, a transversely movable backwall assembly, said bottom press plate, sidewalls and backwall assembly being mounted on the frame to form a loading chamber having a vertical loading chamber opening, drive means mounted on the frame for transversely moving said backwall assembly between a retracted position and a position substantially more closely adjacent the loading chamber opening, a door assembly mounted on the frame for selectively closing the loading chamber opening, said door assembly including a plurality of longitudinally elongated first door sections having adjacent lateral edge portions pivotally connected and including a first and a second terminal first door section, first means for mounting said door sections on the frame and selectively moving door sections between loading chamber opening opened and closed positions, each of the sidewalls having an opening opening to the bottom press plate and extending transversely from adjacent the backwall assembly in its retracted position to adjacent the door sections in their closed position, a transversely adjustable horizontal ram assembly mounted on the frame adjacent the first sidewall and having a horizontal ram substantially closing the portion of the first wall opening transversely rearwardly to the backwall assembly and second means for moving the horizontal ram longitudinally from a datum position to a position adjacent the second wall opening for pushing compressed product through the second wall opening, a transversely adjustable spout assembly mounted on the second wall that opens to the second wall opening and a vertical ram assembly mounted on the frame and having a transversely adjustable vertical ram, and power means mounted on the frame for mounting the vertical ram and moving the vertical ram between the sidewalls, the dOor sections in their closed position and the backwall assembly between a retracted datum position and a position more closely adjacent the bottom press plate.

Claim 21

The apparatus of claim 18 further characterized in that the first terminal door section is fixedly mounted on at least one of the frames and the bottom press plate transversely adjacent the loading chamber opening and third means mounted on the frame for vertically moving the door sections connected to the first terminal door section progressively between loading chamber opening opened and closed position.

Claim 22

The apparatus of claim 19 further characterized in that the third means includes a longitudinal roller having door sections reversely bent thereover to depend therefrom at least on the transverse side thereof opposite the loading chamber opening and fourth means for supportingly mounting the roller and moving it selected vertical increments.

Claim 23

The apparatus of claim 20 further characterized in that the fourth means includes a pair of chains having first terminal end portions connected to the second terminal door section.

Claim 24

The apparatus of claim 21 further characterized in that a second roller is mounted on the frame transversely adjacent the bottom press plate front edge and vertically at a lower elevation than the bottom press plate, and that in the loading chamber opening closed position, said chains have portions that are at one end connected to the chains first edge portions thence extending downwardly to extend at least partially around said second roller, and then rearwardly beneath the bottom press plate.

Claim 25

The apparatus of claim 18 further characterized in that each of said rams includes a main press plate transversely adjacent the loading chamber opening, an extension plate extending transversely between the respective main press plate and the backwall assembly, and third means for mounting the extension plate on the respective main press plate for movement therewith and transversely relative thereto with the backwall assembly at least in the ram datum position as the backwall assembly moves to automatically adjust the transverse working width of the ram.

Claim 26

The apparatus of claim 23 further characterized in that the spout assembly includes a first spout section transversely adjacent the loading chamber opening of at least a size to have the horizontal ram main plate moved therethrough and fixedly mounted on the second wall, a second spout section cooperating with the first spout section to define a spout and means for mounting the second spout section for limited transverse movement and connected to the backwall assembly for automatically moving the second spout section transversely with the backwall assembly as it moves transversely.

Claim 27

The apparatus of claim 24 further characterized in that each of the third means includes a transverse tubular channel fixedly attached to the respective main plate, and extensible means mounted by the respective tubular channel and connected to the extension plate.

Claim 28

The apparatus of claim 25 further characterized in that the horizontal ram extensible means includes a vertical longitudinally extending plate joined to the horizontal ram extension plate to extend away therefrom in a direction away from the second wall, and that the third means includes a bracket mounted on the backwall assembly adjacent the first wall for engaging the vertical plate when the horizontal ram is in its datum position to move the vertical plate along with the backwall assembly when and as the backwall assembly is moved toward its retracted position.

Claim 29

Compression packer apparatus comprising a frame, a longitudinally elongated bottom press plate, a first and a second transverse sidewall, a transversely movable backwall assembly, drive means on the frame and connected to the backwall assembly for transversely moving said backwall assembly between a retracted position and a position substantially forward of the retracted position, said bottom press plAte, sidewalls and backwall assembly being mounted on the frame to form a loading chamber having a load chamber opening, a ram assembly mounted on the frame for movement between the sidewalls and relative the bottom press plate for abuttingly engaging product in the loading chamber and first means for reciprocating the ram assembly between a datum position and a position remote from the datum position, the improvement comprising in the ram assembly having a main ram plate, an extension plate extending transversely between said main ram plate and the backwall assembly, and second means for mounting the extension plate to move with the main plate when the ram assembly is reciprocated and to automatically transversely move the extension plate relative the main plate at least when the ram assembly is in its datum position and as the backwall assembly is moved transversely in one transverse direction.

Claim 30

Compression packer apparatus comprising a frame, a longitudinally elongated bottom press plate, a first and a second transverse sidewall, a transversely movable backwall assembly, drive means on the frame and connected to the backwall assembly for transversely moving said backwall assembly between a retracted position and a position substantially forward of the retracted position, said bottom press plAte, sidewalls and backwall assembly being mounted on the frame to form a loading chamber having a load chamber opening, a ram assembly mounted on the frame for movement between the sidewalls and relative the bottom press plate for abuttingly engaging product in the loading chamber and first means for reciprocating the ram assembly between a datum position and a position remote from the datum position, the improvement comprising in the ram assembly having a main ram plate, an extension plate extending transversely between said main ram plate and the backwall assembly, and second means for mounting the extension plate to move with the main plate when the ram assembly is reciprocated and to automatically transversely move the extension plate relative the main plate at least when the ram assembly is in its datum position and as the backwall assembly is moved transversely in one transverse direction.

Claim 31

The apparatus of claim 27 further characterized in that the second means includes a transverse tubular channel fixedly secured to the main ram plate, and means fixedly secured to the extension plate and telescopically mounted by said channel for mounting the extension plate to move with the main plate in the direction the ram assembly is reciprocated.

Claim 32

The apparatus of claim 27 further characterized in that the first sidewall has a spout opening and that there is provided a spout assembly that opens to the spout opening and is at least in part mounted by the first sidewall, that said second sidewall has an opening longitudinally opposite the spout opening, that said ram assembly comprises a horizontal ram assembly, and that the first means includes a piston cylinder combination connected to main ram plate and extendable into the second sidewall opening for longitudinally moving the main plate toward the spout opening.

Claim 33

The apparatus of claim 29 further characterized in that the spout assembly includes a first spout section fixedly attached to the first sidewall, a second spout section cooperating with first spout section for directing product into a container adjacent the spout, and means for mounting the second spout section for transverse movement and connected to the backwall assembly for automatically transversely moving the second spout section when and as the backwall assembly is transversely moved in at least one direction.

Claim 34

The apparatus of claim 27 further characterized in that said ram assembly comprises a horizontal first ram plate, second means mounted on the frame for moving the first plate vertically between a datum position and a position substantially more closely adjacent the bottom press plate, a generally horizontal second ram plate extending transversely between the first ram plate and the backwall assembly, and third means for mounting the second plate on the first plate to vertically move the second plate as the first plate is moved vertically and engaging the backwall assembly to transversely move the second plate as the backwall assembly is moved transversely.

Claim 35

The apparatus of claim 31 further characterized in that the second sidewall has a ram opening opening to the bottom press plate, and that there is provided a horizontal ram assembly, the horizontal ram assembly including a vertical main third plate longitudinally movable between a datum position closely adjacent the second wall to a more closely adjacent the first wall, an extension vertical fourth plate extending transversely between the third plate and the backwall assembly, fourth means connected to the third and fourth plates for moving the fourth plate longitudinally as the third plate is moved longitudinally and to the backwall assembly to move the fourth plate transversely in the same direction as the backwall assembly at least when the third plate is in its datum position and the backwall assembly is moved transversely, and power means connected to at least one of the fourth means and the third plate and mounted on the frame for imparting longitudinal movement to The third plate to move the third plate between its positions.

Claim 36

The apparatus of claim 32 further characterized in that each of the third and fourth means includes a transverse channel fixedly mounted by the first plate and third plate respectively and a transverse member fixedly connected to the second plate and fourth plate respectively and telescopically extended in the respective channel to transfer a moving force from the first plate to the second plate in a vertical direction and from the third plate to the fourth plate in a longitudinal direction.

Claim 37

The apparatus of claim 33 further characterized in that there is provided a door assembly that is at least partially mounted by the frame for selectively closing said loading chamber opening, said door assembly including a plurality of longitudinally elongated first door sections having adjacent longitudinally extending edge portions movable connected to one another, a terminal second door section connected to the longitudinal edge portion of one of the first door sections remote from its connection to the other door sections and a terminal third door section connected to the longitudinal edge portion of another of the first door sections that is remote from the connection of said another first door section to the other first door sections, fifth means connected to the door sections for moving the first door sections progressively to a position partially closing the loading chamber opening, and power means mounted on the frame and connected to the fifth means for operating the fifth means to move the first door sections between a loading chamber opening opened position and a loading chamber opening closed position.

Claim 38

The apparatus of claim 34 further characterized in that the fifth means includes a longitudinally extending first roller having the first door sections reversely bent thereover to have at least one run in part depend therefrom and sixth means driven by the power means and connected to the roller to move the roller vertically upwardly selected increments to progressively move the first door sections to a loading chamber opening closed position.

Claim 39

The apparatus of claim 35 further characterized in that the bottom press plate has a front edge portion adjacent the loading chamber opening, and that the first terminal door section is fixedly attached to at least one of the frame and bottom press plate adjacent the front edge portion.

Claim 40

The apparatus of claim 36 further characterized in that the roller has a sprocket at each longitudinal end thereof, and that the sixth means includes a pair of longitudinally spaced chains each having a first terminal end mounted on one of the frame and the adjacent sidewall at a higher elevation than the loading chamber opening and first run portions first extending downwardly from the first terminal chain end, then reversely bent around the respective roller sprocket to supportingly mount the roller sprocket, thence upwardly to a higher elevation than the loading chamber opening, and subsequently downwardly to a lower elevation than the bottom press plate and a second run portion having one end connected to the portion extending downwardly at its lowermost elevation and an opposite end connected to the second terminal door section, and seventh means for mounting said run portions to extend in the above-mentioned manner.

Claim 41

The apparatus of claim 37 further characterized in that the seventh means includes a second longitudinal roller mounted on the frame at a lower elevation than said front edge and adjacent thereto to have at least one of the second run portion and the first door sections extend partially therearound and thence upwardly toward the first roller.

Claim 42

The apparatus of claim 37 further characterized in that the backwall assembly includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced uprights and that there is provided a precompression assembly mounted on the frame that includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced, transversely extending rigid fingers, A carriage for mounting the fingers for transverse movement between the bars, a subframe mounted on the frame for vertical movement and mounting the carriage for transverse movement between a retracted position that the backwall assembly in its retracted position is forwardly of the fingers and a position that the fingers extend closely adjacent the door assembly in a closed position, means connected to the carriage for moving it transversely between its position, and means mounted on the frame and connected to the subframe for moving it vertically between a retracted position and a position that the fingers are substantially vertically closer to the bottom press plate.