US 10,189,224 B2Granted

Methods for making rubber bales

AssigneeKarltex Machine, Inc.

InventorsSig Fragstein, Donnie L. Cobb, Carl Johnson, Paul Sozzi

Life of this patent

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Abstract

Methods for forming improved bales may include using baling equipment with multi-component bolster assemblies that may ease installation and removal, reduce wear and tear and maintenance, and/or improve efficiency by reducing material waste, imperfections, and/or contamination. The bolster assemblies may include a plurality of coupling portions that engage a hydraulic rod and may enable the bolster assembly to self-center within a press chamber during normal baling operations. The bolster assemblies also may include an island portion that may be attached to the coupling portions and to a bolster cap, and the latter may be attached using retainer bolts having substantially planar heads that may define lips that run about frustums. The bolts may substantially planar head may reduce irregularities in the bale and the lips may prevent material seepage into the bolster assemblies.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method of forming a rubber bale, comprising:

inserting, into a press chamber of a bale assembly, compressible rubber materials;
closing the press chamber;
compressing, in the press chamber, the compressible rubber materials with a bolster assembly to form a rubber bale, the bolster assembly including:
a first coupling portion;
a second coupling portion removably attached to the first coupling portion by one or more coupling bolts, the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion cooperatively defining an arc shaped cavity for receiving a hydraulic rod,
an island portion removably attached to the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion by a plurality of island bolts that run through either the first coupling portion, the second coupling portion, or both and into the island portion;
and
a bolster cap removably attached to the island portion by a plurality of retainer bolts, the retainer bolts each including a non-circular head attached to a frustum, the head having a substantially planar surface, the frustum attached to a threaded shaft distal the head, the bolster cap including a plurality of countersunk bores that receive the retainer bolts, the countersunk bores having complementary shapes to those of the retainer bolts;
opening the press chamber;
and
ejecting the rubber bale from the press chamber.

8 more elements

A method of forming a rubber bale, comprising:

inserting, into a press chamber of a bale assembly, compressible rubber materials;
closing the press chamber;
compressing, in the press chamber, the compressible rubber materials with a bolster assembly to form a rubber bale, the bolster assembly including:
a first coupling portion;
a second coupling portion removably attached to the first coupling portion by one or more coupling bolts, the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion cooperatively defining an arc shaped cavity for receiving a hydraulic rod,
an island portion removably attached to the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion by a plurality of island bolts that run through either the first coupling portion, the second coupling portion, or both and into the island portion;
and
a bolster cap removably attached to the island portion by a plurality of retainer bolts, the retainer bolts each including a head attached to a frustum, the head having a substantially planar surface and an underside that defines a lip that runs about a perimeter of a base of the frustum, the frustum attached to a threaded shaft distal the head, the bolster cap including a plurality of countersunk bores that receive the retainer bolts, the countersunk bores having complementary shapes to those of the retainer bolts;
opening the press chamber;
and
ejecting the rubber bale from the press chamber.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/847,311Filed 19 Dec 2017 · division
Priority: 5 Jan 2016
Published: US 2018/0133996 A117 May 2018
Granted: 29 Jan 2019
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification16 codes

B30B 9/3021
Details: press rams
B29B 15/026
Of crude rubber, gutta-percha, or similar substances: baling of rubber
B30B 9/3014
Details: ejection means
B30B 9/3057
For baling; Compression boxes therefor: fluid-driven presses

Family

Application14/988,488Parent of this division · filed 5 Jan 2016
US 2018/0133996 A1Pre-grant publication · published 17 May 2018
US 9,878,511 B2Parent of this division
US 2017/0190132 A1Published application
US 10,189,224 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.